I´m practically speechless with admiration but, while I´m delighted with the coins you cast, I really dropped by to mention how wonderfully well your videos are produced. I love all the little humorous side note - a twelve minute video of yours takes much longer than 12 minutes to watch as a result; I pause and read every word. It´s not just the post-production work though - I gaze with awe and envy at your short, studio-shot illustrative inserts, with a white background and the object under discussion revolving slowly, all with seamless voice over. I have no vacuum chamber; I save cheese-wax for casting and use a saucepan for a crucible, so I don´t aspire to your (to me) exalted standard of metal casting, but I do watch your videos with a mildly plagiaristic eye, day-dreaming perhaps of a quiet corner of the shed, equipped with a smart white background, an old record deck, and an anglepoise lamp. I´m off to watch the other contestants´handiwork - congratulations on this outcome : )
Wow. I mean wow!!! Thanks. That's an incredibly nice thing to say. You've made my day. Those that know me best will tell you I'm cursed with perfectionism. I will happily congratulate and celebrate the work of others, regardless of how it may appear. But when it comes to myself, I'm incredibly picky : ) I hope I haven't given you the impression that I work on a limitless budget with incredible gadgetry. Nothing could be further from the truth. My budget is uncompromisingly anorexic and my equipment is often self made. My camera is an iPhone 5. The stand is a copper pipe. Many of my tools belonged to my grandfather (long since gone). And all the images, scripts, word play, etc, are all the product of dozens of hours each week to produce a video a few minutes long that's watched by a few hundred people. So why do I do it? Because I enjoy it, and if it helps, entertains or educates someone else along the way, all the better. And occasionally, I get a comment like yours - and then I feel like a millionaire (figuratively speaking of course).
The time you put into your videos is indeed time well spent - even if comparatively few viewers read all the funny bits. I refuse to monetise my account because I want no incentive to chase views - like you, I´d rather make the video I want to make and know that it´ll amass very few views per year. By the way, I thought that was a very fine elephant @ 1:52 : )
I've just looked at your channel. It seems we share many similar interests. Please have a look here - with my thanks: ruclips.net/channel/UCkEYj8wtK3aEW8vSGhlB43gcommunity
Oh, and please monitise. There's revenue being generated, so you may as well have it rather than let RUclips keep the lot. Then give it to charity or do something nice for your Landy - or, I mean Lady.
Don’t beat yourself up so much! You are the one on the working side of the camera! And your learning at the same time your teaching me and many others. Good job!!!
Hi Nick. Thanks for the supportive comments. I try not to take myself too seriously and I don't want others to either. I think the humour helps there. I want to show that learning is fun and that imperfections are part of the learning process. Mostly I want to reminds folks of the great sources of knowledge we have out there, people like John, Paul and Martin. These guys are the real inspiration : )
I'm pretty sure Perry does't need another cat. His wife has four in the barn ;-) I think you did great. It's all about learning new things, hence the word challenge. This wasn't about a competition but challenging us to learn something new or expand our existing capabilities. I think the fact that you accomplished lost wax for the first time is something to be very pleased with. The possibilities for lost wax go well outside the capabilities of green sand (or petrobond as I use). This opens the door for all sorts of neat stuff. I say well done!
What cat? I don't know what you mean... (note to self: I've got the wrong house - try and get the fishy treats back off that tabby). I enjoyed it and hated it in equal measure. Wrong materials, lack of equipment and mentors with hearts of gold. I agree the technique itself has great scope and I understand many believe it's the oldest form of casting. I'll try not to spoil it for history's sake : )
maybe you got me mixed up with Perry ? I have 7 1/2 cats I like the Lost wax as well and for interest sake the guys over at Man At Arms Reforgedruclips.net/p/PLUUGFk1wE5OFOpfPz3ggXQrCSdQdFEslx Use it on some of their Swords and Knive decorations with very good results Tony
but the thing is your going in the right direction. If there were 20 things you did wrong and found 1 or 2 of those problems and fixed them. Before long there will be nothing else wrong and you'd have to get it right. My boys play football (American football with the oblong ball LOL) They are 11 and 12 years old. I ran across a saying this last week I shared with them and love it. It goes like this. "Don't practice till you get it right. Practice till you can't get it wrong" P.S. you are way ahead of my my friend!!! Its been way too hot for me to be out and in the garage to perfect it myself. Great Video as always!!!
Here's another one for you... this one is courtesy of my Grandad: Show me a man that makes no mistakes and I'll show you a man that doesn't do anything. I've always liked that... there's so much truth in it. Have a good one : )
Not bad , not damn bad at all for a first effort. What little I know of investment casting tells me that it is an exacting discipline requiring patience, practice, and persistence and that it has a very steep and very long learning curve. To have achieved this level of success with minimal equipment on a first try is quite remarkable. I think that both John and Paul would most likely concur when I say that with more and better equipment - wax injectors burn out kilns vacuum casters etc plus the continued application of the three "P"s mentioned above results will improve, Oh! And some decent metal of course. Keep up the good work.. Martin
Thanks boss! The important missing words there were, "This is much better than Perry's" : ) Your input was crucial as always. And John and Paul were also very patient and supportive. So you guys made it possible - thanks again.
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your video here and how impressed I am with your ingenuity, resourcefulness and drive to get a better result. In the end you may not have been thrilled with the final product but I thought both sets came out great! Keep up the good work!
It's definitely become my preferred way of casting. Some folks like big. I found I liked small and detailed... I found it more challenging and fun. And fun is what it's all about 😁😁😁
Saw a DIY rig recently for doing vacuum casting with a pump like yours. It was basically just two metal tubes that fit with a small gap between. The bottom "vacuum chamber" was basically a thick-walled steel pipe welded to a steel base, with a flange and gasket at the top, and a hole drilled and tapped for the vacuum connection near the bottom. the inner tube was thin walled with holes in the sides and bottom, and a flange at the top to mate up with the bottom tube. The "vacuum" plaster was cast in the inner tube with a removable silicon cup over the inner tube. Best of luck with your explorations.
Thanks Walt. Whilst part of me is tempted to look into a vacuum set up, for me these cylindrical flasks are quite restricting. I was very grateful to both John and Paul (my experts), but I was aware that both of these guys specialise in the miniature. Unless another challenge arises, the sort of things I normally make (gears, wheels, brackets, etc) are all a little larger. Of course historically wax casting was NOT done using vacuums. The museums are full of bronzes that were created long before most even knew what a vacuum was, so I guess there's hope for me to cast something yet : )
VegOilGuy I totally understand, the DIY vacuum rig I saw was likely for stuff under 10mm and that definitely would be restrictive. From what I've seen lost wax investment casting is usually the route for medium to large castings which need higher detail. Of course that is a time consuming process building up the refactoring shell, and the special slurry and zircon sand for the process isn't exactly cheap. I'll see if I can find the link to the RUclipsr who I've seen attempt the investment casting process in his back yard.
VegOilGuy here is the small investment casting that I saw. (Just informational info) best of luck with your next project ruclips.net/video/1VNy6QuakxY/видео.html
A little disappointing NoWay Geoff , there Perfect 👌🏻 . If I could do coins half as good as that ide be extremely satisfied 😁👍🏻. I loved both coins but I bet holding the copper was very satisfying . That pouring design you made with the RUclips button is friggen awesome , ide love to try do a nice big plaque of that design in aluminium bronze that would be cooool👍🏻.
Those aluminium coins felt horrible, and yet Martin tells me that Alu Coins are an actual thing. But the copper coin felt real, like a Victorian coin. It even looks Victorian thanks to the imperfections : ) I agree, a larger version would look cool. And hopefully it would be easier to do. I know Perry and I'd would love to have you in one of these challenges mate. We don't take it seriously... it's just a matter of having a go... and a bit of playful banter is fun. Think on it mate. It would be great to have you.
I went over to Vancouver back in 1996 and when handling the $2.00 Loonie coin ( www.google.com.au/search?newwindow=1&hl=en&biw=1191&bih=541&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=2p9AW93CHMbS8wXklpuQCQ&q=Canadian+2+dollar+The+Loonie&oq=Canadian+2+dollar+The+Loonie&gs_l=img.12...6768.7292.0.9504.2.2.0.0.0.0.222.442.2-2.2.0....0...1c..64.img..0.0.0....0.s9u2PxTv7iQ#imgrc=GYFL4Jp-FM_d0M: ) I felt the same way not proper money or feeling in the hand Martin maybe you should try a casting of Our 50 Cent Piece?
This is INCREDIBLY COOL! I feel like there’s a great usefulness to people who are skilled artisans in one area sharing their process of learning a new technique. You have the right mindset and know how to ask smart questions when things don’t go quite right, and your results end up variable in a way that actually can teach fellow total newbies a ton about the process and what to expect! Also, I personally would say that your early castings are beautiful and worthwhile, because the way they combine the capturing of the original tool marks with the “tool marks” created by the imperfections in the process adds a ton of life and individuality to each coin reproduction!
Stella, I can tell from your words that you're an artist - am I wrong? I never claim to know everything and really can't see why other people are ashamed to admit that simple truth. So I'll ask people that do know, listen when I think they're right and just nod amiably when I think they're wrong. It's a process I enjoy and am happy to share with others. And giving credit to those that deserve it - that's just right and proper. I like learning new things. I also like to adapt and change. I like traditional, but this sometimes has a high price tag, so I'll look for accessible alternatives and (dare I say it) improvements. It makes life more interesting and prevents my mind from stagnating too much. Thanks for your very kind input.
VegOilGuy ha ha! Yep, definitely an artist! I’m currently on a quest to fill my little NYC apartment with as many power tools as possible, but I think I have to draw the line at casting hot metal..... (So I’ll just have to live vicariously through the adventures of others!)
Another great vid! But a suggestion - instead of casting them in copper, which is horrible to cast, buy a spool of lead-free plumbers solder, which is 95%-97% tin and 2.5% - 5% copper, and then by simply cut of a pre-weighed length of solder, and toss is in to the copper when melted (don't forget plenty of borax as flux) a quick stir or two and you can cast in lovely bronze, that flows and casts much better than copper - machines better too. The nice thing is it enables you to avoid one of the worst issues for hobby casting, which is poor or unknown metal quality. If you use scrap copper from on electrical bus-bar and contacts etc, it is usually oxegen free, meaning better quality from no dissolved gases. Poor/unknown metal quality is something that is a big problem in metal casting - which is why of course there is huge industry refining scrap back to pure metals which are then re-alloyed from scratch before casting - to cast successfully, good quality consistent alloys are essential, as alloy proportions effect all of the other variables - melting point, viscosity, pouring temperature, mould temperature, investment type, gating and venting. It's important not to use too much scrap gates and sprues - jewellers working in sterling silver try to keep it below 25% if possible and definitely below 50%. Scrap produced can be reduced by the simple expedient of weighing the wax used before burn out, and using a simple calculation to give you the amount of metal you need to melt - this is also good as it means you melt less metal = quicker melting = less dissolved gases. Good to see the use of proper investment and consideration of waxe used - so many vids try to save a few £ using things like ordinary plaster and candle wax - very much a false economy. I think the issues you've had in casting the coins and the film logo were mainly down to too low a mould temperature - you can compensate (to an extent) by increasing pouring temp - but you can easily get increased shrinkage problems, more dissolved gasses and if casting brass or alloys containing lead or cadmium get increased chance of noxious fumes - (another good reason not to usescrap!). As an example, when casting sterling silver (m.p. ~890c ) burnout goes upto 850c-900c then down to 600c for casting. This is done using a 4 or 5 stage burnout schedule, typically over 10-12 hours for jewellery - (possibly longer for bigger items), specific to the type of metal, investment and sometimes the material being burnt out. As you have surmised you need a kiln to do burnout, and one with a multi-stage programmer - unless you fancy minding a kiln for 12-18 hours! The good news is there are plenty of old kilns on ebay that are very reasonable, and kits for programmers, which are very cheap too. Lost wax casting isn't difficult, but it is precise and unforgiving - so you need correct AND consistent materials, you have to measure, measure, and measure again , and 'shortcut' = failure! There are so many little things, anyone of which can cause disaster, that many use a check sheet with every last item on it, with spaces to record all the details of times, temps etc - this is often mandatory in professional settings. Hope some of this helps!
Since watching this, something about the vacuum process of the plaster seems a little off from what I remember of the little bit of Jewelry casting I've done. I only remember small bubbles coming out of the plaster stuff I did a long time ago. As I've thought it over, I think your vacuum might be drawing too deep and causing the water to boil and likely reducing the detail in the plaster impression. I believe the ideal vacuum level for this kind of stuff is deep enough to force air out of the mix but not so deep that the water boils. I'll have to look some stuff up to verify if that is correct, but that's what sticks out in my mind at the moment. I think we had a light vacuum on the plaster and it was over a number of hours. (I'm sure your expert mentors could verify if the vacuum was too deep and if that affected the plaster impression)
Thank you Walt... I've been thinking that all along. It genuinely bothers me... I know if you put water in a vacuum chamber it boils... and plaster is largely water. So is the water boiling off I ask myself. It's great to have someone else ask the same question. You're a gent : )
I know the boiling in a vacuum is a question of temperature and pressure for water boiling in a vacuum chamber, Assuming you are at room temp (about 23 [C]) water boils at something like 29.12 [inHg] (of vacuum gauge pressure), So as long as you regulate the vacuum to have more pressure in the chamber there should be no boiling of the water. One suggestion I just read as I'm trying to find a reference on this is to degas just the water before mixing it with the plaster, this should speed up the whole degassing process for the mixed plaster. 28-29 inHg (as a measure on vacuum gauge) is the range of vacuum needed, just slightly above the boiling point under room temp vacuum (Still not finding a great reference on details for this portion of the process)
Aya chap. My hat comes off to you for your persistence. You did get a result and it was worth the effort mate. Nice going. The humorous comments make me smile and the elephant was a work of art 😉. Great vid chap.
For me it was the knuckles... I must have laughed for 15 minutes with that one. I've still got a cold shoulder I can tell you. It wasn't brilliant, but it was copper (eeek) and a new technique for me. Hopefully others will be inspired to do better : )
VegOilGuy good start Try mixture 50/50 by volume sand and gypsum The burnout will take 2 hors And brush the investment first on the wax you will have better details
I was thinking of trying that : ) Someone must have done in before, but it might be worth a bash... even if it's just to see what sort of mess I make ; ) Scary music? I never realised. I might have to look for something a little lighter.
scary? It's the kind of music you get with a breaking news flash to emphasize importance... I happen to really like it :) I guess it might be scary to people associating the presentation of news and knowledge as scary... ;D
Where do I start,first your mother-in-law, now your wife's hand? Love watching people as yourself doing these things and especially the commentary. There a very few that make me laugh, you and Oil Burner are at the top of the list and it really ticks my wife off when I wake her laughing. Love your shows and really wish oil burner was posting again. Check him out as he also uses or used veg oil. Good cast and good show!!!
Hi Donnie. I'm subbed to Oil Burner. I agree, it's a shame he hasn't posted for a while. I've mentioned him in my earlier videos, my own oil burner design - and he commented back, which was great : ) My wife and mother-in-law take it all in their stride and dish out as good as they get. I'm a lucky guy.
Hi Ron. No, still haven't got the thermocouple. But I hated the Aluminium coins so much, I took a chance. This time it was fine... no spitting, no gas. I guess it felt sorry for me ; )
That is very cool. I’m casting myself but far behind in skill and experience. I wish I had a mentor but it seem I’m the only person in my area of Oklahoma in the US casting at home.
I know how you feel. Here in the UK casting is still quite rare. I'm entirely self taught but I have shared my journey as best I can in my videos, sharing the ups and the downs so people can learn from my experiences. I hope it helps you : )
For pieces on the scale of the film logo, have you considered ceramic shell casting? Helps deal with shrinkage and gas escape with larger pieces. Or for jewellery, there is steam casting - not perfect, but a big step-up from gravity only. I've also had remarkably good results from deft - given the right geometry - comparable to lost wax, needing only a quick trim and a final polish. R
I must admit, shell casting is calling to me... but I've still got a big bag of plaster investment to get though and a few experiments planned (I can't resist). After that, who knows : )
Idea: fill up one of those silicon fancy ice cube molds with wax. I see you can get skulls, diamonds and loads of other things. Then use those items for casting?
I think that's the way they were traditionally done. Personally, right now, I'd be thinking in terms of 3D printer and Lost PLA. If you've seen my lost PLA videos, I've been thrilled with the results. There's so much potential to be creative there : )
I was going to melt copper into blanks then stamp. I do not yet have a 3d printer, but now with casting I can see a use, since I have no artistic skill to manually carve art. Stamping probably still better for large quantities, I was hoping to cnc obverse and reverse then harden. THANK YOU for sharing I watched yours and SWDWEEB last night useful knowledge both.
Many thanks. Glad you've been over to Perry's channel (SWdweeb). He's a great bloke and very knowledgeable. I was experimenting with Lost Wax myself with a view to making more artistic pieces, but as you say, there's a lot of skill needed. Being able to use design software helps those of us without the artistic skills to create something pleasing. If we can then print it and cast it, all the better : ) If I can manage to get some casting in tomorrow, hopefully I'll have another Lost PLA video to share this week showing an example of more jewellery making. Now jewellery might not be for everyone, but if you can make something small and intricate, you can make something bigger : D
I love it! I wonder if this is how they did it back in 12-1400's, I am a bit of a historian. Did you 3d print it to start? I have yet to jump to casting side of jewelry making. Also I love your humor!
I think coins were stamped in days gone by, but I could be wrong. At the time of this project I didn't have a 3D printer so I used 3D Hubs. Yes, casting jewellery and just about everything else is great fun - and very rewarding : )
Hi. Yes, Lost Wax casting is one of the preferred techniques for copying coins. This was my first attempt at it and I didn't do very well. Look out for my other Lost Wax videos... I do get better eventually : )
Instead of a vacuum rig could you use centripetal force mimic the effect of the vacuum? I think I have seen jewlers use a centrifuge-like rig to cast very small pieces.
You're absolutely right Mark, they have and still do use them. But I'm the kind of guy that would just HAVE to build one. Then I've have the fear of something containing metal 10 times hotter than boiling water whizzing 100mph by my head : ) That's brown trousers stuff that is ; )
Geoff, Think horizontal spinning with a machine, jewelry has been spin casing metals for a long time. There are DIY plans out there for small-ish machines to do this. But having used them, I never got past the brown trousers stuff while releasing the spring loaded mechanisms (but that might have been something specific to the ones we were using). ruclips.net/video/j-I0l5Rh0wg/видео.html
Vertical would take up less space, and keep the flies from around my head, but it might redecorate my garage with liquid fire. Perhaps horizontal is a better approach. Thanks for the link... I'll take a look.
The only quasi-vertical casting for centrifugal casting I have seen is for making seamless pipes and tubes like in these videos. The molds are spinning while the metal is poured along the length the same way large commercial cast iron pipes are made. Small shop size ruclips.net/video/iUjOhtXCoro/видео.html Commercial sized ruclips.net/video/kJGlgSZe4k4/видео.html
I'm sure if you send me the aluminium ones, I'll be able to make it just as shiny and nice as the one swdweeb is holding at the end of his video (not really, his looks really crisp, but then he used a metal that is far better fit for coin casting). But I'm sure some extensive hand sanding could really push your result up a level or two.
I know Perry struggled with the editing on this one and had a lot of footage to trim. Personally as a subscriber of Perry's and as a viewer, I'd like to have seen the work he did on the coin after casting. I agree there's grinding and much polishing there, and the results are clear to see. Lot's of effort and a justly obtained reward. But that's not my style... I'm too lazy : ) Well, it's more the fact that I like to show things warts and all. I agree with you Luke, I could have cleaned than coin up nicely (still not as good as Perry's, let's be clear on that). But to achieve that, I would've had to grind away those lines... and I wanted those. If I had achieved perfection, it would have looked just like the printed version, tool marks nice a clear. But for a while, I was tempted ; )
Use cast aluminum not extruded aluminum it's not good for casting because Cast aluminum have silicon, and copper in the alloy it's is very good for casting i use this alloy and coppy very fine details of small old coin, from the start of brasillian Republic.
Great success, especially for first attempts using limited wax injection and lost wax casting gear! Check out my Dave's homemade lost wax and lost PLA vacuum-assisted casting rig; you've already got the pump you use to debubble - you're more than halfway there already! ruclips.net/video/3BikL2yIDic/видео.html
Well done Jeff If you can achieve so much after a few pours from scratch I can imagine what you would be like after a few months of devoting time to it When you where making the Silicon mold I thought maybe you should have used a mold release Brick In The Yard Mold Supply ( ruclips.net/user/brickintheyard) have some excellent tutorials on making various things and you might find some ideas there ( though they aren't into Casting metals to my knowledge ) but all other sorts of moldings, uses of silicon and so on they are the go to place I hope that they can offer some ideas and maybe another restraining order to your growing list of them ( Every body needs a Hobby grin) Looking forward to your next enjoyable adventure Tony From Western Australia
What a fabulous resource - thanks : ) I don't think I've been banned from there yet, so that's even better. As for the silicone, you can use release agents but this particular one recommends not bothering, claiming it sticks to nothing but itself. So far I have to agree with it. The light dusting of talc recommended by John and Martin also works really well. You put a little talc in, shake the mould, brush and blow everything out. It's like a slight haze, but seems to help with separation and flow... those guys know their stuff : )
I thought you might like Brick in the yard I have been subbed to them for about 18 months now and they always have good tutorials and ideas and they also sell a lot of the products they demo as they make the stuff as well I have had a fair few good chats to Martin and we have shared a few links as well he is truly a Gentleman and a scholar and that is one thing I love about RUclips the skills out their and the willingness to share knowledge with others you can learn so much if you are willing to go looking ! BTW it is my pleasure to help as I am not a creator this is my way of giving back I have so many interests I can usually link something with some one ! Tony
YT is a fabulous resource. There is a lot of crap and people with genuine skills, like Martin, can often get drowned out by rank amateurs doing the wrong and the dangerous. But if you dig, as you say, they're there. When I come across them, I like to mention them. In the end, we all gain : )
I´m practically speechless with admiration but, while I´m delighted with the coins you cast, I really dropped by to mention how wonderfully well your videos are produced. I love all the little humorous side note - a twelve minute video of yours takes much longer than 12 minutes to watch as a result; I pause and read every word.
It´s not just the post-production work though - I gaze with awe and envy at your short, studio-shot illustrative inserts, with a white background and the object under discussion revolving slowly, all with seamless voice over.
I have no vacuum chamber; I save cheese-wax for casting and use a saucepan for a crucible, so I don´t aspire to your (to me) exalted standard of metal casting, but I do watch your videos with a mildly plagiaristic eye, day-dreaming perhaps of a quiet corner of the shed, equipped with a smart white background, an old record deck, and an anglepoise lamp.
I´m off to watch the other contestants´handiwork - congratulations on this outcome : )
Wow.
I mean wow!!!
Thanks. That's an incredibly nice thing to say. You've made my day.
Those that know me best will tell you I'm cursed with perfectionism. I will happily congratulate and celebrate the work of others, regardless of how it may appear. But when it comes to myself, I'm incredibly picky : )
I hope I haven't given you the impression that I work on a limitless budget with incredible gadgetry. Nothing could be further from the truth. My budget is uncompromisingly anorexic and my equipment is often self made. My camera is an iPhone 5. The stand is a copper pipe. Many of my tools belonged to my grandfather (long since gone). And all the images, scripts, word play, etc, are all the product of dozens of hours each week to produce a video a few minutes long that's watched by a few hundred people.
So why do I do it? Because I enjoy it, and if it helps, entertains or educates someone else along the way, all the better.
And occasionally, I get a comment like yours - and then I feel like a millionaire (figuratively speaking of course).
The time you put into your videos is indeed time well spent - even if comparatively few viewers read all the funny bits. I refuse to monetise my account because I want no incentive to chase views - like you, I´d rather make the video I want to make and know that it´ll amass very few views per year.
By the way, I thought that was a very fine elephant @ 1:52 : )
I've just looked at your channel. It seems we share many similar interests. Please have a look here - with my thanks:
ruclips.net/channel/UCkEYj8wtK3aEW8vSGhlB43gcommunity
He'll never forget that you've said that : )
Oh, and please monitise. There's revenue being generated, so you may as well have it rather than let RUclips keep the lot. Then give it to charity or do something nice for your Landy - or, I mean Lady.
Don’t beat yourself up so much! You are the one on the working side of the camera! And your learning at the same time your teaching me and many others. Good job!!!
Hi Nick. Thanks for the supportive comments.
I try not to take myself too seriously and I don't want others to either. I think the humour helps there. I want to show that learning is fun and that imperfections are part of the learning process. Mostly I want to reminds folks of the great sources of knowledge we have out there, people like John, Paul and Martin. These guys are the real inspiration : )
I'm pretty sure Perry does't need another cat. His wife has four in the barn ;-)
I think you did great. It's all about learning new things, hence the word challenge. This wasn't about a competition but challenging us to learn something new or expand our existing capabilities. I think the fact that you accomplished lost wax for the first time is something to be very pleased with. The possibilities for lost wax go well outside the capabilities of green sand (or petrobond as I use). This opens the door for all sorts of neat stuff.
I say well done!
What cat? I don't know what you mean... (note to self: I've got the wrong house - try and get the fishy treats back off that tabby).
I enjoyed it and hated it in equal measure. Wrong materials, lack of equipment and mentors with hearts of gold.
I agree the technique itself has great scope and I understand many believe it's the oldest form of casting.
I'll try not to spoil it for history's sake : )
maybe you got me mixed up with Perry ? I have 7 1/2 cats
I like the Lost wax as well and for interest sake the guys over at
Man At Arms Reforgedruclips.net/p/PLUUGFk1wE5OFOpfPz3ggXQrCSdQdFEslx
Use it on some of their Swords and Knive decorations with very good results
Tony
What a learning experience!!! Looks great
I think I've still got a looooooong way to go : )
but the thing is your going in the right direction. If there were 20 things you did wrong and found 1 or 2 of those problems and fixed them. Before long there will be nothing else wrong and you'd have to get it right. My boys play football (American football with the oblong ball LOL) They are 11 and 12 years old. I ran across a saying this last week I shared with them and love it. It goes like this.
"Don't practice till you get it right. Practice till you can't get it wrong"
P.S. you are way ahead of my my friend!!! Its been way too hot for me to be out and in the garage to perfect it myself. Great Video as always!!!
Here's another one for you... this one is courtesy of my Grandad:
Show me a man that makes no mistakes and I'll show you a man that doesn't do anything.
I've always liked that... there's so much truth in it.
Have a good one : )
Not bad , not damn bad at all for a first effort. What little I know of investment casting tells me that it is an exacting discipline requiring patience, practice, and persistence and that it has a very steep and very long learning curve. To have achieved this level of success with minimal equipment on a first try is quite remarkable. I think that both John and Paul would most likely concur when I say that with more and better equipment - wax injectors burn out kilns vacuum casters etc plus the continued application of the three "P"s mentioned above results will improve, Oh! And some decent metal of course. Keep up the good work.. Martin
Thanks boss! The important missing words there were, "This is much better than Perry's" : )
Your input was crucial as always. And John and Paul were also very patient and supportive. So you guys made it possible - thanks again.
You definitely created some super cool sci fi planetary money in the end there! Beautiful toning.
Pity I can't spend it 😁
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your video here and how impressed I am with your ingenuity, resourcefulness and drive to get a better result. In the end you may not have been thrilled with the final product but I thought both sets came out great! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for watching. It's a journey 've enjoyed taking 😁😁😁
I think you did great! Love all the printed humor!
Thanks Tom. Hiding the videos from my wife is the tricky part ; )
Love the humorous comments bubbles that get inserted.
Funny how this was your first attempt at investment casting, and now it's all you do, and you do a good job too!
It's definitely become my preferred way of casting. Some folks like big. I found I liked small and detailed... I found it more challenging and fun. And fun is what it's all about 😁😁😁
Saw a DIY rig recently for doing vacuum casting with a pump like yours. It was basically just two metal tubes that fit with a small gap between. The bottom "vacuum chamber" was basically a thick-walled steel pipe welded to a steel base, with a flange and gasket at the top, and a hole drilled and tapped for the vacuum connection near the bottom. the inner tube was thin walled with holes in the sides and bottom, and a flange at the top to mate up with the bottom tube. The "vacuum" plaster was cast in the inner tube with a removable silicon cup over the inner tube. Best of luck with your explorations.
Thanks Walt.
Whilst part of me is tempted to look into a vacuum set up, for me these cylindrical flasks are quite restricting. I was very grateful to both John and Paul (my experts), but I was aware that both of these guys specialise in the miniature. Unless another challenge arises, the sort of things I normally make (gears, wheels, brackets, etc) are all a little larger.
Of course historically wax casting was NOT done using vacuums. The museums are full of bronzes that were created long before most even knew what a vacuum was, so I guess there's hope for me to cast something yet : )
VegOilGuy I totally understand, the DIY vacuum rig I saw was likely for stuff under 10mm and that definitely would be restrictive. From what I've seen lost wax investment casting is usually the route for medium to large castings which need higher detail. Of course that is a time consuming process building up the refactoring shell, and the special slurry and zircon sand for the process isn't exactly cheap. I'll see if I can find the link to the RUclipsr who I've seen attempt the investment casting process in his back yard.
VegOilGuy here is the small investment casting that I saw. (Just informational info) best of luck with your next project ruclips.net/video/1VNy6QuakxY/видео.html
Thanks Walt. I'll watch that later : )
A little disappointing NoWay Geoff , there Perfect 👌🏻 . If I could do coins half as good as that ide be extremely satisfied 😁👍🏻. I loved both coins but I bet holding the copper was very satisfying . That pouring design you made with the RUclips button is friggen awesome , ide love to try do a nice big plaque of that design in aluminium bronze that would be cooool👍🏻.
Those aluminium coins felt horrible, and yet Martin tells me that Alu Coins are an actual thing. But the copper coin felt real, like a Victorian coin. It even looks Victorian thanks to the imperfections : )
I agree, a larger version would look cool. And hopefully it would be easier to do.
I know Perry and I'd would love to have you in one of these challenges mate. We don't take it seriously... it's just a matter of having a go... and a bit of playful banter is fun. Think on it mate. It would be great to have you.
I went over to Vancouver back in 1996 and when handling the $2.00 Loonie coin ( www.google.com.au/search?newwindow=1&hl=en&biw=1191&bih=541&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=2p9AW93CHMbS8wXklpuQCQ&q=Canadian+2+dollar+The+Loonie&oq=Canadian+2+dollar+The+Loonie&gs_l=img.12...6768.7292.0.9504.2.2.0.0.0.0.222.442.2-2.2.0....0...1c..64.img..0.0.0....0.s9u2PxTv7iQ#imgrc=GYFL4Jp-FM_d0M: )
I felt the same way not proper money or feeling in the hand
Martin maybe you should try a casting of Our 50 Cent Piece?
Joe, that is a beautiful coin... please don't mention it again. Casting two metals would have my analyst working overtime .
; )
This is INCREDIBLY COOL! I feel like there’s a great usefulness to people who are skilled artisans in one area sharing their process of learning a new technique. You have the right mindset and know how to ask smart questions when things don’t go quite right, and your results end up variable in a way that actually can teach fellow total newbies a ton about the process and what to expect! Also, I personally would say that your early castings are beautiful and worthwhile, because the way they combine the capturing of the original tool marks with the “tool marks” created by the imperfections in the process adds a ton of life and individuality to each coin reproduction!
Stella, I can tell from your words that you're an artist - am I wrong?
I never claim to know everything and really can't see why other people are ashamed to admit that simple truth. So I'll ask people that do know, listen when I think they're right and just nod amiably when I think they're wrong. It's a process I enjoy and am happy to share with others. And giving credit to those that deserve it - that's just right and proper.
I like learning new things. I also like to adapt and change. I like traditional, but this sometimes has a high price tag, so I'll look for accessible alternatives and (dare I say it) improvements.
It makes life more interesting and prevents my mind from stagnating too much.
Thanks for your very kind input.
VegOilGuy ha ha! Yep, definitely an artist! I’m currently on a quest to fill my little NYC apartment with as many power tools as possible, but I think I have to draw the line at casting hot metal..... (So I’ll just have to live vicariously through the adventures of others!)
You're more than welcome to endure my trials and tribulations remotely.
There's many times I wish I could ; )
Very cool, I'm enjoying the challenge very much and looking forward to more of them with different RUclipsrs.
Thanks Richard. Got anybody in mind (please be a gorgeous lady RUclipsr)?
Nice work, I like the idea of using lost wax. Keep working at it you’ll get it with some more experience.
Thanks John. Everybody has to learn I guess : )
Another great vid! But a suggestion - instead of casting them in copper, which is horrible to cast, buy a spool of lead-free plumbers solder, which is 95%-97% tin and 2.5% - 5% copper, and then by simply cut of a pre-weighed length of solder, and toss is in to the copper when melted (don't forget plenty of borax as flux) a quick stir or two and you can cast in lovely bronze, that flows and casts much better than copper - machines better too. The nice thing is it enables you to avoid one of the worst issues for hobby casting, which is poor or unknown metal quality. If you use scrap copper from on electrical bus-bar and contacts etc, it is usually oxegen free, meaning better quality from no dissolved gases. Poor/unknown metal quality is something that is a big problem in metal casting - which is why of course there is huge industry refining scrap back to pure metals which are then re-alloyed from scratch before casting - to cast successfully, good quality consistent alloys are essential, as alloy proportions effect all of the other variables - melting point, viscosity, pouring temperature, mould temperature, investment type, gating and venting. It's important not to use too much scrap gates and sprues - jewellers working in sterling silver try to keep it below 25% if possible and definitely below 50%. Scrap produced can be reduced by the simple expedient of weighing the wax used before burn out, and using a simple calculation to give you the amount of metal you need to melt - this is also good as it means you melt less metal = quicker melting = less dissolved gases. Good to see the use of proper investment and consideration of waxe used - so many vids try to save a few £ using things like ordinary plaster and candle wax - very much a false economy. I think the issues you've had in casting the coins and the film logo were mainly down to too low a mould temperature - you can compensate (to an extent) by increasing pouring temp - but you can easily get increased shrinkage problems, more dissolved gasses and if casting brass or alloys containing lead or cadmium get increased chance of noxious fumes - (another good reason not to usescrap!). As an example, when casting sterling silver (m.p. ~890c ) burnout goes upto 850c-900c then down to 600c for casting. This is done using a 4 or 5 stage burnout schedule, typically over 10-12 hours for jewellery - (possibly longer for bigger items), specific to the type of metal, investment and sometimes the material being burnt out. As you have surmised you need a kiln to do burnout, and one with a multi-stage programmer - unless you fancy minding a kiln for 12-18 hours! The good news is there are plenty of old kilns on ebay that are very reasonable, and kits for programmers, which are very cheap too. Lost wax casting isn't difficult, but it is precise and unforgiving - so you need correct AND consistent materials, you have to measure, measure, and measure again , and 'shortcut' = failure! There are so many little things, anyone of which can cause disaster, that many use a check sheet with every last item on it, with spaces to record all the details of times, temps etc - this is often mandatory in professional settings. Hope some of this helps!
Wow, what an informative and comprehensive comment. It's much appreciated. You clearly know you're stuff. Thanks for sharing this : )
Cool video. Thanks!
Thanks Ronald : )
Since watching this, something about the vacuum process of the plaster seems a little off from what I remember of the little bit of Jewelry casting I've done. I only remember small bubbles coming out of the plaster stuff I did a long time ago. As I've thought it over, I think your vacuum might be drawing too deep and causing the water to boil and likely reducing the detail in the plaster impression. I believe the ideal vacuum level for this kind of stuff is deep enough to force air out of the mix but not so deep that the water boils. I'll have to look some stuff up to verify if that is correct, but that's what sticks out in my mind at the moment. I think we had a light vacuum on the plaster and it was over a number of hours. (I'm sure your expert mentors could verify if the vacuum was too deep and if that affected the plaster impression)
Thank you Walt... I've been thinking that all along.
It genuinely bothers me...
I know if you put water in a vacuum chamber it boils... and plaster is largely water. So is the water boiling off I ask myself.
It's great to have someone else ask the same question. You're a gent : )
I know the boiling in a vacuum is a question of temperature and pressure for water boiling in a vacuum chamber, Assuming you are at room temp (about 23 [C]) water boils at something like 29.12 [inHg] (of vacuum gauge pressure), So as long as you regulate the vacuum to have more pressure in the chamber there should be no boiling of the water.
One suggestion I just read as I'm trying to find a reference on this is to degas just the water before mixing it with the plaster, this should speed up the whole degassing process for the mixed plaster.
28-29 inHg (as a measure on vacuum gauge) is the range of vacuum needed, just slightly above the boiling point under room temp vacuum
(Still not finding a great reference on details for this portion of the process)
Thanks Walt
Nice work and good detail
Aya chap. My hat comes off to you for your persistence. You did get a result and it was worth the effort mate. Nice going. The humorous comments make me smile and the elephant was a work of art 😉. Great vid chap.
For me it was the knuckles... I must have laughed for 15 minutes with that one. I've still got a cold shoulder I can tell you.
It wasn't brilliant, but it was copper (eeek) and a new technique for me.
Hopefully others will be inspired to do better : )
Important point guys... I was feeling sorry for Perry... you know how it is ; )
VegOilGuy good start
Try mixture 50/50 by volume sand and gypsum
The burnout will take 2 hors
And brush the investment first on the wax you will have better details
VegOilGuy can you try the same experience using a green sand as usual..(remark: the background music is scary)..
Nice work sir and big respect :)
Hi Rabih. Thanks for that. I was thinking of experimenting a little as the investment is quite expensive. Yours sounds an economical way to go : )
I was thinking of trying that : )
Someone must have done in before, but it might be worth a bash... even if it's just to see what sort of mess I make ; )
Scary music? I never realised. I might have to look for something a little lighter.
scary? It's the kind of music you get with a breaking news flash to emphasize importance... I happen to really like it :) I guess it might be scary to people associating the presentation of news and knowledge as scary... ;D
I like your elephant too.
He will never forget you for that ; )
I like the idea of a challenge coin... we use the at work. :-)
looks epic to me! Almost looks like an antique coin, which is awesome, especially since the goal was to capture the detail! Nice job!
The only antiquated thing is the guy that cast the coin : )
Thanks Luke
maybe that one needs so extra hand sanding too... =D
There are establishments that charge extra for that kind of service...
... or so I've been told : )
OMG you're dirtier than I am! (unless I am...) =D
Good job
Thanks very much. I appreciate that : )
Big thumbs up.. ;) =)
Thanks : )
I actually like yours as it looks rough and worn/used.
I think I look the same way : )
Where do I start,first your mother-in-law, now your wife's hand? Love watching people as yourself doing these things and especially the commentary. There a very few that make me laugh, you and Oil Burner are at the top of the list and it really ticks my wife off when I wake her laughing. Love your shows and really wish oil burner was posting again. Check him out as he also uses or used veg oil. Good cast and good show!!!
Hi Donnie. I'm subbed to Oil Burner. I agree, it's a shame he hasn't posted for a while.
I've mentioned him in my earlier videos, my own oil burner design - and he commented back, which was great : )
My wife and mother-in-law take it all in their stride and dish out as good as they get. I'm a lucky guy.
So you DID get another thermocouple. Your lost wax casting was better than mine, but I was 16 when I did it. Good job. 👍 🤓 👍
Hi Ron. No, still haven't got the thermocouple. But I hated the Aluminium coins so much, I took a chance. This time it was fine... no spitting, no gas. I guess it felt sorry for me ; )
Gas can be a lot of fun, but most other people don't appreciate what is not their own. 😁
Especially in elevators...
That is very cool. I’m casting myself but far behind in skill and experience. I wish I had a mentor but it seem I’m the only person in my area of Oklahoma in the US casting at home.
I know how you feel. Here in the UK casting is still quite rare. I'm entirely self taught but I have shared my journey as best I can in my videos, sharing the ups and the downs so people can learn from my experiences. I hope it helps you : )
For pieces on the scale of the film logo, have you considered ceramic shell casting? Helps deal with shrinkage and gas escape with larger pieces. Or for jewellery, there is steam casting - not perfect, but a big step-up from gravity only. I've also had remarkably good results from deft - given the right geometry - comparable to lost wax, needing only a quick trim and a final polish. R
I must admit, shell casting is calling to me... but I've still got a big bag of plaster investment to get though and a few experiments planned (I can't resist). After that, who knows : )
Great viddy Geoff!
I love how that came out!
Keep it up, and you'll have a stack of them in no time!
Maybe even a whole roll! :D
Thanx buddy!
Your a gent, thanks.
But a roll? I think BigstackD would be upset if I started making a treasure hoard of my own : )
Nahhhhhh.
He would congratulate you! :D
Idea: fill up one of those silicon fancy ice cube molds with wax. I see you can get skulls, diamonds and loads of other things. Then use those items for casting?
Yes, that would certainly work : )
Nice work, wow, and I was thinking of making a press for copper coins.
I think that's the way they were traditionally done.
Personally, right now, I'd be thinking in terms of 3D printer and Lost PLA. If you've seen my lost PLA videos, I've been thrilled with the results. There's so much potential to be creative there : )
I was going to melt copper into blanks then stamp. I do not yet have a 3d printer, but now with casting I can see a use, since I have no artistic skill to manually carve art. Stamping probably still better for large quantities, I was hoping to cnc obverse and reverse then harden. THANK YOU for sharing I watched yours and SWDWEEB last night useful knowledge both.
Many thanks. Glad you've been over to Perry's channel (SWdweeb). He's a great bloke and very knowledgeable.
I was experimenting with Lost Wax myself with a view to making more artistic pieces, but as you say, there's a lot of skill needed. Being able to use design software helps those of us without the artistic skills to create something pleasing. If we can then print it and cast it, all the better : )
If I can manage to get some casting in tomorrow, hopefully I'll have another Lost PLA video to share this week showing an example of more jewellery making. Now jewellery might not be for everyone, but if you can make something small and intricate, you can make something bigger : D
Is good you reuse stuff around the house I was like recycling or using things
Thanks : )
You're like the Big Clive of the casting world...
You're very kind : )
I love it! I wonder if this is how they did it back in 12-1400's, I am a bit of a historian. Did you 3d print it to start? I have yet to jump to casting side of jewelry making. Also I love your humor!
I think coins were stamped in days gone by, but I could be wrong.
At the time of this project I didn't have a 3D printer so I used 3D Hubs.
Yes, casting jewellery and just about everything else is great fun - and very rewarding : )
Hello sir !!!
I am wondering if I can make some bronze copies of a Morgan Silver Dollar , with this technique.
What do you think ???
Hi. Yes, Lost Wax casting is one of the preferred techniques for copying coins. This was my first attempt at it and I didn't do very well. Look out for my other Lost Wax videos... I do get better eventually : )
Instead of a vacuum rig could you use centripetal force mimic the effect of the vacuum? I think I have seen jewlers use a centrifuge-like rig to cast very small pieces.
You're absolutely right Mark, they have and still do use them. But I'm the kind of guy that would just HAVE to build one. Then I've have the fear of something containing metal 10 times hotter than boiling water whizzing 100mph by my head : )
That's brown trousers stuff that is ; )
Geoff, Think horizontal spinning with a machine, jewelry has been spin casing metals for a long time. There are DIY plans out there for small-ish machines to do this. But having used them, I never got past the brown trousers stuff while releasing the spring loaded mechanisms (but that might have been something specific to the ones we were using). ruclips.net/video/j-I0l5Rh0wg/видео.html
Vertical would take up less space, and keep the flies from around my head, but it might redecorate my garage with liquid fire. Perhaps horizontal is a better approach. Thanks for the link... I'll take a look.
The only quasi-vertical casting for centrifugal casting I have seen is for making seamless pipes and tubes like in these videos. The molds are spinning while the metal is poured along the length the same way large commercial cast iron pipes are made.
Small shop size
ruclips.net/video/iUjOhtXCoro/видео.html
Commercial sized
ruclips.net/video/kJGlgSZe4k4/видео.html
Thanks Walt.
D'you know what... I'm suddenly going off the idea ; )
I'm sure if you send me the aluminium ones, I'll be able to make it just as shiny and nice as the one swdweeb is holding at the end of his video (not really, his looks really crisp, but then he used a metal that is far better fit for coin casting). But I'm sure some extensive hand sanding could really push your result up a level or two.
I know Perry struggled with the editing on this one and had a lot of footage to trim. Personally as a subscriber of Perry's and as a viewer, I'd like to have seen the work he did on the coin after casting. I agree there's grinding and much polishing there, and the results are clear to see. Lot's of effort and a justly obtained reward.
But that's not my style... I'm too lazy : )
Well, it's more the fact that I like to show things warts and all. I agree with you Luke, I could have cleaned than coin up nicely (still not as good as Perry's, let's be clear on that). But to achieve that, I would've had to grind away those lines... and I wanted those.
If I had achieved perfection, it would have looked just like the printed version, tool marks nice a clear.
But for a while, I was tempted ; )
which type of wax
Hi. It's called "casting wax" and it made for lost wax casting : )
Use cast aluminum not extruded aluminum it's not good for casting because Cast aluminum have silicon, and copper in the alloy it's is very good for casting i use this alloy and coppy very fine details of small old coin, from the start of brasillian Republic.
Great success, especially for first attempts using limited wax injection and lost wax casting gear!
Check out my Dave's homemade lost wax and lost PLA vacuum-assisted casting rig; you've already got the pump you use to debubble - you're more than halfway there already! ruclips.net/video/3BikL2yIDic/видео.html
Thanks very much... and thanks for the link. Dave is new to me. I'll have to look at more of his videos : )
0:55 - What has Einstein to do with that?
Well done Jeff If you can achieve so much after a few pours from scratch I can imagine what you would be like after a few months of devoting time to it
When you where making the Silicon mold I thought maybe you should have used a mold release
Brick In The Yard Mold Supply ( ruclips.net/user/brickintheyard) have some excellent tutorials on making various things and you might find some ideas there ( though they aren't into Casting metals to my knowledge ) but all other sorts of moldings, uses of silicon and so on they are the go to place
I hope that they can offer some ideas and maybe another restraining order to your growing list of them ( Every body needs a Hobby grin)
Looking forward to your next enjoyable adventure
Tony From Western Australia
What a fabulous resource - thanks : )
I don't think I've been banned from there yet, so that's even better.
As for the silicone, you can use release agents but this particular one recommends not bothering, claiming it sticks to nothing but itself. So far I have to agree with it.
The light dusting of talc recommended by John and Martin also works really well. You put a little talc in, shake the mould, brush and blow everything out. It's like a slight haze, but seems to help with separation and flow... those guys know their stuff : )
I thought you might like Brick in the yard I have been subbed to them for about 18 months now and they always have good tutorials and ideas and they also sell a lot of the products they demo as they make the stuff as well
I have had a fair few good chats to Martin and we have shared a few links as well he is truly a Gentleman and a scholar and that is one thing I love about RUclips the skills out their and the willingness to share knowledge with others
you can learn so much if you are willing to go looking !
BTW it is my pleasure to help as I am not a creator this is my way of giving back I have so many interests I can usually link something with some one !
Tony
YT is a fabulous resource. There is a lot of crap and people with genuine skills, like Martin, can often get drowned out by rank amateurs doing the wrong and the dangerous. But if you dig, as you say, they're there.
When I come across them, I like to mention them. In the end, we all gain : )
ya that is the bad part of aluminum it weight nothing
very true : )
Geoff, Microsoft ate my computer and I lost all e mails and contacts ,pls send me an e mail.
Paul
Email sent your way Paul. If you haven't had it, let me know : )