[Jewelry making - Article 00610] - Re: [Orchid] Casting update

[John A. Henkel]

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    Dear Annette, Both Dan Grandi and Robert Hood have made good points
    about the importance of good investing proceedure. I am one that
    wants to know as much as possible about the material I use to get best
    possible results for my customers. I have tried many brands of
    investment. Before I get a new batch (18, 100 lb. barrels) I want to
    know how fresh it is. When it arrives I do a test batch to acertain
    the gloss-off time. I too learned, when I began 25 years ago, to mix
    the powder into the water until it looked like heavy cream. Yes, it
    did work, and I was thrilled to see actual castings that I had done!
    Back then, I worked as a caster for a company that had a nice line of
    jewelry and I was responsible for the melt and spin. When things went
    wrong I took the blame, not knowing exactly what happened. Tired of
    that I began to call anybody I could think of to learn more than the
    jewelry instructor had taught me. That's when I began to thoroughly
    investigate every aspect of the process. Guess what I discovered?!
    It's not how you kill the chicken and sprinkle the blood! And still I
    actually had people tell me not to cast on a rainy day! What a great
    day when I realized that spruing was one of the most crutial aspects
    of the process and that I had control of cracking, spalling, bubbles
    and  water trails when I did the investing. Every time I teach casting
    I stress that it is not necessary to hold a degree in metalurgy. Every
    metal has a  different "personality" and you can get to know them if
    you care to. Investment is designed by folks that want it to do
    certain things. It can't do those things unless you follow their
    rules. Your mention of the fellow with the polished metal to check for
    moisture sounds like someone that casts by folklore. Yes, I have no
    doubt that if moisture is present that it would condense on a cool
    metal surface. And I have seen many wonderful jewelry creations done
    in this manner. However to me it is more reassuring to know that the
    water has left many hours before because of an understanding of the
    process. Steam from the water will crack investment plaster when it is
    heated too fast. Steam is a powerful force. In a previous post I
    mentioned "free" and "chemically bound" water present in the invested
    flask. A well planned burnout cycle for your kiln and the size of your
    casting run is the capstone to your knowledge of the investment you
    are using. Anything worth doing, is worth doing right. John,
    J.A.Henkel Co.,Inc., Moldmaking Casting Finishing

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