I want to make a very period set of armlets, right down to the methods of manufacture. The picture of it is in my profile, and is labeled 300BC Pontika
I know I can't cast the whole thing, but I thought I could cast the winged woman and wyrms individually with attached sprues to solder/weld onto the other gold bits.
I have here a book that has a rather short overview of sand casting, but I can't discern wether I should use this method to cast those pieces. The book is The Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight.
To answer, think cheap. Think that I am never going to do other metalwork again UNLESS I go on a jewelry making trip in my 50's. So I would rather not get suggestions about fancy expensive tools and crazy techniques that take ages to learn. Quick cheap and period. Jimmy-rigging assumed
I know I can't cast the whole thing, but I thought I could cast the winged woman and wyrms individually with attached sprues to solder/weld onto the other gold bits.
I have here a book that has a rather short overview of sand casting, but I can't discern wether I should use this method to cast those pieces. The book is The Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight.
To answer, think cheap. Think that I am never going to do other metalwork again UNLESS I go on a jewelry making trip in my 50's. So I would rather not get suggestions about fancy expensive tools and crazy techniques that take ages to learn. Quick cheap and period. Jimmy-rigging assumed
posted by:
|
Virginia
|
-
Re: Sand Casting
Sat, January 12, 2008 - 6:44 PMOctavia,
Sand casting won't give you the detail or delicacy you want. Gold is generally cast using the lost wax method which gives good detail. Despite this, the process will be expensive due to the amount of gold required. You might instead consider carving the figure and wings from a dense non-vascular wood like cornell wood. you could then obtain thin sheet gold and press it over the wood. Basically gild the wood. This would use very little gold and would require simple tools. You would have to probably modify standard craft knives for carving such tiny detail. Of course you will have to do detail carving if you plan to make a mold for casting. A gilt piece will not only be cheaper, it will also be much lighter. -
-
Re: Sand Casting
Sat, January 12, 2008 - 6:54 PMAlright, sounds good! I don't really knw anything about jewelry making, except that lost wax can be used. Then I found sand casting, which seemed cheaper.
Gilt wood sounds awesome, I can carve wood, but where would I obtain sheet gold? -
-
Re: Sand Casting
Sat, January 12, 2008 - 7:25 PMI used to get gold and silver from various sources. Look in your local yellow pages for jewelry and rock tumbling suppliers. They sell casting wax and metals in various shapes and thicknesses. If there are none of these in your area, try the web for jewelry supply places. Thin gold sheet is really soft. Really thin gold called gold leaf is so delicate that you can't sneeze while using it or it will fly in pieces. For gilding don't buy filled gold. This is gold backed with brass which is much stiffer. What you will need in addition to the metal are small carving knives and jewelers files. Craft supply stores have those, but they may not be of the best quality. You will also need a magnifying glass on a movable stand so that you can use it with both hands free. Scrap gold should be collected and saved since it can be sold back to the suppliers.
-
Re: Sand Casting
Wed, January 30, 2008 - 4:41 PMLook for suppliers of gold leaf or gold for Kuem Boo work.
-
-
