[Jewelry making - Article 00068] - Re: [Orchid] Unresolved issues with casting

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>         I do not know the origin of the red substance. Could someone
>     please explain what it is and whether it is supposed to be there or
>     not? 

    Copper oxide, formed during melting of your sterling, being
    dissolved into the flux coating on the crucible.  It's normal.  You
    can, if you wish, use the same crucible with gold,  at least as far
    as that color is concerned.  If you've got bits of sterling remaining
    in the crucible, it can throw your karat off on the gold. 

>     I have been working in the garage and it was really cold there.
>     Could that have something to do with it? 

    some, perhaps, but not likely a significant factor.  The heat loss
    from the crucible and melting metal will be greater in a frigid
    environment.  But considering that you want to raise the temp to 1700
    F, the difference between starting at 80 F vs 60 F isn't that much,
    and probably isn't a noticable difference.  Mostly, it's just that
    even with the multi orifice tip, the little torch can only put a
    limited amount of heat into the metal.  What you really need is
    simply a bigger torch, with bigger hoses, so more fuel and oxygen can
    go into a larger flame with more BTUs being generated.  At 40 to 50
    grams, almost 2 ounces of silver, you're melting quite a lot of
    metal.  More, really, than that torch can comfortably handle. 

    Peter  

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