Question about Aluminium bronze jewelry | The Home Foundry

Hello, long time no see.

I'm getting into casting aluminium bronze again, and I was wondering if I could make jewelry out of it.
I know that copper can stain skin and clothing when exposed to sweat, but is AlCu a safe alloy for this?
Also, the question I always have when I'm mixing metals: Does the low melting point metal go in first or last?

I will use scrap metals for this project, so some impurities are to be expected.

Bonus question: which homemade AlCu (no other metals) alloy is the closest in colour to gold?

You'd be surprised at how large of a market there is for copper rings and bracelets. Some people swear wearing copper helps with their arthritis..
I've some nice yellow brass I've been thinking of casting. Good color but smokes a lot when melted. Will add enough pure tin pellets to cut the zinc content to estimated 10%.. I've been reading that the addition of tin will help keep the metal from losing zinc content. Maybe color. we'll see. I'll be adding the tin when the brass begins to liquefy and smokes..
I've a small broken arm Kerr casting machine.. The crucible will hold and cast 6 ozs of sterling silver... For such a small machine, it will still cast a 4"x6" flask. Just barley.

adding tin will not reduce zinc loss until you get closer to 4% Zn , want to reduce Zn loss MELT FASTER ,
, But as your Sn/Zn ratio gets closer to 1/1 you will get a pink/red alloy rather then yellow, Basically you are making Red brass/tin bronze, not yellow brass, the specifics gets really messy depending on what trace elements you have involved,
but the simple fact Zn boils at 1,665°F or 907°C so once you get to that point you will start to loose Zn, as a I said the faster you get from there to your pouring temp the better, also limiting the surface area exposed to air the better( so think of a cover like crushed glass) I dont consider it because it causes crucible wear, a crucible lid might be helpful . but your best bet is to ignore it, or plunge makeup zinc just before pouring or add excess Zn to the bottom of your melt in the very beginning, my normal practice ,


V/r HT1

While that is a quote , its not totally true, it would be a simple Melt , if you can source pure aluminum, everything else is easy to get and melting and casting would be QED, it will Dross, so cast it like a Tin Bronze and it will be fine

V/r HT1

P.S. I have to wonder how close this is to Nordic gold?
https://www.belmontmetals.com/product/art-casters-brass/

Hi,

Lianjiang Product Page

I am a new member, living in Ontario, only 30 miles east of the
Manitoba border, and just finding my first steps in silver jewelry
making on a strictly hobby basis. I am very thankful for this list,
and learn so much with each day’s posts.

I’ve come up with an idea for a labour of love. I have three kids,
21-24, who are all on their own now, and scattered from home base.
Recently, I sold the family home to downsize and provide unfettered
movement for my delightful child-free state. Closing is January 2,
, so this is our last Christmas here. The kids are 100%
supportive, but understandably sorry that the only home they’ve known
will no longer be available. We also lost our original home to a fire
10 years ago, and this house is the replacement. Moving in has always
signified the end of a very difficult period for us. The background
may affect your answers.

I want to make a Christmas ornament for each of the kids,
representing our home. The rough draft for the 4-piece pattern is at
http://wildclay.ca/ornament_hilly.html. The pieces are laid out with
numbers representing order of assembly, with a composite below. I’ve
put it together in paper, and it works, with the tabs providing the
desired 3D effect. (I’ll use wire for the railing.)

Contact us to discuss your requirements of aluminium ornaments. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Question is: I thought 24 gauge (.5mm) sterling sheet would be the
appropriate material for this project. It will be nearly $80.
(Canada pricing), which is not outside my willing-to-pay price for
this gift. However, in checking out other sterling ornaments on the
Web, it seems that my material cost is excessive compared to retail
pricing. It’s irrelevant as a pricing question, because I never
intend to do ornaments commercially, but it made me wonder if 24
gauge is heavier than I need. (Aside question for Canadians – do you
know of a source for Argentium sheet/wire in Canada?)

I also retreated to perhaps using brass or copper to reduce the
cost. For those of you who have been at this for a long time, is it
likely I will regret not making them in silver 20 years from now –
not because the other won’t last, but for intrinsic value? Just for
the record, the house is a silver/greyish-blue colour – possible
that I just answered my own question, but I’d still love to hear your
thoughts on this.

Any thoughts on the project are welcome. I will need to order my
silver in the next week or so if I am to have this completed by
Christmas.

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