Comments on: Work in Progress: Cast Zinc Mantle, Floating Table http://christopherleeplummer.com/company/blog/work-in-progress-cast-zinc-mantle-floating-table/ Handcrafted fine art custom range hoods, zinc countertops, and more! Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:09:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Dave http://christopherleeplummer.com/company/blog/work-in-progress-cast-zinc-mantle-floating-table/#comment-109 Dave Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:34:17 +0000 http://christopherleeplummer.com/company/blog/work-in-progress-cast-zinc-mantle-floating-table/#comment-109 How did you cast the mantle? It looks too intricate for sand casting? Beautiful! Dave D How did you cast the mantle? It looks too intricate for sand casting?

Beautiful!

Dave D

]]> By: Nathaniel http://christopherleeplummer.com/company/blog/work-in-progress-cast-zinc-mantle-floating-table/#comment-110 Nathaniel Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:15:58 +0000 http://christopherleeplummer.com/company/blog/work-in-progress-cast-zinc-mantle-floating-table/#comment-110 Its slip-casting, essentially the same process we use on our countertops. Using a positive mold (in this case, the antique hardwood mantle itself), as opposed to the negative space used in sand-casting, we're applying repeated paper-thin coats of vaporized metal until a thick enough coat is built up to polish back. The trick comes in applying thin enough coats of zinc that it can harden without burning the mold underneath. Works best with metals such as pewter, which have a very low melting point, although we can successfully cast alloys with a much higher melting point using the same technique. Thanks for the compliments! Nice stuff on your e-zine by the way, I just signed up... Its slip-casting, essentially the same process we use on our countertops.

Using a positive mold (in this case, the antique hardwood mantle itself), as opposed to the negative space used in sand-casting, we’re applying repeated paper-thin coats of vaporized metal until a thick enough coat is built up to polish back. The trick comes in applying thin enough coats of zinc that it can harden without burning the mold underneath. Works best with metals such as pewter, which have a very low melting point, although we can successfully cast alloys with a much higher melting point using the same technique.

Thanks for the compliments! Nice stuff on your e-zine by the way, I just signed up…

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