Trouble in Casting Paradise

[M-Williams]

Plasticast is the way to go with green or cherry. A good curing,what ever is your medium, is primordial to any flawless casting. my two cents



M-Williams.

[Jewelermdt]

I would angle that coin with the lettering facing away from the spru. Put small feeders to the outside all the way around. Also after you mix your investment, put some on the lettering and rub it with your finger to get it into the letters the vacuum as normal.

[wawatobi]

I use plasticast almost exclusively now. If you have tried mixing this stuff without a vacuum mixer you probably hate it. It foam up so much when you vacuum the flask that I had to tape aluminum foil around the top of the flask . I bought a 1 liter hand vacuum mixer from stuller and eliminated this problem. If using a vibrator when pouring the investment in your flask you don,t really have to vacuum the flask after pouring but I usually do it anyway and it does not rise in the flask. I always leave my flasks set for at least 6 hours before casting.

[MobiusJewelryDesign]

I appreciate everyone's help! I'll send pictures of my findings and procedures this week. Although, I want to try it with the yellow and see if there is a difference. I am sure it will be useful for anyone thinking of using yellow in the future. I'll probably end up buying plasticast, but I do want to compare the yellow with the procedure to see if it comes out better or not. Will post soon. Thanks again!

[jdwages]

Casting engraved letter like those has been a night mare for me. I use B9 Green and use plasticast and still have issues. What is happening when your metal slams into the mold, it is braking off the little letter sticking down. The deeper the letter the worse the problem. I have even gone as far as tapering the letters which is a real PITA. I have just gotten in some Prestige Optima investment and looking forward to trying it. If you figures something out I would be interested in hearing how you did it. I have tried everything I can think of.

[samatheang]

I never tried, but what about trying platinum investment like Invest RP? It is much stronger investment than Plasticast and Prestige Optima.

[M-Williams]

What I have noticed with the green resin is that it needs 3 times cure compared to the Epic. I used them both daily .

[MobiusJewelryDesign]

Well my peoples.....I had a mis-cast. Here are the pictures. As you can see, one of the lead sprues to the piece is incomplete. I am guessing I didn't heat my metal enough, although when it came out of the flask it was black as all get out. Side story, the first time I casted in 14ky, I heated it way to much and the metal boiled and it came out looking like the moon's surface. So, when it comes to heating metal, I guess I'm a bit weary of heating it too much.....I'm learnin' tho (Reducing Flame, Reducing Flame). This is the system that and materials I used. (I am going to buy Plasticast this week)
Hopefully, this will help someone and any advice on the error of my novice ways would be most appreciated.

B9 Yellow
Resin prep:
UV cure 5+ hours
3 x 3min Microwave cycles
Investment 42/100 - Ultravest....I meant to do 38/100 but developed a habit doing it the other way
Cured investment for 6+ hours (Overnight actually)

Burnout:
Ramp 800 per hour to 800
Hold for 4 hours
Ramp Full to 1500
Hold for 4 hours
Down to 900
hold for 3 hours
Cast

[Jewelermdt]

What investment were you using? I believe only the Plasticast and platinum investment can take heat that high.

[MobiusJewelryDesign]

I'm used regular ultra vest. It held up pretty well so far.....just not with this piece. I'm planning on buying Plasticast today and investing it in that. I sprued it up different as well.....as this point, I'm willing to try just about anything.