r/Silvercasting

I started silversmith work out of nowhere about 6 months ago. I’ve done quite a few casts since then, all sandcasting. My results are getting better, and I’m about to move onto investment casting. But one thing I can’t figure out is how to put a stamp on any of the castings I’ve finished. Some have smaller sharper edges or protrusions because it’s a 3d shape. all of them have as much detail as I can possibly pull out of them. Then when I’m close to finished I’ll stamp something and it always ruins the piece. Smashes out details or if it’s flat bends it in half. I feel like there’s some way people do this successfully that I just don’t know. I googled for a long time and couldn’t find anything. I’m stamping on a steel block with a sandbag.

You can see what I’m talking about on this SNES controller I’ve been trying to make for my brother. The first one came out good, I spent hours pulling out details and when I stamped the Sterling on it, on wood. Maybe the wood was too hard? But it smashed all the buttons on the other side. Is the answer to just stamp only in spots that won’t do that?

Thought this .9999 piece one came out pretty nice!

It took 4 years to make the move forward with a casting table. Used an old PLA model that I could never properly sand cast. Dremel took off during polishing which nicked the corner, but for some reason I can't polish the hairline scratches away. Anyway I'm late to the game so bonus sand casting pours added to the end

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Hi everyone, I’m having a problem with getting a rough surface finish when casting jewelry printed with BlueCast X-Wax Filigree. After printing, I wash the pieces in 99% IPA for 5 minutes, dry them completely, give them a second IPA bath for 2 minutes, and cure them for 10 minutes. I’m using Infinity Premium casting powder, initially at a 40:100 powder-to-water ratio and also tried 38:100. I vacuum the investment for about 2:30 minutes, pour it into a 2.5 × 7 inch flask, then vacuum it again for another 2:30 minutes and let it set for around 3 hours. For burnout, I’m following the BlueCast cycle of 150°C for 2 hours, 450°C for 2 hours, and 730°C for 3 hours. I’m casting 925 silver and have tried different flask temperatures of 580°C, 600°C and 650°C, as well as silver temperatures of 980°C, 1000°C, 1020°C and 1050°C, but the surface is still coming out rough. The printed pieces look smooth before casting, so I’m trying to figure out where the problem is. Could the issue be the investment ratio, washing/curing, burnout cycle, flask temperature, silver temperature, silver quality, or something else? I’d really appreciate your advice on what I should change first.

Had a customer request a Poke Ball in one ounce to wear as a charm. I thought “looks simple enough” and I said no problem.
Had no idea making a sphere look right would be difficult.

I borrowed an electric furnace from a friend. The furnace has been used quite a bit over the years. As can be seen in the photos the top is cracked in three places, there's a crack going down the inside of the funnel, and there's some silver stuck at the bottom. The furnace still works and is usable with a crucible inside, though I am wondering if the wear and tear I've noticed could be dangerous?

Could anyone advise?

I am casting a scorpion, which I find is a challenging cast to successfully do in the first place. I've discovered the best way is to pour through the top of the flask and not through a hole at the side. Though to do this I need (at my skill level, which is still beginner) to stick the scorpion to a base and pour the silver on the base side.

I then cut off the thick sprue with an angle grinder, which leaves me to cut the scorpion out, which I can do with a piercing saw. Though I still have the base underneath.

What would be the best way to get the base off from underneath? File it, cut it, sand it, grind it? If so with what?

Thank you to everyone who helped me on my last post :) I flipped the ring in the mold to put the thickest part first, upped the heat and made the sprue thicker. It hurt to give this one away but it was a birthday gift for my friend and she loved it :) 925 Sterling I gold electroplated.

I had to make this one in 925 because Jerry kept breaking off in 999