Water Casting for the Weekend Jeweler
Here's a primer on water casting melted silver. It produces really fun pieces to incorporate into your designs!
How do you know when you have enough silver to warrant melting it down?
For me, it's when one of my two baseball card storage boxes appropriated 30 years ago from my son is full.
That's the signal it's time to do something with it.
For me, it's when one of my two baseball card storage boxes appropriated 30 years ago from my son is full.
That's the signal it's time to do something with it.
Assemble your work area by placing four heat-resistant rubber mats on your garage workbench to protect the linoleum surface.
Use an old cake pan to hold a rotating pumice pan and a graphite rod. The cake pan's ledge provides a spot to set the hot torch head to cool when not in use.
Since the crucible gets very hot, pumice is perfect for setting it in while melting metal. I use a #10 can, about 7 inches high and 6-3/16 inches in diameter, filled two-thirds with cold water.
For safety, keep a metal bowl with ice cubes nearby but away from the heat.
Hint: I highly recommend taking the course Low Tech Casting with Kim St. Jean.
Use an old cake pan to hold a rotating pumice pan and a graphite rod. The cake pan's ledge provides a spot to set the hot torch head to cool when not in use.
Since the crucible gets very hot, pumice is perfect for setting it in while melting metal. I use a #10 can, about 7 inches high and 6-3/16 inches in diameter, filled two-thirds with cold water.
For safety, keep a metal bowl with ice cubes nearby but away from the heat.
Hint: I highly recommend taking the course Low Tech Casting with Kim St. Jean.
This step depends on your torch system.
I use a Handy Flame II Propane Torch with small propane canisters when water-casting in the garage.
The canister should be secured to the workbench because the torch tubing will move it around, creating a safety hazard.
Brackets are available to secure the canisters, but since I don't use the torch often, I keep mine secured in a workbench drawer.
I use a Handy Flame II Propane Torch with small propane canisters when water-casting in the garage.
The canister should be secured to the workbench because the torch tubing will move it around, creating a safety hazard.
Brackets are available to secure the canisters, but since I don't use the torch often, I keep mine secured in a workbench drawer.
Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl.
The cement garage floor is fine for this since water splashes around and I don't want water all over my workbench.
The cement garage floor is fine for this since water splashes around and I don't want water all over my workbench.
Since my friends and I melt down metal together, we use an old door on sawhorses as our work surface.
We place layers of newspaper with paper towels on top to soak up moisture from the pieces after straining.
Each of us has our own spot to dump our treasures.
There is always a lot of OOOing and AHHing!
We place layers of newspaper with paper towels on top to soak up moisture from the pieces after straining.
Each of us has our own spot to dump our treasures.
There is always a lot of OOOing and AHHing!
Optional: Keep the water cool to produce consistent results like the first pour.
To reuse water, keep a metal bowl of ice cubes nearby.
Periodically add ice to the water poured back into the can after straining the cast pieces.
To reuse water, keep a metal bowl of ice cubes nearby.
Periodically add ice to the water poured back into the can after straining the cast pieces.
How much metal can be melted at one time?
That depends on you and the size of your crucible. Everyone has different preferences.
More metal in the crucible usually creates larger pieces, which I rarely use. Because of this, I typically melt smaller amounts.
Heat the metal in the crucible until it flows like mercury.
Once it moves freely, heat back and forth over the crucible's pour spout and the molten metal.
That depends on you and the size of your crucible. Everyone has different preferences.
More metal in the crucible usually creates larger pieces, which I rarely use. Because of this, I typically melt smaller amounts.
Heat the metal in the crucible until it flows like mercury.
Once it moves freely, heat back and forth over the crucible's pour spout and the molten metal.
The crucible pour spout should be red, matching the color around the molten metal.
If the spout isn't hot enough, the metal will get stuck and won't pour properly.
When heating back and forth between the metal and spout, both can cool slightly, making the metal less molten and the spout cooler.
To fix this, slightly tip the crucible so the torch flame heats both the spout and the molten metal.
If the spout isn't hot enough, the metal will get stuck and won't pour properly.
When heating back and forth between the metal and spout, both can cool slightly, making the metal less molten and the spout cooler.
To fix this, slightly tip the crucible so the torch flame heats both the spout and the molten metal.
Hold the crucible about 6 inches above the water to start the pour.
Experiment with this distance, as water-cast pieces will always vary.
Pour the molten metal into the water.
To keep the metal stream molten until it hits the water, aim the torch flame at the pour spout while pointing down along the falling metal stream.
A slow pour with a thin stream produces smaller pieces, while a quick "dump" creates larger pieces along with some smaller ones.
Experiment with this distance, as water-cast pieces will always vary.
Pour the molten metal into the water.
To keep the metal stream molten until it hits the water, aim the torch flame at the pour spout while pointing down along the falling metal stream.
A slow pour with a thin stream produces smaller pieces, while a quick "dump" creates larger pieces along with some smaller ones.
Pro Tip: To obtain smaller cups and pieces, swirl the water with a graphite rod, seen behind the pumice pan above, just before pouring.
The cast pieces cool immediately in the cold water.
Pour the water and cast silver into a strainer placed over a metal bowl.
Strain the pieces and dump them onto a paper towel see the photo in Step 5.
It's fun to go through all the one-of-a-kind pieces!
Anything you don't like can go back into the crucible to melt in the next pour.
Pour the water and cast silver into a strainer placed over a metal bowl.
Strain the pieces and dump them onto a paper towel see the photo in Step 5.
It's fun to go through all the one-of-a-kind pieces!
Anything you don't like can go back into the crucible to melt in the next pour.
Pour the water back into the can and repeat the casting process.
Add more ice if needed, removing water if necessary to keep the water level where desired.
Add more ice if needed, removing water if necessary to keep the water level where desired.
After the pieces are dry, store them in a large flat box.
A 6x4x1ΒΌ inch clear box makes it easier to sort through and select the right pieces.
To help move and pick up pieces, keep a pair of large tweezers with a small scoop end in the box.
A 6x4x1ΒΌ inch clear box makes it easier to sort through and select the right pieces.
To help move and pick up pieces, keep a pair of large tweezers with a small scoop end in the box.
Materials
Silver scraps
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Tools
Whip, Wire Handled Instrument for Pouring, Large with 2 Crucibles
CAS-250.20
- CAS-250.20
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $24.95
- Gold Club Price: $18.71
12x12 Inch Rubber Mat
MAT-500.00
- MAT-500.00
- Lesson Quantity: 4.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 4.00 each
- Price: $24.95
- Gold Club Price: $18.71
Handy Flame II Propane Torch
SOL-330.00
- SOL-330.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $74.95
- Gold Club Price: $56.21
Small mesh strainer
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Cool Cup
SOL-700.00
- SOL-700.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $15.97
- Gold Club Price: $11.98
GRAPHITE STIR RODS - 1/4 X 12 INCHES PK 1
CAS-335.10
- CAS-335.10
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $6.95
- Gold Club Price: $5.21
18 Compartment Bead Box
G20-30
- G20-30
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $5.57
- Gold Club Price: $4.18
7 inch Rotating Soldering Pan w/ 3rd Hand And Pumice
SOL-525.00
- SOL-525.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $42.95
- Gold Club Price: $32.21
7 Smooth Point Tweezers
TWZ-944.00
- TWZ-944.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $3.95
- Gold Club Price: $2.96
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- Category: Metalwork
- Technique(s): General Education
Judy Larson
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