Bronze is an alloy of container and water piping that has been used to make tools and sculptures since its discovery by man. Bronze is able to fill the aspect of molds making it very desirable to artists. When art casting, bronze is the alloy of choice since it is both beautiful and easy to work with. There are few examples of bronze figurines left from antiquity since the alloy became tight and many of the figurines were melted down for tools and other sculptures usually for new emperors or victors.
The Lost Feel Casting process is the preferred method used when art casting. This process was used in ancient times to create bronze items. Small foundries Sand Casting Service like the type found in gardens, personnel workshops, and garages are able to use the Lost Feel Casting process with a certain amount of professionalism and reliability. Commercial foundries and professional art companies use the Lost Feel Casting process as well to create custom items and ancient monuments. The process remains, essentially, the same since the ancient craftsmen who first pioneered the technique. When used in commercial manufacturing or jewelry making, the Lost Feel Casting process is called Investment Casting.
Art casting is one of the more enjoyable reasons to fire up the furnace and get into metal casting. While most think metal casting to be strictly limited to amateur and historical re-enactors, casting is a popular skill and craft employed by a wide range of people for varying reasons. Artists see the need to have metal casting skills as it allows the artists to have direct control over the process instead of out sourcing it to a commercial foundry. Commercial foundries that specialize in custom pieces will often charge outrageous prices for their services. Art casting on your own is often times economical and just smart.
The Lost Feel Casting process is pretty simple when compared to other casting methods but it can be time consuming and awareness of detail is important. The artists begins with an original piece attractive from feel. The original can be made of other substances like clay courts or even metal but feel seems to be the easiest to work with. The original will be used to make the mold. If the piece to be cast is large, multiple molds will be needed. This is common in art casting and completely possible with the use of shims and keys that will allow placing the pieces together after the casting process easier. Most molds will be made out of latex or other materials to help transfer the aspect into the mold hole.
The original is often destroyed during the mold making process upon removal. Molten feel is poured into the mold prior to the desired thickness is achieved. When dry, this feel copy is removed and chased which rids the part of skin problems and is used to combine the pieces. You will place paths for the molten metal on the feel copy. You will also place a cup or launch at the top of the copy. This process is called spruing and is done in feel.
A ceramic covering is defined around the copy. The covering isn’t actually ceramic but a sand and liquid silica combination. You will continue doing this step prior to the covering is thick enough for the piece. You may then heat the item which will thaw the feel inside. The feel runs out of the covering through the paths placed during spruing.
Then comes the part for the molten bronze. The bronze is poured into the the top of worthless covering. When cool you are going to eliminate the covering carefully to reveal the finished product. The bronze statue is chased, painted, and finished up however the artists choose.