[Jewelry making - Article 00097] - Re: [Orchid] Making your own casting machine

[Alma Rands]

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    Just for fun last summer a friend and I tried some steam casting.
    This came about after a discussion as to whether or not it really
    worked. Both of us traditionally use our centrifuges and vacuums, and
    doubted that such a simple method as steam casting would work. We
    made our caster out of a large jar lid attached to a 1" dowel.
    However, we used my regular burnout kiln and not the flower pot,
    electric plate. Also we used our regular flasks and not the tin cans
    that some sources recommend. There was a limit to just how low tech
    we wanted to go. 

    We followed the instructions in Tim McCreight's book, and to our
    amazement got good castings. The biggest problem was working with the
    recommended thin sprues. I think we used 16 and 18 gauge. 

    I would definitely recommend that anyone who has avoided lost wax
    casting because of the expense involved with all the equipment try
    steam casting. 

    It is certainly a good way to use one's scrap metal. 

    Will I switch to using steam casting instead of my centrifuge and
    vacuum? 

    Probably not, but it is good to know of alternative methods. 

Alma Rands
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