Casting Silver In Cuttlefish

Recommended Tools & Supplies:
Cuttle Fish Bones;
Crucible With Handle;
Pliers Set;
Binding Wire;
Paint Brushes;
Silver Casting Grain;
Permanent Markers;
Wax Carving Tools;
Multipurpose Torch Tips;
Saw Frame, Saw Blades, Bench Pin;
Borax Flux;
Metal Shears; and,
Toothpicks
Purchases made using the Amazon links on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com, help to financially support the OJA. On our website you'll also find links to products from Durston Tools that we have reviewed. Or, you can access Durston's website at durston.com/oja.
In this video, Professor John Ahr of the Online Jewelry Academy demonstrates how to use a common pet store item to make beautiful silver castings.
Cuttle fish casting has been around forever. It's simple to do. And, the materials you need are easily obtainable. This video shows you the basics for successfully producing interesting dimensional jewelry items.
Since the OJA posted this video to KZbin, a number of viewers have written to us asking if the cuttle fish mold can be used more than once. The answer is it depends on what you cast in the mold. Metals with a lower melting temperature like aluminum won't do too much damage to the mold. So, the mold could be reused a few times. In this video Prof. Ahr works with sterling silver. Because of the high temperature needed to keep the silver molten, the cuttle fish mold can only be used once. This is because once the molten silver comes into contact with the cuttle fish mold it incinerates the details carved into the mold.
Another commonly asked question we've receive is can you make a two-sided mold that has detail on both sides. The answer is yes. But this video only explores making a mold with details on one side. Feel free to experiment until you achieve the results that you desire.
If you like this video there are many more like it included in the Online Jewelry Academy's playlist. You can find the OJA's videos organized by category on our website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com.
Subscribers to the OJA's KZbin channel have the option to receive regular notification of new OJA video releases. So, why not subscribe now? Be sure to click on the bell next to the subscribe button to turn on notifications.
The OJA offers complete courses on Udemy.com.
1. Beginners course "Colorful Silver Jewelry"
www.udemy.com/makingjewelry/?...
2. Intermediate course "Making Beautiful Articulated Hinged Jewelry"
www.udemy.com/articulatedhing...
3. Stone Setting Course "5 Ways To Enhance Jewelry Design Through Stone Setting"
www.udemy.com/stonesetting/?c...
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[@nearly7]

once again you did a fantastic job of teaching us a great new method! Thanks so much Prof. John for you kind generosity

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

+Connie Soomer I'm glad that you are excited by cuttle bone casting. It's so easy and fun. Thanks for watching! : )

[@cathyellington7599]

I really enjoy your videos. I have really been learning a lot from them. Just starting out but you have really given me a lot of confidence.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Sorry for the delayed response. I'm so glad that you're finding the videos helpful in exploring your creativity. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@VERYTRUEFACTS]

WELL DONE !

[@robertogamboa3690]

i have read about. This casting metod. You made so simple and explain the steps, Easy to learn thank you.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Roberto Gamboa I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! : )

[@Stringvibes]

very cool thanks!

[@aydanguler3874]

Thank you so much for this video. It's a technique I've always wondered about. I'll try it asap 🙏

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@Mica0012Enoch]

amazing! thanks for the tutorial! i can't wait to try it for myself!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed the video. This is a really fun process. Have fun creating interesting castings. Thanks for your support! : )

[@clarejohnson779]

Thanks for sharing your talents.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Clare, I'm glad that you are enjoying the OJA's video playlist. Remember, you can view the entire playlist on our website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com There all of our videos are grouped by category, making it easier to find the one that you need to watch. Thanks for your support! : )

[@genesizstudiospvt.ltd.2506]

wow nice ..thank you

[@jokerrabit]

in high school, we made blocks of plaster (you could also use dental investment or Durhams Rockhard Water Putty) with small milk cartons that we then carved after smoothing with sandpaper. we used scrap pot metal our teacher got from the local wrecking yard. might be an alternative to stinky Cuttlefish bone. also pewter or pot metal might be a good way to practice.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

An advantage of using cuttlefish bone is that there is a natural grain to the material that imparts a texture to your work. Plaster isn't a good mold material since it can "pop" due to trapped air pockets or because its not fully dried out. It's much better to work with casting investment. The OJA does not engage in white metal casting. We provide instruction with silver. Thanks for your support! : )

[@albertrasch4793]

Classic technique with great applications. Thanks for posting! Some 100 grit sandpaper will flatten them right out if you don't have a decent sidewalk to work with. Likewise a punched out circular piece of sandpaper on the end of dowel (like a broom handle) will "drill" a very concentric and flat bottomed medallion. The variations are endless! Albert

[@onlinejewelryacademy8157]

Thanks for the suggestions Albert. We appreciate your sharing your expertise with us. And, thanks for watching! : )

[@dcharlottecg]

This project look look like so much fun I decided to give it a try. I already bought all I need, but i have a question ; i have a brand new crucible , Do I have to prepare or do something to it before ? Thanks you so much for sharing your knowledge !

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Charlotte, Yes, you need to "season" the crucible before you melt silver in it. All you do is heat the crucible with a torch to get it hot enough to melt borax onto it. Just toss a pinch of borax into the crucible every now and then while you heat it. But don't put too much borax into it. You don't want your molten silver to be submerged in melted borax. Just remember that a little borax goes a long way. Have fun and stay safe. Thanks for your support! : )

[@lasurraldiscotheque]

I like your vids man, do you think a rothenberger power fire(mapp torch) would work like your torch? I want to try tufa casting. do you think I could melt max 2 ounces of silver with mapp?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

It might take a while, but a Mapp gas torch should be able to melt two ounces of silver casting grain. I looked up the Rothenberger Power Fire torch. It appears that there are many different versions of that torch. Some appear to be too small to output the heat that you'd need. I suggest checking with the manufacturer or with the sales person who sold you the torch for information regarding your torch. Good luck and work safely. Thanks for your support! : )

[@lasurraldiscotheque]

Thank you for the reply !

[@kimwehrman]

OK I started watching this 1 & thought I doubt I will like it but next thing I knew I was 14 minutes in & had 2 see what you ended up with lol I just wish you had shown the finished product like you did with the water pasta pea casting 💔 As always thanks 4 the lessons

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Kimberlie, I actually show the finished and cleaned piece at the very beginning of the video. The piece next to the Cuttlefish is the one we cast in the video. Thanks for watching.

[@eivindkofod1774]

Hi John Ahr, Again a good movie, but let me deviate a bit. I look at the vegetation in your back yard and it looks as if you are somewhere in my neighbourghood (I'm on Borneo) So, how do you maintain your tools free of rust in the humid tropics?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The first thing that you need to do is to clean all of the rust off of your tools. The OJA has a video on tool maintenance in its playlist at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Once you've removed all of the rust, you need to coat your tools with an rust inhibitor like petroleum jelly. Then, store your tools in a closed toolbox so that their exposure to the salt air is minimized. Thanks for your support! : )

[@briantunzi2462]

Well done thanks , I did this a few times an it takes a few time to work it out right , Now if one want's to use Argentium 9.35 , no pickle will be needed , but at 1St one can play round wt the 9.25 But I subscribed to you for more info + you don't have a silly soundtrack !

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

+Brian Tunzi Hi Brain, Thanks for subscribing to the OJA channel. I'm glad that you find the videos helpful. Thanks for watching! : )

[@chriscramer3741]

How long should the channel be to get the metal to successfully spred into all areas of the mold? If you only want the shape of the object without the cone on top could you have the mold carved closer to the top of the bone as long as there is enough material surrounding the mold, and if the vents on the sides are to release exhaust then do they have to run all the way to the outer shell?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Chris, The distance between the base of the pour hole and your carved out area should be zero distance. The channel that leads from the top of the cuttle bone to your carved out area should be large enough to create a sprue button. The casting needs some extra metal to potentially draw upon from the sprue button. Also, the weight of the extra metal helps to push metal throughout the carved area. You need about a 1/2 inch of space between the carved area and the edge of the bone. Vents should run all the way to the edge of the bone. You might have to clip off some wirelike extension from your casting. But, using vents will also help molten metal to reach all areas of the carved area. Good luck with your cuttle bone casting. Thanks for your support! : )

[@hithwentinuviel1]

I am wanting to cast a lot of leaves that are thin enough to be hammered into a semi circle to be added to a necklace chain. Can i use only 1 side of the cuttlefish with my design leaving the other side flat so it isn't a deep cast? Also about how much troy ounces was used to create your pendants?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

+Hithwen Tinuviel You can use just one side of the cuttle fish bone to carve out your design. But, when you cast in the bone, both sides will get burned by the silver. If you plan on hammering the castings, why not just make the leaves out of sheet metal? Making the leaves out of sheet metal would be faster and more predictable. Without being with you to see what you're making, I have no idea how much material you need to accomplish your goals. I think you need to run a few experiments to determine how much material you need and what your best approach would be. Good luck with your project. And, thanks for watching! : )

[@Theheavydress]

This is a great lesson. A quick question, is it possible to use propane for this?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Theheavydress Thanks for the nice feedback. Yes, you can use a propane torch to melt your silver. You could also use a Mapp gas torch. Both can be purchased at your local hardware store. Thanks for watching! : )

[@thedunc3]

he is adorable =)

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Thanks Kasey.

[@diymanic8869]

Thank you ever so much for your videos, so useful and fun! I subscribed some 3 months ago, when I first got interested, AND have made some variations of that spiral epoxy pendant, copper sheet leaves, etc ect But for the love of god, what IS(?!) MAPP Gas? I come from russia, and the search engine obviously puts on a deadpan expression and says - I know no such thing. Plz ask elsewhere lol Could you plz explain (is it triple refined butane perhaps)? In a flat, I would not dream of using acetylene

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hey DIYmanic, Here's a link that might help: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAPP_gas I'm surprised that nothing came up in your search. You had it spelled correctly. Wikipedia says that it's "a stabilized mixture of methylacetylene (propyne) and propadiene." It also appears to be a trademarked name. I hope that answers your question. Thanks for your support! : )

[@diymanic8869]

Thank you ever so much!!! But you do not understand "sunny Siberia" - most of my supplies have to be commisioned from Israel lol

[@jimschowe2770]

I would guess that you are in New Orleans by the flora in the background? Am I correct?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Jim, No, the OJA does its filming sunny Hollywood, CA. I've never been to New Orleans. One day I hope to visit that city. Thanks for your support! : )

[@Jenel914]

Hi- maybe I missed it but when did you add the borax to the melting silver?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Jennifer, I generally add borax as soon as the silver looks "wet" or like it's beginning to melt in the crucible. You just need a small pinch. Too much can impede your success. And, when you add the borax the flame will produce a very bright light. You might want to use tinted eye-protection. Have fun and stay safe. Thanks for your support! : )

[@Jenel914]

Thanks!

[@mydemon]

The pinch of borax goes in at 16:16

[@silverchenderson2228]

Good Video,but I thought Mr. Rogers had passed away a few years back!?!?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Cheri, I grew up watching Mr Roger's Neighborhood too. I'm flattered that you think that I emulate his style in some way. I'm not instructing children like he did. But, just like Mr. Rogers, I never talk down to my viewers. I hope you learned something from the video. Thanks for your support! : )

[@tormented_imp]

how do i get rid of the wavy texture

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Sorry for the delayed response. You need to file and sand the pieces to get rid of the wavy texture. Or, you can design pieces that are enhanced by the texture. Thanks for watching! 😀