Casting...What exactly is it?

Basically I make a mould into which I pour a very hot molten metal, that cools to form a shape.  

Delft clay being packed tightly into a 2-piece mould. This is done to ensure the clay will pick up the fine details of the jewellery piece being cast.

Carefully the two halves of the mould are separated, the model removed, the mould cast cleaned to remove any loose bits of delft clay before being dusted with talcum powder, so the two halves won't stick together. Using a thin tool to create vent holes, so the hot gases can escape when the molten metal is poured into the mould.

Cast Sterling Silver Celtic Knot

                                                Cast Silver Cat                                                         

Casting sterling silver rings that were used in a necklace. Notice the inside of the ring where the vent holes are, has been filled with silver as the hot gases escaped. If there were no vent holes, then the trapped gases would have stopped the flow of the molten silver from creating the jewellery piece.

Recycling old gold jewellery by firstly melting it, next it was poured into a delft clay mould to form a gold ingot before being passed several times through a rolling mill to create the new gold strip on the steel block in the above photo, which will become a new gold ring design for a customer.

Molten Sterling Silver all ready for casting with.

Riverside Silver uses a traditional casting method called "Cuttlefish Shell Casting."

This where you carve or press a shape into a Cuttlefish Shell half before putting the two halves together to create the mould. Next, molten metal is poured into the shell mould to create the casting of the jewellery piece. 

Handcarved tree in a cuttlefish shell

Cuttlefish shells can be found washed up on beaches

This is the burnt remains of a cuttlefish shell after molten silver was poured into it to create a silver fish pendant.

I carved tiny fish shapes so I could cast them in pewter for my earrings.