I’m considering to buy an electric kiln. but here in San Diego
the electricity bill is becoming so high ( more than double) I been
reading in some of the messages, that some of you use to leave the
flask burning even overnight . How come you can do this without
any concern about the fact of the electricity? Can anybody give me a
temporary alternative to a kiln ? or how to burnout my small flasks?
Thanks. Marco in California
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Dear Marco, The best way to beat the extended burnout problem is to
use small flasks. Furthermore, the best way to utilize small flasks
is to use an old dental vertical casting unit. These casting machines
use 1 and 3/8" by 2.0" flasks (rings) and you can use copper
couplings of that size ( available very reasonably at most any
builder’s supply) I find that using this approach I can burn out
using a three hour cycle and get excellent results. Granted, if you
are doing larger flasks in a big horizontal casting unit, your burn
out time is going to have to be increased. I can easily do two rings
in a two inch flask and I can easily burn out six to nine flasks in a
small oven. Furthermore, the vertical casting machine is the method
of choice for Platinum because it has a much faster throw and doesn’t
require the whiplash effect of a broken arm…this whiplash is what
makes the nice mess on the sides of the casting tub! I have been
contemplating the feasibility of manufacturing these small vertical
casting machines using the old designs. I think that I could market
them in the two to three hundred dollar range whereas the only
vertical casting machine available in the catalogs which would be in
the range of the average jeweler’s budget sells for about $1100.00 !
( It is also kind of cheesy) If I get enough response I’ll pursue
this… Ron at Mills Gem, Los Osos, CA
There’s no reason why you can’t use a kiln fired with propane or
natural gas. (with all the sun in San Diego, you could probably get
someone to help you design a solar powered one!) But seriously, gas
powered burnout ovens are great. I’ve used one and I loved it. But
the only ones I’ve seen in catalogs have been pretty large. Perhaps
someone here in Orchidland knows where to get a small one, or where
to get the plans to build one. The people in the ceramics world
might have something too, since there isn’t much difference,
essentially, between a pottery kiln and a burnout oven.
Hi What I usually do before I put my " cans" in the kiln, is
melt out the wax by putting them in a pressure cooker. Make sure
your pressure cooker is the type that has locks all around the
top of it , has a pressure gage, and a pressure release valve. I
use about two inches of water and have a perforated tray one inch
above it (don’t let the flasks touch the water ). My heat source
is a small electric stove but I"ve use a regular gas flame
stove-- with the same great results. Let the pressure come down a
bit before you release it all ( use the pressure release valve )
and never open the top until all the pressure has dissipated
!!! You may have to experiment a bit to find your correct time
and pressure for optimum results . (Don’t let the pressure build
up to high either)…You will find your castings will be “cleaner
" ( less residue in the investment from normal burnout ). After
using this method you can use the kiln to warm the flasks before
insertion of the molten metal… …either centrifugal or vacuume.
Your “Kiln time” will be cut down dramatically saving you $$
$$$$ on your electric bill… " Unused Knowledge Is useless
knowledge” Ruben Yanez
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Hi ruben can you explain in more specific detail the burnout
process as a progressive sequence.?
how long in the pressure cooker.? how long on the stove.? and so
on, Thanks in advance
Marco.
About David’s suggestion on a gas fired kiln. Depending on the
size needed, there is a gent in the San Diego area Mel Williams.
He is a member of one of the rock and mineral clubs. Mel has been
teaching Steam Casting, and has built his own kiln. He usually
demonstrates at local club shows and has the plans to build this
oven. It can be done relatively inexpensively and uses propane.
Marcos, I think you posed the original question, I will try to
get more for you. I think these plans may be in the
archive. I had them but they went in my hard drive
disintegration. Teresa
Hello Ruben and all,
I had a good conversation with a manufacturer of goldsmith
equipment and he did not recommend me to perform this kind of
procedure talking about steaming the wax out of the investment.I
do not why but he explained me that the steam will change the
property of the investment in a negative way making it more
brittle as it already is.A second point is that the investment
needs more time to dry affecting the casting procedure and
extending the time.So,I don’t use the boiling methode even if it
makes the burnout process cleaner and odorless.In matter of
fact,I’m thinking about an older procedure which is knowen by
replacing the wax using pewter instead.The pewter can be reused
over and over reducing the cost of buying the preshaped
wax.Maybe this could be another nice discussion project ?
Regards Pedro
Palonso@t-online.de
Hi Pedro I had a friend long ago who used to use the boiling
process and had good results with it. however . the idea of
pewter as a sustitute for wax sounds realy interesting can you
explain that process in more detail. thanks. Marco
Marco If you like you may E-mail at : Uncle-Muerte@webtv.net
and I will explain my procedure in steaming out the wax using the
pressure cooker method in detail.It is quite easy and regardless
what “others” might think, (if done right ) your castings will
come out cleaner and you won’t have to worry about the wax burn
out smelling up you work space!!! ( I’ve found the answer to the
question of “eternal thought” ). Ruben Yanez
Dear teresa I realy apreciate all the that you have
given to me. I’m in the same situation as you. I know your tools
were stolen, the thieves must be selling them for some few
dollars. mine is a long story.(something similar)
And now we are having the hard time. Collecting tools
again,dealing with quality and price. Oh Lord.! I’ll give you
more details when I fix my computer wich is acting right now.
best regards Marco.
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