[Jewelry making - Article 00193] - Re: [Orchid] About Bronze Casting

[Bill Churlik]

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Ann,

    I find that air-acetylene torches are really at or over their limit
    when trying to metal bronze, even with a #5 or 6 tip. The crucible
    just soaks up too much of the heat. Also the curved shape of the
    crucible helps to reflect some of the flame. Do you preheat the
    crucible bottom to a red heat? That helps with gold, silver, or
    bronze. Remember that Sterling melts at 1645 and the bronzes usually
    around 18-1900. BIG difference. I also use Boric Acid powder instead
    of Handy Flux. I am not sure Handy Flux is works well at the
    temperature that bronze requires. Have found Twenty Mule Team Borax
    good as a brazing flux. The blacksmiths use it for forge welding so
    it can handle the temperature range of bronze too. 

    I have been casting small bronze pieces (30+ to a tree) and found
    that even using Oxy-acetylene and a hand held crucible gave me
    problems getting an even heat through the metal. Set up the furnace
    and am now pouring from a #2 graphite crucible. No problems as the
    furnace generates more than enough heat. (25lb capacity). The lead
    picture on my website homepage shows a pour in progress. Can we say
    fun? Love this stuff! There is something so primal in that stream of
    molten metal. That stream and a hammer is at the heart of all of our
    work. Nothing has changed in the last 8,000 or so years. 

Hope this helps.

Bill Churlik
wechurlik AT earthlink.net
www.earthspeakarts.com

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