Investing a complex shape

Test casting

Frozen area of failure

New design

Latest casting showing successful pipestem and not invested body interior

 

Very nice work, that's silver?

 

Thanks, it's silicon bronze. Probably a very high silicon bronze considering how much of the crucible has melted into the metal over time (I reuse bad castings a lot)

Once my process is refined and consistent I will do a couple limited runs in silver.

 

Nice casting.. I must say you keep your hands in much better condition than I do..

 

I just got a job polishing silver so we’ll see about that after not too long haha

 

First success! I got one bowl and two stems from this casting session. The one on the left still did not invest properly. I fault that to the undercut "bowl" area making air impossible to escape. The one on the right came out! It better, it's just a simple elbow... I made the cavity 3/4" to accommodate a hardwood dowel bowl I will insert.

Two stems are mostly hollow with a solid section in the middle. Should be a piece of cake drilling those out.
Time to start the artwork stage..