Here’s another question about lost wax casting (which I’m just
getting into): is centrifugal casting a superior and/or more
economical method than vacuum casting for small one-of-kind pieces
(or prototypes)?
I read that you might as well do vacuum casting because in any case
you need to buy an investing table and bell jar (at a minimum) for
debubblizing; so you may as well use it for casting as well and save
the cost of a centrifugal caster. However, Kerr centrifugal casters
are readily available on eBay, often for less than $100. Many
dentists seem to get along fine debubblizing with an inexpensive
vibrator. Or you can buy a neat little rubber investment mixing
device with a cover that has a mixing paddle operated by a hand crank
and an inlet in the top for a line to a vacuum pump (which could be
very small given the size of the container). These devices go new for
a little over $100 and small vacuum pumps are readily available from
eBay. The application would be making a sterling silver prototype
(or one-off piece) instead of production casting.
Any comments on this alternative to conventional vacuum casting
(which utilizes a $250 table and bell jar)?
Russell Trenholme