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Post by phil on Feb 6, 2015 22:55:39 GMT -5
Anyone know which alloy is best for casting jewelry parts? Silver is too expensive, but I can get several different white metal casting alloys and also nickle silver for casting..... IS there any reason not to use certain ones versus ?? Thanks! Phil
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Post by radio on Feb 7, 2015 9:03:15 GMT -5
Metal allergy issues and turning the skin of the wearer are biggest things to look out for. Remember, even though the name says "Nickel Silver" there is not one iota of Silver in it. Same for German, Silver, Tibetan Silver, etc.
Nickel and Copper are #1 on the list for allergy issues
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Post by phil on Feb 7, 2015 14:03:21 GMT -5
Thanks. I know the no silver part.... <G>. I need to cast some pendants, but silver is too expensive, so am trying to figure out which substitute will be best to use and best for people to wear. Has to be silver in color.... Is there a way to coat nickle silver so it can be worn? Dip it in something or spray it or plate (too much work to plate) or ?
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 7, 2015 16:25:06 GMT -5
Casting out of a base metal then plating with silver would be a cost effective way to mass produce, but for small batches you will never recoup the money you will spend for the equipment. Another consideration is your labor to clean up the castings vs the end value of the finished piece. A base metal requires the same amount of labor with a much smaller return, more labor if you add the time to plate the metal. Aerosol coatings and dips are probably available, but will wear through eventually and perhaps turn yellow.
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Post by radio on Feb 7, 2015 17:29:05 GMT -5
Thanks. I know the no silver part.... <G>. I need to cast some pendants, but silver is too expensive, so am trying to figure out which substitute will be best to use and best for people to wear. Has to be silver in color.... Is there a way to coat nickle silver so it can be worn? Dip it in something or spray it or plate (too much work to plate) or ? No economical way to coat things that won't wear off that I am aware of. The most durable is Rhodium, but as rockoonz posted, the plating equipment and materials would far exceed any profits in small scale operations/ My advice would be to bite the bullet and buy Sterling Silver casting grain as it is less expensive than wire or sheet. One could also use scrap silver coins, but it couldn't be sold as Sterling. Tons of Native American jewelry is out there made from coin silver
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Post by phil on Feb 7, 2015 18:14:05 GMT -5
Thanks. Yeah, I looked at silver coins, the local coin shops also have old plateware (sterling) that they sell for spot. I might have to go that way, but that raises my price to the point I sell a LOT less than if they priced the same as back when silver was $7 per ounce. At todays $16 plus, I'd either have to make the pendants half size (1/2 ounce) to sell at the popular price of $20, or raise my price to $40 for a full size one. I have to figure the costs of the chain, clasp, presentation box, costs to travel to the sites where they sell, etc.... and at 1/2 ounce for $20, my profits plummet to just a couple bucks. Any higher pricing, and they just don't sell. Folks think nothing of spending $20 for a latte and bun, or my pendant, but getting that 2nd $20 is next to impossible. I sell a lot of them at the local college campus just before Valentines and Mothers day, and they'll do the $20 without batting an eye. $40? they just keep on walking. That's why I am trying to figure out a silver substitute. So.... any ideas out there I may be overlooking? Coin silver is a lot cheaper than even casting grain. Like $17 per ounce versus $32. Base metal is $4 and $5. I guess I could silver plate using a sterling anode, some salt water, and a 9 volt battery, but then it becomes too labor intensive to be profitable. I need to find a silver mine I guess....
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Post by radio on Feb 7, 2015 19:52:17 GMT -5
Silver casting grain is currently $19.10 or about $3 over spot. Is there a way to incorporate a "dimple" or recess in the back to save on Silver? That technique is frequently used in the lost wax casting method www.sfjssantafe.com/ScastingGrain.php?Gid=SS004&ItemSet=Silver+Casting+Grain&DepId=metalsHerculoy might be an option, but it is chiefly copper and I have no knowledge of a tarnish factor. It is Gold color rather than Silver and is $21.25 per Pound. Nickel, bronze and zinc is treading in the allergy possibilities also. There is also a material called Everdur (sp?) that I believe is mostly copper, but again, the green skin effect is not attractive I would recommend posting on Ganoksin as there tons of artsy folks on there that could surely help
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 7, 2015 20:03:12 GMT -5
Do the pendants have to be metal, why not make your pendants out of drilled cabachons? I have seen several people on here who drill the stones, one guy had paracord instead of chain and it looked great. Lot cheaper than silver. You could even wire wrap with gold filled wire and siver fill. I just sold over 1000 dollars worth of scrap pewter. Its not to shiny but its metal.
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Post by phil on Feb 8, 2015 13:09:10 GMT -5
Thanks. radio - No, can't incorporate a dimple.... And Any thing other than silver on color would kill the design.
Billy - I've got pewter, but folk's just won't buy them. And the nature of the pendant negates using any cabochons.
I may have to just bite the bullet and test the waters at a higher price using .925 silver. Rio is currently selling .925 casting grain at about $18 plus for 5 ounces and over.
Thanks again!
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ol3m3
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2006
Posts: 85
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Post by ol3m3 on Feb 8, 2015 18:40:54 GMT -5
you can't scrape the back of the wax a bit thinner to lighten up the pendant?
Also you might want to investigate using fine silver rounds, and adding an appropriate amount of copper to the melt to alloy your own sterling, that way you can get away from the casting grain, and pick up the difference in cost on the copper added to the melt, copper in three dollars a pound range while you are paying 18 plus an ounce for the copper used to alloy the casting grain
OM
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Post by phil on Feb 8, 2015 20:19:55 GMT -5
you can't scrape the back of the wax a bit thinner to lighten up the pendant? Also you might want to investigate using fine silver rounds, and adding an appropriate amount of copper to the melt to alloy your own sterling, that way you can get away from the casting grain, and pick up the difference in cost on the copper added to the melt, copper in three dollars a pound range while you are paying 18 plus an ounce for the copper used to alloy the casting grain OM Thanks, It's not a lost wax procedure. Silver rounds are more expensive, in the long run, than buying casting grain. $19 each, and they aren't even pure silver, nor do they weigh an ounce. I checked at the local coin shop a few weeks ago. They do sell old sterling flatware,but a slightly higher costs than spot.
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jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Feb 10, 2015 11:45:05 GMT -5
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Post by phil on Feb 10, 2015 12:47:08 GMT -5
Thanks.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Feb 10, 2015 13:59:11 GMT -5
If it must be base metal and "slivery" - Pewter.
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Post by phil on Feb 10, 2015 15:08:36 GMT -5
Thought of that. For some reason, they won't buy pewter.... maybe because it make the skin look dirty? Gonna just bite the bullet and go with 925 silver.
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Post by 1dave on Feb 14, 2015 12:28:35 GMT -5
Aluminum is a good possibility! Lots of free aluminum cans around.
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Post by phil on Feb 14, 2015 13:43:35 GMT -5
Didn't think of that one.... can try casting one to see what it looks like. Does it get shiny like silver?
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 14, 2015 16:29:47 GMT -5
Aluminum will polish up nicely but the white powdery aluminum oxide will need to be polished back off from time to time. The stuff I used to sand cast back in school had to be done oversize and sanded back quite a ways to get past the pitted surface but if you vacuum cast your results should be a lot better.
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Post by phil on Feb 14, 2015 18:16:05 GMT -5
Aha, thanks. I'm gravity casting, so maybe I'll pass on the aluminum. I bought enough silver to make about 15 items, we'll see how they sell.
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Post by pauls on Feb 15, 2015 0:58:13 GMT -5
If you mark them as Silver and price them accordingly, (that is not too cheap) they will sell like hot cakes. People expect to pay good money for quality.
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