[Jewelry making - Article 00159] - Re: [Orchid] Vacum casting vs. centrifugal casting

[LEESSILVER]

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    I have used nothing but vacuum casting for 30 years.  I have cast
    every size and detail part with this system without problems.  

    There are probably as many people who will say centrifugal casting
    will give the most detail as there are who will say vacuum casting
    will give the most detail.  

    I have seen spiders that were cast by both centrifugal and vacuum
    processes.  There was no lack of detail in the spiders cast either
    way.  Our intuition may make us feel centrifugal casting gives
    greater details because the metal is forced into the mold. 

    I have had some buckles and conchos cast for me by a centrifugal
    caster.  Most of the items I had cast this way had what I call
    stretch marks which could not be polished away. I believe either
    method will give you the detail you want once you master the
    process.  The decision between using either method of casting will
    boil down to finances available for buying equipment, safety and the
    size of castings you wish to produce. Centrifugal equipment my be
    the least expensive way to go but it will limit the size of castings
    you can produce. 

    Some thoughts: If you invest in a vacuum pump to vacuum you
    investment you will have the major portion of the equipment you will
    need for vacuum casting. Vacuum casting will allow you to pour more
    metal into much bigger flasks than you can with the centrifugal
    process. 

    I believe that vacuum casting with an electric melt furnace provides
    a more consistent metal and flask temperature at the pour.  The
    flask is at a known temperature when it is removed form the oven. 
    The flask will not have enough time to cool before the metal is
    poured therefore the temperature of the flask at pour is known. The
    thermocouple of the electro melt will give the relative temperature
    of the metal when it is poured.  Corrections can be made before the
    next pour If there is a problem in the casting caused by improper
    temperature of the flask and metal.  

    I don't believe, unless you use a high end centrifugal casting
    system, you can obtain the same temperature consistency with
    centrifugal casting using a torch to melt the metal as you can with
    a vacuum system and electro melt furnace.  With a centrifugal system
    the flask temperature may cool or be heated by the torch before
    pouring the metal.  The temperature of the metal heated by a torch
    is unknown and not consistent between melts. 

    Kenneth Ferrell made many good points in his post.  He has
    experience with both types of casting. 

    Thats my 2 cents and more, 

Lee Epperson

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