Snow casting

I’ve seen many different methods of casting to create freeform
shapes. Bean casting, water casting, pine needle casting, etc. Living
near Montreal we get lots of snow. Has anyone tried pouring molten
metal into snow? Another thing to add to my “gotta try” list.

Jonathan Brunet

  Has anyone tried pouring molten metal into snow? 

Not quite, but close. An enterprising friend of mine pours molten
wax onto snow and has the most promising results cast after they
have been trimmed and shaped a bit. She has made some unusual
earrings and neckpieces this way. Also, when we have a snowy winter
she stores containers of snow in her home freezer so she always has
an ample supply. Dee

Jonathan - Yes, I have tried “snow casting”, and was very
disappointed! Unless you have snow which is granular from thawing
and re-freezing the molten metal just makes the snow disappear!
Fluffy snow doesn’t have enough mass to cool the metal before the
metal has made a huge “pocket” (tunnel). I have used chunked up ice
cubes from bags of ice, in a metal bucket, and gotten fair results,
which is why I expect granular snow may work. The most interesting
alternate casting I’ve done is with a wet broom, pouring the molten
silver into a thoroughly wet broom-corn broom. Raises Cain with the
broom; be certain to have a pail of water to dump on it to stop the
smouldering; but, it makes an interesting pattern.

Jim Small
Small Wonders