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Custom designer jewelry by Robert and Debra Shinn

Sandcast Ankh - continued

Step 16 Take the flask to the casting box. Place the upright flask in the casting box, a wood box filled with sand to contain any spilled metal and hold used objects that may still be hot. Firebricks are useful for resting hot objects that do not need to be in the sand. Two types of crucibles are frequently used for melting the silver: an open dish, and a covered Burno. For this smaller object, the open dish is preferred.
Step 17 Sprinkle borax on the silver. The silver to be melted is a mix of scrap and casting grain. Sprinkle a pinch of borax over it in the crucible. Any good laundry grade borax will do.
Step 18 Boraxed silver. The sterling silver should appear dusted with the borax.
Step 19 Heat the metal. A Prest-O-Lite propane torch is used to melt the silver. The flame should be close to the metal; the gas should be at about 25 psi. After thirty seconds, this approximately one ounce of sterling silver begins to slump.
Step 20 Melt the metal. After about two minutes of intense heat the silver becomes a castable liquid. It will slosh and roll easily as one unit in the crucible. You must continue heating beyond the first liquid appearance for an extra thirty seconds to have the metal hot enough to go all the way down the mold.
Step 21 Pour the metal. Still holding the flame on the metal, pour the liquid silver down the pour hole of the flask. Be quick and steady; a break in the stream of metal entering the flask will likely spoil the piece, leaving it with gaps. Next, we see what it looks like!

Disclaimer: All techniques described are performered by professionals in a professional workshop. These techniques work well for us; we do not warrant them for anyone else. We cannot be responsible for anyone's property, profit, or safety. If you wish to make beautiful objects, pictures and text are no substitute for a good class.