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bbygodzilla t1_j9ie7ly wrote

Reply to comment by nacostaart in Creme Brulee and the Torch, Me, Marker, 2022 by wanderingbutwhere

I became a silversmith. Get to play with fire and hot metal to make cool shit!

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littleplasticninja t1_j9jyor5 wrote

Ooh, I want to learn metal casting! Any tips for silver casting?

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bbygodzilla t1_j9k1u2p wrote

Casting is something I have yet to add to my skillset, tbh! Checkout the Metalsmith Society for all kids of tips and resources, but I'd also recommend looking around your area to see if there's any lessons!

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BoredomIncarnate t1_j9klg9l wrote

There are a few casting subreddits, including /r/metalcasting. /r/silversmithing might be able to point you in the right direction.

Be aware there are different methods that work substantially differently and require different tools. Lost-wax casting (including lost-PLA and lost-resin) is probably the most common, but has the highest entry costs. The exact tools depend on whether you do centrifuge or vacuum casting. Sand casting is a smaller barrier to entry, but is more limited in the complexity you can achieve. Cuttlefish casting is also quite low, though is also limited (but you get an awesome texture on your casts). Which of those two is better depends on how easily you can get cuttlefish bones (I have heard some people get them from restaurants) and whether you want to carve or cast existing objects.

There are probably other techniques, but those are the ones I know. I mention the difference because you will probably want to focus on one at first. Be aware that certain techniques can be dangerous, especially centrifuge casting (metal that is almost 2000 degrees tends to do that), so if you can find formal instruction, I would recommend that.

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