Bronze Casting Videos

These video clips demonstrate activities in my lost wax casting process.

When I first started casting with a vacuum casting unit there were few ‘how-to’ videos that showed casting with small steel flasks and larger perforated steel flasks. These videos show how I encase a wax model in plaster investment, burn out a model in a kiln, pour molten bronze metal into the flask, and then quench the hot flask in water to break up the plaster investment and release the casting.

investing a flask

Pouring a large flask

Pouring a small flask

Quenching a flask

Casting

Safety during casting is important. I wear heavy duty casting gloves, a leather apron, and UV protected tinted glasses to keep myself safe when working with molten bronze.

The hot flasks in the kiln are at 400-500 C (750-950 F). The molten bronze that I am pouring is at 1020-1070 C (1870-1950 F).

I take care when removing the cover from my electric furnace. Bronze is melted in a graphite crucible that burns slightly to reduce the amount of oxygen in the furnace. When the cap is removed fresh oxygen enters the furnace and this is why you see flames.

These videos were produced when I was casting a simple and easy copper and tin bronze alloy. Extra care is needed when I cast brass alloys made with zinc. Zinc is nasty. It boils and condenses inside the cap. The zinc can dislodge when the furnace cap is removed and fall into the melt and splash. When additional oxygen enters the furnace white smoke and flames appear that are very much like an explosion.

I use a vacuum casting unit when casting. My casting flasks are placed on or in a vacuum chamber. When the vacuum is established this gives about 10 to 15 pounds of air pressure to help push the molten bronze into the flask.

It has taken a few years to learn how to successfully cast bronze. I use four alloys: a natural copper and tin alloy used in ancient times; a modern silicon bronze called Everdur; a white bronze that looks like silver; and a yellow brass. The white bronze and yellow brass contain zinc, but I have learned how to manage their properties safely.

Bronze Art by William Miles

Bronze Artist, Bronze Sculptures, Bronze Figurines

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Bronze Casting Videos

William Miles

My Fractal Art