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Custom designer jewelry by Robert and Debra Shinn

Sandcast Ankh - continued

Step 7 Fasten the flask together. Place the cope on top of the drag, using the sides of the draw catches and dowel pin to align. Snap the draw catches closed.
Step 8 Fill the cope. Sift more sand over the back of the pattern and continue as with the drag until the cope is full. Here you can see the small mound growing. Press sand in firmly.
Step 9 Level the cope. Pack down the sand in the cope and level it off with your wood block.
Step 10 Packed flask. Voids do not matter in the case of leveling the cope. It will not be turned over and pressed like the drag was.
Step 11 Open the flask. Unhook the draw catches and open the flask carefully. The parting powder should allow the cope to come free and the drag to appear as it did when first turned over.
Step 12 Remove the pattern. Rake out sand near the pour opening to make a sprue hole just above the pattern. Press down and leave a slick surface with no loose grains. Using the end of a tool made from a straight piece of wire with a rounded tip, carefully lift the pattern from the sand. A clean, slick impression should remain. The best place to lift will be the sprue location; do not disturb the sand around the rest of the pattern.
Step 13 Vent the mold. Again using the wire tool, draw lines from 1/16 to 1/8 inch deep from the impression to the edge of the flask. The water remaining in the sand will be turned to steam by the hot silver and will escape this way. Every projection needs its own vent. Also, use the wire tool to make sure the sprue is clear and connected; if it is less that 1/8" in diameter the silver may not enter the mold correctly.
Step 14 Open cope's sprue. Using your thumb, rake out sand at the pour opening of the cope; it need not match the drag exactly. Note the placement of vent lines on the drag.
Step 15 Close the flask. Place the cope back over the drag and fasten the draw catches. Place it pour hole up; make sure no loose grains fall down your sprue hole. Make sure the pattern is out; molten silver comes next!

Disclaimer: All techniques described are performered by professionals in a professional workshop. These techniques work well for us; we do not warrant them for anyone else. We cannot be responsible for anyone's property, profit, or safety. If you wish to make beautiful objects, pictures and text are no substitute for a good class.