Is it possible to dome 12 gauge sterling silver after it has been
cast? I made a wax figure in a hurry, and after it was cast I
remembered that I did not want it to be totally flat. The final piece
is about 2.5 inches long and 1.5 inches high. It ended up? at 12
gauge. Logic tells me it can’t be done, but maybe there is some way
to do it.
Thanks
Sandra
Elegant Insects Jewelry
Sure, you can dome or forge a piece after casting. You’ll probably
want to use a leather or nylon hammer and various rounded punches,
anvil ends, ball peen hammer heads held in a vise, or whatever you
have that is rounded and hard, even wood. Put the back of the piece
on the rounded form, and hammer away! It may make the silver a bit
more compact and dense, which will only improve it for the polishing
phase. You could also make a one or two-part mold form with
thermoplastic, and press the piece into it in a vise or screw press.
This might be very worthwhile if it is a production design.
M’lou Brubaker
Minnesota, USA