Metal Clay for casting parts?

[Steve WanParticipant @stevewan33894]

Hi Guys

 

Last night I attended a Jewellery Design School open house. I was surprised that casting precious metals such as silver or gold no longer a trend. Instead, the precious metal comes in white clay form, a combination of water element, combining agents and precious metal molecules.

 

It’s handled just like any dough with water to soften then roll, cut and form to any shape. Almost like kids playing plastercine. Then it’s bake in a normal toaster oven for an hour to harden, to evaporate the water and binding agent.

 

The last stage, simply brush away the white powdery surfaces to see the pure silver finish. At this stage, it’s pure metal and nothing else.

 

Wonder this metal clay comes in cast iron type in the market? So next time, anyone in need for casting small replacement parts can approach this way!

Then the harden piece is machined to size.

 

Need not go through the foundary method, troublesome and costly for those making only a few pieces.

 

Steve

Edited By Steve Wan on 06/05/2011 03:55:05

[Steve WanParticipant @stevewan33894]

[peter walton 1Participant @peterwalton1]

Not sure I like the idea that its sintered and not solid.

Also shrinkage can be upto 30% so have to take that into account.

For real jewelary I cannot see it replacing the lost wax process, as once you have the equipment the casting is not that difficult and you only need a gas torch.

Peter

[Lawrie Alush-JaggsParticipant @lawriealush-jaggs50843]

Hi Steve

 

I would have thought that using water in such a paste with iron would be detrimental to the iron – turn it to rust.

 

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I’v got an old tin of casting filler powder for filling blow holes in cast iron, it is mixed to a paste with a minimum amount of water, I’ll have a look later to see if there is a name on the tin. Ian S C

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