Casting platinum

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello Davit:

Casting platinum is more costly because the regular casting machine
can not do it. Platinum requires a special machine that can spin
faster. Because of the very high melting point of platinum, special
flask linings must be used.

Good luck finding a caster in France.

Michael Mathews Victoria,Texas USA
I got 36 tomato plants and 42 pepper plants in my garden.

2

hi davit,

i don’t know of any platinum casters in europe however you may
contact a local Platinum Guild International office (i’m fairly
sure they would have an office in france or italy) and they could
steer you in the right direction. if you were interested in casting
platinum yourself, there are low tech methods that are extremely
effective and give great results using a regular horizontal
centerfuge.

best regards,

geo fox

3 
       I would be very interested in finding out more about
using a regular centrifuge for casting platinum. While I am
sending this off-list I suspect I'm not the only one interested,
maybe you could reply to the list rather than directly to one
person.

hi doug,

certainly. i own a neycraft horizontal centerfuge. to cast
platinum i use a wesgo type ‘a’ crucible inserted into an adapter
for the neycraft (available from rio grande). i also cover the
crucible with zo paint available from gesswein. use the platinum
investment of your choice (and follow the instructions verbatim)
and mix with a h.d. mixer. most platinum investments require
lengthy (12-20 minutes) mixing time. it’s consistency reminds me
alot of mixing corn starch with water. preheat your crucible and
charge, have a friend remove your 1600 f flask from the oven, melt
your charge quick (!) with propane/oxy torch, regulators set at
8lbs and 45-60lbs respectively, and let the centerfuge rip when you
are able to ‘chase’ the platinum around the crucible with your
torch. no extra nudge or winding needed or reccomended. use at
least #9 welding lens for eye protection. the metal isn’t delivered
to the flask as quickly as it would with a vertical caster, but the
results i’ve obtained have been better than the product i received
when i sent this work out, not to mention the control i gain over
projects. i do know of top quality platinum casters now, but
prefer to keep stuff in house.

i learned this procedure from picking the brain of ed friedman at
revere academy. i never took the platinum casting class from ed,
but would still highly reccomend it, (or any class he instructs) to
anyone interested in casting their own platinum.

also described in the 1997 platinum manufacturing processes(i’m
not sure of the name), put out by pgi, there is a more concise
description of melting platinum with low tech equip very similar to
the one taught by ed these many years.

best regards,

geo fox

4

The Revere Academy offers the only class in Pt casting in the
country. It is 3 days long and supported by Platinum Guild
International. We have found that a centrifuge works just as well,
and is simpler to use, than the vertical caster which is standard
in the industry. -Alan Revere

5

For additional answers to platinum casting questions, please call
on Platinum Guild International USA at 949 760-8279 or call and
leave a msg at the Pt hotline 949 760-8222 (please note, 714 area
code has changed to 949)PLATINUM GUILD INTERNATIONAL USA Jurgen J.
Maerz Manager of Technical Education JA Certified Master Bench
Jeweler

6

Alan: As a fan of the method, I was pleased to see your post about
using a centrifuge to cast platinum. Could you tell me just what
type of torch to use for melting platinum? Thanks; Steve Klepinger

7 
 Alan: As a fan of the method, I was pleased to see your post
about using a centrifuge to cast platinum.  Could you tell me
just what type of torch to use for melting platinum? Thanks;
Steve Klepinger

We use hydrogen/oxygen. It is very hot and clean, although a more
volatile Aand hazardous gas. Check your local fire codes. The next
step up is using an0Ainduction heating system (electric rather
than gas).-Alan Revere0A

8

Hi! If I can just put my two cents in about casting platinum…
Casting plat is a much more onvolved process than casting gold and
silver, the melting temps are much higher (1774 'f ) and you need
to cast at a much faster speed ( centrifugal ) and verticaly
instead of horizontaly, unless your going to invest in equipment
for casting platinum I’d recomend letting a person who has
experiance with this metal do you a favor and help you out!! Matt
W. @C.I.A.

9

In response to the comments about casting platinum, its
difficulty, special equipment and whether or not to farming it out:

Yes it is more involved than gold, especially the investing. It
requires more heat and better systems. But it is not that tough.
Our instructor, who casts platinum at least once a week, uses a
regular horizontal centrifuge and an Oxyhydrogen torch. He has
great success and excellent castings. They are much better than
some of the ones we have received from the bigger Pt casting
companies.

We teach people how to do it in class. Each student casts several
flasks of Pt during the 3-day class. Our Pt classes were set up
with the help of the people from the Platinum Guild International.
To my knowledge we are the only school that has ever taught Pt
casting in the US. As of next term we will have 3 classes just on
platinum as part of our 40-class term.

Platinum is definitely more difficult to cast but like most
things, once you have done it successfully a few times, the mystery
is gone and routine takes over.

Alan Revere
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
San Francisco