[Jewelry making - Article 00899] - Re: [Orchid] Investment for detailed work

[LEESSILVER]

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    I have read all the posts pertaining to mixing investment.  

    Conclusions: 

    Some individuals mix the investment for 1.5 minutes before
    vacuuming.  Other mix for several minutes. I was taught to vacuum
    for 1 minute after the investment pancakes. 

    Some individuals mix by hand and other use electric mixers.  I
    imagine small amounts of investment would be easier to mix by hand. 

    Some use distilled water and others probably use tap water. 

    Some use hot water other use whatever temperature of the tap water
    is. 

    Some individuals let the investment pancake (boil) then maintain the
    vacuum for a short time and others maintain the vacuum for longer
    periods.  I always mix 5 pounds of investment.  My mixing bowl
    overflows when the investment pancakes so I have to release the
    vacuum for an instant to allow the investment collapse. 

    Some individuals mix small amounts of investment in baggies.  What a
    great idea for smaller amounts of investment. I am not sure it would
    work with 5 pounds of investment. 

    The amount of time flasks are vacuumed varies. 

    I invest in flasks from 2.5 inch diameter by 2 inches tall up to
    flasks 6 inched in diameter by 7 inches tall.  I pour anywhere from a
    couple ounces of silver to 40 ounces at a shot.  I treat all sizes of
    flasks and weights of silver equally.  The only difference between a
    2.5 inch flask with 1 ounce of silver and a 6 inch flask with 40
    ounces of silver is the amount of time I allow for the flask to cool
    before quenching.  I do not have any problems. After reading the
    posts I have come to the conclusion that either the investment
    process is somewhat forgiving or I am one extremely lucky caster.  I
    would not change my method and I am sure all casters who have cast
    for a long period of time would not change their process. May we
    never have failures! 

Lee Epperson 


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