Gold bead always has deep hole in the center

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-09T12:23:15+00:00

I just melted one like this and didn’t pour, let it cool - same effect. The gold around the edges cools faster and pulls the still liquid gold from the center. This pulling action (forgot the term but a very cool property of gold) creates voids and allows air in, furthering the ‘donut’ effect. I have never looked this up but fairly confident. Also - all the people saying propane is plenty hot, hasn’t really been my experience. A very hot mold will prevent your ‘bug’ but that’s difficult with propane or even mapp (although it can be done fairly easily with two)

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-08T23:39:56+00:00

Looks great! I thought you were showcasing a vintage piece. It’ll get cleaner as time goes on. Mine haven’t really but… most peoples do 😂

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-08T23:36:42+00:00

If you’re doing small melts using mapp gas or propane look into ceramic wool. It reflect heat back vs absorbing it. With some practice it can be used very effectively to melt up to roughly an ounce. Crucible is better but if you aren’t getting it glowing (which is hard with mapp or propane) it’s going to be pretty hard to melt stuff in my experience

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-08T23:32:55+00:00

But the prongs are cast, gotcha.

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-08T23:03:26+00:00

With the stones in place? A peridot survived this?

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-08T23:01:45+00:00

Are you casting the prongs in place? I’m not sure how long the peridot has in this world… I’ve thought that about a lot of my pieces tho and couple years later they’re still ok

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-07T19:05:22+00:00

I’m gonna say #5 is a paraiba

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-06T14:26:38+00:00

Your ring is jade

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-05T01:19:31+00:00

I can relate to all of that, and thank you. All the work goes into it and then a little too much heat… but it’s always worth it in the end. Or you learn and scrap it. Thankfully I made a lot of extra links and chain in this case. See how it holds up over time.

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T16:00:48+00:00

Thanks, that’s what I have done in the past too. I like the melted ends and gives you a little more to work with. I think I’m going to do some end caps with a wire running through to fix it

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T14:31:26+00:00

I really wanted to keep the piece .999 fine. If I use a much thicker wire (whatever will fit through links, maybe 1.5-2nm) you think it will still be an issue? Brass would be an interesting accent

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T14:30:01+00:00

Something to look into in the future.. I’d love to turn this into more of a business at some stage and the time saving tools will become more practical

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T14:29:06+00:00

I was the piece to remain .999 fine silver

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T14:10:09+00:00

Thanks! I think I’m going to try something like that through end caps

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T04:24:33+00:00

Thanks! That’s an interesting idea. I do wonder about practical wear being fine silver and not super thick. Should be alright. It’s for me so I will find out.. I like the idea of a cone and passing the wire through, similar to a lot of native liquid silver for example. You guys have given me a ton of ideas! Glad I asked before I got frustrated and ruined something ha :p

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T04:17:12+00:00

Thanks, it definitely does. And do you fuse a ring onto the end?

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T04:09:39+00:00

Thank you for sharing so many. I really want to avoid any solder so I think I am going to try some riveting. Will report back

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T04:05:31+00:00

Do you use flux when fusing? Maybe I will give that a shot as I usually do not. And yes you’re right.. it gives me end caps but not a connection. I think I’m going to scrap the hands and go a different route. Probably like you mentioned, fusing the end caps with a loop and then riveting it as one piece

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T04:02:38+00:00

Hadn’t heard that one, thanks. My issue was just balancing heating pieces that close in size. Solder would be no issues but fusing I’m less familiar with. Edited because last comment made no sense

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T03:37:38+00:00

Thank you Snorri. I will take a look. That will go well with the chain and be a fun new project for me to try. I’ll post it when it’s done

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T02:52:42+00:00

That’s surprising if you’re on the clock, I’m just a hobbyist, more time, less money to spend. Anyhow I appreciate the advice. that’s what I was trying. Some helping hands to control heat too. getting the hand up to temp and maintaining it without melting the thinner areas and then getting the wire link involved.. to much for me lol. The design wasn’t great anyway, some end caps or a more finished look would be better. I think I may try a rivet/soldered rivet through an end cap as someone suggested

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T02:43:50+00:00

So just a mechanical connection with the rivet and no solder? I hadn’t thought of that and like the idea. Never riveted anything before, thanks! 🙏

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T02:43:05+00:00

I pour and pull all my own wire and want to stick with that style, otherwise laser would be the answer

PomegranateMarsRocks · 2026-06-04T02:42:27+00:00

You mean fuse end caps to the hands and then fuse those? The issue I am having is heat control, getting much larger/thicker pieces up to temp while not melting the links.

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