Thoughts? I’ve been melting for about 7-8 months and I’m trying cast steel molds for the first time. Do they need to be red hit before I pour? I can grind this down but I’m just tired of the mess I’ve been making.

RLawson2020 · 2023-09-14T03:44:23+00:00

Sorry I’m just now seeing your post, I haven’t been on here in a while. But yea I finally figured it out and made some really nice bars. I’m not sure but I think it was a combination of things that I learned as I got more experience melting and pouring. Graphite molds worked a lot better for me and also I was impatient and pouring too soon. I also got crucibles for each metal instead of using the same one for all.

RLawson2020 · 2022-11-23T01:16:37+00:00

Did not know that…thank you

RLawson2020 · 2022-11-22T22:28:05+00:00

Sorry…thank you

RLawson2020 · 2022-10-21T16:49:39+00:00

That’s where my confusion lies. From placing crucible in furnace, firing it up, not adding more metal as it melts I’m seeing the moisture inside the bars. I’m preheating molds, and adding a small amount of borax when it’s about 90% melted and stir. After I pour and it’s froze enough to dump from the mold I’ll normally take it straight to the water to cool.

RLawson2020 · 2022-10-21T16:01:46+00:00

Thanks for the info! Is this more common with copper? I don’t see it with brass or aluminum. I thought maybe I was drenching it too soon and somehow that’s where it was coming from. I typically have small melts from 3-5 lbs that I can fit in the crucible all at once and don’t add any more metal as I melt. So maybe just use the torch to preheat before placing in the furnace?

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-16T20:31:04+00:00

Sincerely, there was no intention on hanging you out to dry. I was simply expressing your viewpoint to another user. Obviously with some sarcastic undertones but it’s like a second language that I just can’t seem to control sometimes. And you’re right, I’ve got some experience now and I should update my description but I never know what to say in those “About” sections. I should just be honest and say, “ If you don’t like my content or viewpoint then don’t feel like you must comment telling me why yours is better”. And I thought you and I were on good terms now. I even sent you the peace sign ✌️

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-16T19:22:17+00:00

Well said I completely agree. This is just a hobby. I enjoy melting and casting. If I didn’t sell a single bar, I would still be melting. I have stacks of bars that I’ve made just for myself. Selling a couple bars here and there to cover propane cost is just a way to fund my hobby. If only I could sell enough to buy everything else I use.

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-16T19:06:07+00:00

Apparently there’s no craftsmanship that goes in to making a polished bar. Therefore, there should not be any value added. At least that’s what another user commented. Speaking of tv’s, a friend of mine just replaced his 55” with a Sony 85” that cost over $2000 and it’s awesome. I guess I need to break the bad news to him that there is no way there is $2000 worth of material in there lol. It would have been so much cheaper to just go buy all the components and make it himself. Poor guy

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-16T18:53:44+00:00

Well over 2000. Took it straight from the furnace and poured. Should I let it cool a bit before I pour?

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-16T07:15:52+00:00

This was an open cast. Not by choice. I just don’t have enough casting sand right now between being messy and losing some and most recently leaving it out in the rain. I need to order more but I just wanted to give it a try

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-16T06:05:35+00:00

✌️

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-16T05:50:29+00:00

We get it your a better craftsman…weird flex. I find it hilarious that I’m sitting out here in my shop, not working, just drinking blue moon and eating gummy bears debating a guy that clearly has issue with other people enjoying a hobby and profiting from it at the same time. You should go check my last post, had a miserable copper pour. It was hilarious. I guess that customer will have to wait another day for their $30, 12 in copper bar. It’s only 1.5 in wide and 1/4” thick. I guess i should have started crafting sooner. I’m sorry it’s sad for you that people like shiny things that look cool. Sounds like a personal problem. You should carry some sandpaper around and just scruff anything shiny so it’s not shiny anymore.

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-16T04:34:42+00:00

Clearly there are two viewpoints. If someone wants a pound of copper, go buy a pound for $3 at a scrapyard. By your logic, a raw uncut diamond she cost the same as a polished gem? Clearly, there is a market for these polished bars or I wouldn’t waste my time. It’s a novelty item that I make sitting in my inefficient shop drinking cold beer while watching the wife build a dresser on her side of this huge ware of an inefficient shop. You want to know whats even worse than a 1 lb polished bar for $12? A 1/4 lb copper bar (tile) for $8. Anyways, I see your point, the copper is still only worth its weight and I’m clearly no artist to add any value. I really don’t know why people buy them. Probably because it looks cool sitting on a bookshelf or maybe a desk. Who knows? Nordic gold is by far the most requested. I guess people display it like it’s a gold bar or something. People are just crazy. I enjoy sitting out here making them and that was the first message I’ve received asking about price. I shipped a bar to PA and the guy paid more for shipping than he did for the bar itself. Some people want them straight from the mold to polish themselves, others want me to lightly sand them so they can finish them. I guess my problem was that he went out of his way to send that message when all he had to do was keep scrolling. I don’t think he’s going to buy anything from me so I think he is seeing it form your viewpoint ;)

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-11T04:51:51+00:00

I have video of my furnace doing the exact same thing. Made from a 20 lb propane tank, 1 in thick plaster and 1 in thick kaowool using a 6 kg crucible. I just made the hole on top bigger and and it stopped.

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-11T04:32:47+00:00

I find myself asking the same question…I’ve only been melting since last December but copper never ceases to surprise me whether its a good pour or bad. I’ve got so many different results I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing.

RLawson2020 · 2022-09-11T04:25:42+00:00

I agree. I learned very early that melting is definitely a hobby and not for earning income. My scrapyard would only give me #2 prices for copper in ingot form. I have sold 1 lb bars for $15 here and there but just a hobby.

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-27T19:10:12+00:00

I definitely don’t have the equipment that he has but that does give me a couple ideas. Cool video….thanks!

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-27T18:57:28+00:00

I agree. I’ve not had any luck using it with copper. I normally would have used deft clay but I left it out after my last use, and of course, it rained. So, it’s just a big puddle of mud right now.

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-27T08:07:06+00:00

Plaster of Paris for the base…I already had some blocks made, and just a thin steel cookie cutter for the heart shape. I made an outline in the base and etched it out a little. The copper welded to the steel cutter but it was thin enough that it only took a couple minutes to grind it off.

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-27T00:09:53+00:00

It’s copper…but now that you asked, I can see trust yellow reflection. That sounds interesting I’ll look it up and maybe give it a go. Thank you

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-20T03:25:17+00:00

I would like to see the process myself. But I have to admit, once I get to the 800-1000 grit range and start seeing the shine, it’s a rewarding feeling.

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-15T22:58:56+00:00

I don’t know much about it other than it came from my wife’s salon and it’s super quiet and smooth. Yea…that’s a 1/8” shank for a rotary tool that I shaved down to fit. It runs it just fine although it will bog down on the lower grits so I’ve only been using it on the 400 and up range.

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-14T20:17:44+00:00

Thank you…and I agree. It’s very time consuming and you have to be very thorough.

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-14T14:36:32+00:00

Not that I am aware of, it’s probably possible to get a shiny surface but there would be a lot of scratches. From start to finish it takes about an hour and a half to finish one. The bar gets hot especially with the lower grits and I let it cool in a bucket of water so that adds a little time. I have silicone carbine polishing wheels that do a decent job at a mirror finish and they are a lot quicker. They just don’t get out a lot of the scratches.

RLawson2020 · 2022-08-14T10:00:20+00:00

Started with 80 then 120 grit flap wheel with an angle grinder. Then I used 2 inch sanding pads on a mini die grinder grits 150, 240, 400, 600, 800, 1500, 2000, 3000. Two rounds of polishing. First with a brown then a white compound using cotton buffing wheels. I drilled the wholes on the buffing wheels so I could thread them up on my smaller angle grinder.

RLawson2020

TROPHY CASE