Lanyard Beads - pics of casting, other info, and photos of your favorites!

[Motega]

I am starting a new thread because I learned A LOT in the ast week about why they are priced the way they are, how they are made, found some really interesting ones, and hopefully if Spark gives the green light we will be collaborating on making a commemorative bead for BF members.
I was wrong about them being overpriced, it is labor intensive. The detailed ones are all made using lost wax casting and hand polished.
I (politely) asked one of the larger sellers why they cost so much and in the ensuing dialogue he sent me a bunch of photos which I am posting below.
He also said that after trying all sorts of ingots and scrap metals, the BEST material to use is old Russian coins which are made from something called "Melchior"- usually Nickel with ~5-30% copper. I am asking him what denominations he uses because depending in the year, it could also contain zinc.

So enjoy the photos below, and hopefully drop a photo or two of your favorite beads.
Here are the photos of the process:

 

[Motega]

Just sorted out the Imgur linking process... FYI go to top right of IMGUR album and click "get share links" and embed the "BBcode" link...

 

[Mr.sig239]

I love the workmanship on this bead. I would like a more softer shape and style bead with a B/F logo though. Maybe round shaped and on one side it says B/F and the other has the year.

 

[Pee Dee Knives]

I would love a BF bead!

Lost wax casting is way faster than carving a bead from a chunk of metal, the it is still super time consuming to assemble the wax tree, and it get worse if you are trying to use higher melting point metals as plaster will not work and you gave to coat the wax in a ceramic slurry

 

[Blues]

This matter is on hold pending a decision from Spark. Tabled until then.