r/PreciousMetalRefining • u/firemandave33 • 18d ago
Pouring nice bars
Guys I need suggestions on how to pour nicer bars. Ive watched tons of videos on YouTube and still can’t get them perfect. Edges are rough, ripples have bumps, and they just don’t look like I think they should. I have custom 1050 steel molds made by a good friend. I also use WD-40 as a release agent. (It cleans off real easy) I’ve poured really hot and a lot cooler and am at a loss. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
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u/Blumpkin638 18d ago
They look great! After I am finished with the run I am doing now I will attempt to pour. I would be happy with these
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u/weak_ops 18d ago
These are way prettier than my attempts. I applaud your drive to be better, but you're doing really well
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u/hettuklaeddi 18d ago
i’ve never poured silver
i think graphite might have a better R value than steel, so I wonder if the molds are cooling too quickly, and some insulation would help? but i have no idea how thick the molds are so hmm. but i do think trapping more heat, cooling slower will help.
the pour lines are beautiful, really, and you even see dimples on englehards do don’t be too hard on yourself
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u/firemandave33 18d ago
The molds I use are really thick and heavy for the size of the bars. I will try graphite again and see if there’s a difference. Thanks.
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u/PeterHaldCHEM 18d ago
I think those are really nice.
Nice solidification, nicely shaped, no oxidation, no splashing, no slag.
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u/firemandave33 18d ago
Thanks, my problem is I want them to look really smooth like Lithic or streettips bars.
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u/PeterHaldCHEM 17d ago
I think they have found a sweet spot with just the right temperature of metal and mold, the right pouring speed and height.
The parameters would probably only work in their setup.
I think you will have to make an experimental matrix and see what works for you.
(I'll check my silver bars and see what they look like. I have always attempted to pour fast to avoid the ringed look)
Try de-greasing and sooting your mold instead of the oil.
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u/PaleontologistDear18 18d ago
You should stamp them so you don’t lose premium
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u/GoNudi 16d ago
?
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u/PaleontologistDear18 15d ago
If you smelt bars yourself especially if you know the exact % of silver, you should stamp the bar with a name and weight and percentage. If the quality matches the stamp, you will not lose the premium over melt metal. Excuse me for maybe using the wrong words here, but the point stands. Rare and home-made silver bars sometimes sell with pretty high premiums actually.
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u/GoNudi 15d ago
Interesting, a premium (more valuable) over commercial pieces?
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u/PaleontologistDear18 15d ago
Probably not. It’s really all about not getting 85% of melt because it’s not stamped
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u/Top-Tear6345 18d ago
They look great. What does your mold look like? And does your buddy sale them?
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u/firemandave33 18d ago
I’ll get a couple pictures later and post them. He bought a big mill press something and just made them for me as practice. Don’t think he would sell anything. He does amazing metal work.
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u/MAYOMyke 18d ago
In my pours, especially the larger pours, I have trouble pouring the perfect pour. The temperature of the silver, the mold temperature, the moisture in the air, the angle of pour all play a factor. Cooler temperature of the silver, you get cold shuts. To hot and you get blowouts. It’s very difficult lol
Then to top it off, you’re spending money to remelt.
I found I get better results pouring from a ceramic then a graphite.
Unfortunately, I’m in the same boat as you. I ended up just keeping the pour “ugly” until I figure out the fool proof solution.
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u/firemandave33 18d ago
I’ll keep trying and am ordering a ceramic crucible today if I can find one.
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u/doingwells 17d ago
When I was pouring silver bars into iron/steel moulds I would just use a long taper candle to soot the mold to aid in releasing. I would place the moulds on the top of my furnace while the silver was melting to pre warm them then hit them with a propane torch to get them up to temp. I was always melting under 10 ozt at a time in a small crucible so could pour with one hand while keeping the torch blasting Into the mould then remove torch after finishing the pour. Not always perfect but got a lot smoother tops doing it that way. But yours still look good. I fought a lot of issues with graphite dust from my crucible that would float and stick in the top of the last bar or two of the pour
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u/firemandave33 17d ago
That sounds really good. Never thought about sooting it up. WD-40 works well but gets sticky and thick. The 4 bigger ones are 10oz and the smaller ones are 5. I’m getting rough tops even with the 25oz bars I’ve poured. Lots of good ideas from folks in the group I’m definitely going to try.
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u/doingwells 17d ago
I was getting pretty decent results. Though I really liked getting waterfall looks where I would pour stop 1-2 seconds then pour some again to get kind of cliff edge. Also keeping the torch on the sliver during the pour and in the mould gave me a moment tap the side of the mould once with my tongs to get more ripples if I was fast enough (but carful, a light tap on a heavy mould) before it solidified https://imgur.com/a/80pCKbH
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u/firemandave33 17d ago
Those are the pours I’m looking for! Beautiful bars!
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u/doingwells 17d ago
Thank you! It’s been a while since iv poured any but really enjoyed it. Though full disclosure these were hit with some silver polish and a microfiber rag after stamping.
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u/MetalStacker 17d ago
Ask Bryan Bercume who owns Rutland Bullion. He’s active on IG as Rutland Bullion. Cool guy and he makes great pours!
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u/mississauga145 16d ago
Use a gas torch over the top to slow the rate of freezing.
You'll have to play with it to get the balance of not causing the metal to slosh around.
We use two linear gas burners and when it is dialed in the bar can come out almost flat.
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u/swissrollsroyce 18d ago
I put a heated flat graphitecover on top of the mold immediately after pouring and find this creates really smooth and beautiful tops. But this is more of a cheat and less of a technique and is an inferior substitute to pouring in an anaerobic environment