New member,question about casting

[amcreatures]

Hi to all,
New to this forum,I have a few questions about casting.
I've got an order to make some miniature busts and figurines. The final product need to looks like a bronze or silver or something like a metal. I was trying a "cold"cast method but I don't like the process of resin cast itself. I've decided to check the real metal casting option - probably pewter or white metal. I'm completly new to this matter so I don't have a clear idea which of them is a better choice for good quality and fine details,durable and so. Which equipment should I have for home-based studio ( my working space is a small)?
Unfortunately I cannot fund any distributor of this equipment here in Canada ( I'm in Toronto) so probably I'll need to buy it in USA or Europe. Could you suggest any good source ?
Thank you
Alexander

 

[Andrew Craft]

Welcome to the forum Alexander, sorry I can't help with your question though. No doubt others will be able to.

 

[gordy]

Welcome aboard Alexander

You've come to the right place

What is your scale of the pieces ?

An alternative would be to sub-contract you casting to a firm (much less messy )

 

[skeeterbuck]

First, Welcome Alexander.

Second, check with Andrea miniatures in Spain. I have one of their older catalogs and in the back it has several pages devoted to doing just what your looking for.

Like Gordy suggested, maybe easier to just sub-contract the job. Hope this helps and good luck.

Chuck

P.S. Let us know how you make out.

 

[amcreatures]

Thanks!!!
The largest piece is 4 cm / 1.57 ",all others are smaller.
I'm very interested to learn casting and to have this option at my studio as well, so I've decided to take this project as a lesson,you know - trials & errors method.I use a resin molds but for pushing the clay into(and take it out,of course) or brush (I use aquaresin ).
Anyway,I've find some info about white metal casting,I hope it'll usefull for somebody :

1 ABC’s of White Metal Casting
http://www.inolacastings.com/ABCs-of-White-Metal-Casting

2White Metal Casting In The Home Workshop http://home.vicnet.net.au/~vmrs/cast2.html

3 Whitemetal Casting for Beginners Part 1 -The Theory
http://www.nigellawton009.com/Whitemetal_Casting_for_Beginners---Theory.htm

4Whitemetal Casting for Beginners Part 2 - Practice
http://www.nigellawton009.com/Whitemetal_Casting_for_Beginners---Practice.htm

5White Metal Casting Techniques
http://www.princeaugust.ie/steps/

6White Metal Casting CD-ROM
http://www.amcsupplies.com.au/index...ducts_id=111&zenid=7vigb3sf6rs22ut7k1sb1pk2v5

7White Metal Casting ( book )
http://www.amcsupplies.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=97

8 An article about pewter casting
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.crafts.jewelry/2006-01/msg00133.html

Suppliers :

1 Castings USA
http://www.miniaturemolds.com/casting.htm

2 Tiranti England
http://www.tiranti.co.uk/subdivision_product_list.asp?Content=Centricast&Subcategory=64&Subdivision

3 Rotometals USA ( casting pewter )
http://www.rotometals.com/Pewter-Alloys-s/23.htm

I'm still searching so maybe will be more links

 

[gordy]

Great info Alexander and thanks for sharing what you found