QuestionQUESTION: Hello, I have been experimenting with silver for a few weeks now. I tried pouring some molten silver in water and it made very cool random pebbles of silver that have the shape of gold nuggets.
I then saw some pictures of some silver that had been poured into the bristles of a wet spoon, and the resulting abstract piece was made into pendants.
I wanted to know if you know of any known techniques for pouring silver into water, oil, or any other liquids to make cool shapes. I was thinking about pouring some into some wet sand to see what would happen. More of a curiosity than anything, but any info you may have would be appreciated.
ANSWER: Eteban, you are having fun, yes? I expect you are. Shapes which come with a surprise are fun and once in a while you will have an exceptionally nice shape happen in the pour.
I will suggest very little since this is mostly a matter of experiment on your part, as it would be with any jeweler. With wet sand, be careful not to have steam force the metal back onto you! You must keep a splash back in mind and pour the metal with care and from a safe distance or location. Try only a small amount on the wet sand to start since it is potentially dangerous compared to pouring into water. Try water with ice, lots of ice.
I have not poured into oil and am concerned of some danger here also. I honestly do not know how it will react.
In water, some have used noodles, both soft and soaked and hard, macaroni, and broom straws held together and facing upward in a vat of water. The distance from the water when the silver is poured, the speed of pouring and the depth of the water container all affect the shapes. Careful and controlled pouring is used to make "grain" of metal for casting purposes. You want new shapes and not simple beads and must experiment. Each shape will be a new one and once in a while will be a wonderful form for jewelry.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
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QUESTION: Thanks for the reply, I tried some of that ice water technique last night and got one piece about the size of a penny that looks like a flower. Very cool. I had one more question that I think you can help me with. I wanted to start making silver ingots and I have seen some graphite molds that are round, somewhat the shape of a coin. Could I stick scrap silver in the actual mold and melt it there, or would it be best to melt it in a crucible and then pour? It seems to me it would be easier just to melt directly in the mold, but not sure if it should be done.
I can post a picture of the silver piece I made yesterday on here tonight if you like. Thanks again for your help. I think I will try the wet noodles next.
AnswerEsteban, graphite forms come in different compositions. Some will take the heat just fine while some will be burned to some extent. It all depends on whether the mold is actually a mold made for the high heat of molten metals like silver.
If made for pouring molten silver, you can melt directly in the mold but it might take longer than a clay crucible and may shorten the overall life of the mold. Keep in mind, when liquid even metal will try to form a ball from surface tension. An open top mold will have a slightly curved edge to the metal at the mold edge where the tension is pulling the metal to a ball shape. In some cases, you can get the metal molten and immediately press a top onto the mold, flattening the metal into the mold.
I would try pouring first and see how well the mold holds up. Then, perhaps melt directly in the mold.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
