[Jewelry making - Article 00181] - Re: [Orchid] Casting Stainless Steel?

[Douglas Zaruba]

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Ryan,

    I have used Techform, in Milwaukie, OR (503-652-5224) to cast
    stainless steel and chromium cobalt. They also cast platinum, using a
    ceramic shell around the wax that allows it to come out almost shiny.
    BUT....casting stainless steel isn't all that cheap. It is fairly
    complicated and requires special equipment. These folks do a lot of
    work for the medical field (hip joints are cast in cobalt chromium,
    for example). Unless you are planning to cast a lot of one piece, it
    may not be economical to work in stainless. It is also a lot more
    labor intensive to clean up the castings. Cobalt chromium can also be
    a real bear, but will oxidize with heat to a beautiful black. 

    Bite the bullet and invest in silver. At least you can recycle your
    mistakes, and your successes will be easier to sell. The techniques
    used to work in steel are also different from working in more
    malleable metals, so you may find that your training is taking you
    far from where you may want to be. 

Doug
Douglas Zaruba
33 N. Market St.
Frederick, MD 21701
301 695-1107
dreamgate AT earthlink.net

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