Cast verses fabricated

Jewelry Discussion
61 
I have been hand fabricating jewelry for 40 years. And very
difficult pieces in platinum for the top stores in the country.

I Think you will find that there are quite a few here that have
similar time at the bench and range of experience.

The difference in cast vrs. fabricated is distinct.

Yes the hardness and strength are quite different. As cast a typical
hardness of 18k yellow gold will be about 125 HV where wrought stock
in its fully annealed condition is about 150 HV so even after
soldering the wrought material will be harder and stronger than the
cast material. This is especially obvious in the modern cast
platinum rings that are so soft in comparison to fabricated platinum
rings.

Maybe after a few more miles under your belt you'll understand. The
density is significant. Your answer tells me that you have not done
very much hand fabrication in the noble metals.

If this was aimed at me I will say that I only have about 37 years
of jewelry making experience.

Otherwise you would understand the difference. Sorry for being
blunt, but I don't want people who are trying to learn from these
forums to be miss lead.

Just because you have a lot of time on the bench does not mean you
understand basic metallurgy. If you were to take for example a 18k
yellow ring that weighs 3.927 dwt as fabricated the same ring as
cast, with a quite a bit of porosity might weigh in at 3.853 dwt that
is a. 3 gram/cc difference in specific gravities and works out to
.074 dwt difference in weight. Yes you can measure it with a good
scale but you will not be able to feel the difference in weight.
Again as I said some of the mechanical properties are going to be
quite different between cast and wrought metal but the difference in
density will require a good scale to measure.

James Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts

62 
We were discussing different metals yesterday and platinum came
up, the teacher mentioned that there is no significant
metallurgical difference between a platinum casting and a wrought
platinum object. So of course I thought I get people's opinions on
this.

Few years ago, I have read a book by Stuart Chase “The Tyranny of
Words”. Highly recommended reading. The phrase “no significant
metallurgical difference” could feature quite prominently in that
book.

First the combination “significant” and “difference” is a semantical
nonsense. “significant” is not a quantitative term. It may be ok in
non formal communication, but very questionable in presentation of
technical The statement is properly interpreted as
acknowledgement of the difference and at the same time trying to
minimize it’s significance ( you see, I can play the same game ).

Secondly, it is interesting to observe that your teacher does note
the difference in tensile strength. It would be appropriate to
inquire where this difference comes from? Mechanical properties are
direct outcome of metallurgical properties. If we observe difference
in mechanical properties, we are quite safe to assume that there is
difference in metallurgical properties between cast and wrought
metals. If this difference causing increase in tensile strength, than
how can it be insignificant?

Leonid Surpin

63

James,

Ouch… I suppose that an old goldsmith like me with over 40 years of
metalsmithing experience who is now doing lots more teaching than
actual metalsmithing should take offense over your remark that
“those who know, do, those who don’t, teach”. Truthfully, I guess I
am a little offended.

Perhaps my work hasn’t been published, and the number of shows I’ve
exhibited work in over the years has been pretty low. I have,
nevertheless, made lots of beautiful pieces in all kinds of metals
and I’ve made canes, belt buckle sets, watchbands, hinged
boxes, bracelets, necklaces, sculptures, more rings than I could
count, and on and on over the years. Strangely, my interest has now
become much less on what I make, and more what I can help my students
make. I am now moved more by the work I help others make, new to this
craft, than I am with my own. I get a gratification unlike any I get

Metalsmithing is many things to many people, and that discussion
will go on forever, as it should. Whether we metalsmiths get our
satisfaction from making things with our own hands, helping others to
discover that joy, or making DVD’s to convey that feeling, it’s all
worthwhile. Certainly selling our creations to others at a fair price
is a highly gratifying feeling, one I am quite familiar with.

The unique skills we’ve learned over the years are “old school” hand
processes which should not be allowed to disappear with our
inevitable passing. I feel, in my own way, that I am honoring the
craftsmen who came before me, and from those whom I learned from, if
I can do my part to pass along these valuable skills.

Good luck to you, James, in your career, and I really appreciate
your contribution to Orchid.

Jay Whaley
ww.whaleystudios.com

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