Smelting silver in a HT oven

M

MJ Hofbauer

Joined
Jan 1, 2004
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I could use some advice from you gents. I have a friend that I currently have deals with in the way of services rendered for tools. Right now I'm working on building him kitchen cabinets. He has talked to me about making a knife for him once I get going on that. The design he showed me would have me doing a lost wax investment casting of silver for the guard. I thought about asking him for a HT oven to do it, but I was wondering if melting the silver in a HT oven would cause problems heat treating steel later on? Any thoughts?

Thanks -MJ
 
I don't think it would harm anything.

Anyway, I came in here because of the title-smelting is the process of producing metal from ore and that caught my attention.

Check out casting clays from jewelry supply places. They can suit your purpose. Rio Grande Supply is a good source.
 
I don.t think you will have any problems. However you will have to learn how to cast silver. There is a lot to it.
Get some books you could make some awesome guards that way. You can also cast brass,nickel silver, gold, bronze. and some others.
TJ
 
Thanks for the info guys. As a side note, Hydrocodone does wonders for your use of the english language when you are tired ;) But thanks for the correction none the less.
shgeo said:
Anyway, I came in here because of the title-smelting is the process of producing metal from ore and that caught my attention.
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Pure silver melts at 1761F, it shouldn't cause any problems. However you would have to learn the process of investment casting. It's easier to find a jeweller and have him do it ......On a similar subject has anyone used the silver polymer for at least decoratons ? This is silver powder mixed with a polymer and baked in your kitchen oven ,a craft thing .
 
Mete, I wonder if this is the stuff you're thinking of?

Precious Metal Clay

At least it's what came to mind from your post. I've never used it but have wondered whether it's tough enough to use for knife work. It fires (the most dense version anyway) at about 1300F. I guess the matrix fires out leaving the metal behind. It does not melt the metal. It's available in silver and gold, though the gold is just as pricey as you'd expect.

You can carve it like wax and form it using any number of tools or stencils. I'd like to hear if anyone has used this on knives.
 
MJ, You could use your HT for the burnout and melting the silver,but you would need casting equipment.Have a casting service do it for you.They are cheaper than you would think.

Mete, I don't use the polymer metalic clays.I know that some jewelery design artsy types do,but I don't think it has any use in knives.
 
but you would need casting equipment
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Why? - myself and many others cast lots of things using "backyard" methods. Yep a centrifugal caster is nice especially for small and highly detailed work, but doing something fairly large like a crossguard is quite easily done, and can even be done with quite a bit of detail - here's a basic backyard tutorial which includes a DIY centrifugal method. (there are other tutorials as well)
http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/tutor/vi_copper_c1/top_index.htm

www.riogrande.com carries all of your casting needs including silver casting alloys.

NOTE: of course any time you work with molten metal there is a danger so use all safety measures. Second although plaster of paris and other things can be used as a casting medium I recommend buying the regular casting medium. Also commercial casting wax is recommended.
 
Thanks for posting that website, Chuck! That fellow makes it easier to understand how to do the casting.
 
Thanks! That is an excellent site and answers most if not all of my questions. I have experience with casting/mold making as my father was in the business for about 28 years but they did primarily injection molding and I needed more info on this. www.stuller.com is the source I have for all the wax, investment, etc.

-MJ
 
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