How to Cast Silver and Gold Jewellery using the Delft Clay casting system
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- One afternoon Andrew was casting some solid gold balls to go on a torque bangle he was making. He decided to quickly grab a point and shoot vlogging camera and made this quick film.
It shows you the techniques involved in using the Delft Clay casting system available world wide.
You can achieve superb results first time once you under stand the principles. Andrew shows you how.
So, want to learn more about jewellery making, tools, tip and tricks? Visit www.AtTheBench.com Andrew's on line jewellery making website that has over 1000 films on all things jewellery making
I was so utterly captivated with this learning experience, I did not notice this video was nearly twenty seven minutes long, bravo on keeping it educational and fun, other videos I past in curiosity weren’t giving such thorough explanations as you.
Wow. Wow wow wow wow. I read this comment before starting the video, after first being discouraged by the video length, and did you say it. I couldn’t agree more. Not a wasted breath, or a dull moment, and I’m so inspired to try it now. What an interesting man. I want to be able to instruct others this well!
This is a classy masterpiece.Thanks Andrew.
Why on earth would anyone 'thumbs down' this video? It was clear, precise and to the point and no stuffing about. Thank you for sharing!
He's beem doing this a while. He's just doing it for us newbs. Otherwise.. Why would you be watching it, you know?
they have no balls
Yes
@@timothyharville6947 or they don't match.
There's a lot of jealousy among some low level gem/gold/silver smiths.
Hi, just wanted to say a big thanks for this video! My partner and I decided to make our own wedding rings from inherited sovereigns (sentimental gold) and after 15 failed attempts, I was successful on the first try after watching your video. Great instruction. Thanks!
Hi, that is very cool and special, I want to make a gold ring from gold that I have mined for my future wife, I am a bit lost on how to do it, for now it´s lots of small and medium gold flakes from the river I have 2grams when I have 3 I will melt it but what then ?, should I try to cast a wire ingot or the ring itself?
"After 15 failed attempts I was successful in the first try"
My hobbies in a nutshell
Ingot. That way you get rid of impurities and a better idea of the purity and amount. Look at Dan Hurd's videos on making nugget jewelry;the guy he talks with is an excellent resource. Good luck!
This is the first video to clearly state to discard the blackened sand. Bravo.
You taught me more in this one video than many other UA-camrs doing the same thing. Thank you for your great explanation of the process!
Same
Totally agree
"Almost like chopping up...."pauses".....herbs..." Lols! I bet he was having vivid flashbacks of the 80's.
hahahahahaha he gets it
Yes he paused....looking for the right analogy..lol
so was I...
I almost called the plug after this video
Another great video, Andrew; thank you! I really like the super thin air vents. I was taught to use thicker ones, and it just made for more metal to have to file off the piece.
A little tip I learned when I took a sand casting class recently is to put the powder in a pouch made of a short bit of a woman's stocking or knee high. Knot it in - and you've got a perfect little pounce that distributes the powder evenly in one fell swoop, but won't make a mess of your bench.
For one who’s been very ocd about detail, and asked many questions to the point I thought I was obnoxious. This has to be one of the best explained tut’s I have come acrossed and has definitely earned my subscription and I will excitingly watch the next video from you. Thank you my good sir
I have watched somewhere around 75 to 100 of the Delta clay check me and this is absolutely the best most refined ending up with the best castings without flashing all over the place this guys got it dialed in and you really don’t need to watch any others just to see how not to do it but this is the how to do it this guy is the top of the pile when it comes to jewelers and techniques of casting
Awesome! I have in the past designed jewelry, but then the actual casting was was done by professionals. I have always wanted to do the casting myself, but feel that the equipment cost is not really warranted by my limited creations. I work with the 3D modeling and use a resin printer with a special jewelers wax which I can then send off, there are even companies that can work from your design only. But it is not an affordable means of production of any sort, and is limited mostly to 'one offs'. Which for me at lease is my intent as any jewelry I create is its own creation and not part of any style or theme. I have some ideas to incorporate some gemstones into my projects but that is not something that i can easily contract out and would be easier for me to do myself after learning a few techniques. Overall, this seems really satisfying....watching your own creation come into being and made beautiful.
Thanks so much for showing these to us!
Thank you for this very well done explanation to Delft Clay casting. I bought some at the end of my "Lost Wax Casting" career, but then moved and forgot about it.
I am getting set up to pour Bronze Casts, a pair of matching Machine Vises about 25X25X100mm in size. I will be using custom-built Birch Plywood "flasks" more like sand casters do but smaller in size. I hope to also make a pair of "V" Blocks 25mm cubed All above will be machined on a CNC Mill that I am setting up now!
(I started Lost Wax Casting in 1968 & cast until 2005 . . . Silver, Yellow & White Golds at 750 fine. I taught both Casting & Smithing in US Army Special Services Craft Shops in both Texas and Germany in my "spare time". I also had the opportunity to "Student Teach" in a Junior College in California, after the Instructor bought all the equipment, but told his student HE knew zero about the subject, I raised my hand as a student and he said Go Ahead at It!).
This was one of the first videos I saw on Delft Clay years ago… it inspired me to have a go….. now this sand casting technique is my favourite jewellery making process, I use it a lot with great success.
Thanks for your enthusiasm….. nick
Hi Nick. Yep, I felt the same way.
@@allanthompson9695 hi Allan, yes Delft Clay casting delights … N
I cant wait to get going with casting. Lots of ideas. I have collected everything I need, just waiting for delivery of the Sievert torch. Collected an empty propane cylinder earlier today. Down here in Devon, you have to have your own cylinder, or pay about 75 pounds plus vat deposit. Cheers Andrew. Thank you so much for your passion, time served and teaching skills.
I was in Ecuador in a Museum of archeology and I saw the way that the indians used to do the gold casting(2 to 3 thousand years ago) and they used clay something similar to this. Very interesting thanks.
I think this is the best video I have ever seen on UA-cam about the process of casting! Great job!
I have watched this a few times already but EVERYTIme I click it and end up watching it again 🤣I can’t get enough Andrew😆🤷♀️❤️
Huge thank you! This is the best video I've ever seen on casting. Thanks for keeping it simple and giving all the tricks!
I'd never heard a real explanation for using extra metal before! Thank you for explaining that.
Very well done video. I love the humor with the camera. I am a newbie and excited to carry on and make my own stuff. No limit on how to make molds now. Thanks
Thanks for this, Andrew. I have done Delft clay casting only once!! It wasn't hugely successful as I think the shape I was trying to cast - a Star Aniseed pod - was too complicated and the result wasn't as defined as I wanted it. I really needed to see the process through from start to finish again to refresh my memory.
His videos are really great, very informative and I love his expressions and personality!
You're so smart and clever Andrew, I wish you all the luck.
Thank you.
That is a so cool! I've done investment/centrifugal casting, charcoal casting, cuttlefish casting, but never even knew about this sort of casting. Wonderful video! Project for the future! Thank you!
OMG Cuttlefish fish casting in your comment I have not heard that bin said in Meany years,,,I dun that when I was 12 years old and yes I am a gold smith still 33 years later, have advanced a little bit to ,,💎all the best to everyone that keeps pushing on for perfection x
You are quite the teacher.. thank you for going slow and very much into detail.
I just love watching your teachings. You are very thorough, very helpful and pretty funny at times. Thank you.
That was an awesome tutorial. I've watched several of your videos sir, and they've all been as good as this one! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. I pour mostly silver but find gold as you have shown to take far less heat and oh my so beautiful. It doesn't hold on to the borax flux near as bad as silver as well. Thanks for this video. I knew most of what you have shown but I see I need to make my air bleeds much smaller. Thank you good fella.School every day eh !(Yup,Canadian,lol.)
Well, I think the tips from this video will help me be successful on my third attempt at a delft clay cast. We shall see!
"look at that, I've got matching balls".................that was a fabulous grand finale
Mm of course u like these balls 😂😂
Hi Andrew,👋
Have you ever thought about working with Precious Silver Metal Clay? I don't have the ability to melt metal and I do not own a large torch. I have not tried this yet, but I am very interested in it. It is not terribly expensive and you can use a small hand torch to fire it. You can use molds and textures with it. You can even set stones in it before drying and firing your project. What do you think about it?
Thumbs up Andrew ! bought some delft clay at jewellery trade show many years ago but was never confidant enough to use it ! and I no longer have oxygen bottles in my workshop but if I ever get a mirco flame I will now know how to use the clay
I have never seen this ritual of a man getting 'gold matching balls' very nice indeed. Thank You for the Great Video. ;~)
Great tutorial! I love your videos and always learn new things. I'm just working on my soldering skills, so doing this is a little down the road for me, but I had never heard of this casting technique and I'm happy I learned about it. I want to melt some metal now!
I don't know how i got here, but I enjoy the way he talks & explains
Love your tutorials great fun can't wait to try it. I start my silversmithing course next Wednesday
Andrew really the goat. Thanks for all your help
Fantastic fantastic, so well executed,
A true master, thank you so much
Always love your videos, fun and natural and packed full of top tips
Thanks for the video. I have done lots of lost wax casting but definitely see a use for the Delft clay casting. I will give it a try. Thanks again for showing how to do it.
Fantastic!! Im just learning.... and I appreciate your work on this. Lot of great methods here
"I'm not even going to ATTEMPT to pick that up, since it's VERY hot" (Picks it up anyway)
Ĺ⁰
Multiple times
Ohw it's hot! Now I've got matching balls :)
I really thoroughly enjoyed your video. Wholesome ^^
Thank you.
Continually picking up the hot material is literally my worst enemy I swear my brain doesn't register it's hot until the 6th time I've tried🤣
Andrew, I always enjoy learning from your videos and this one was no exception.
Thanks for sharing this little known art. Very detailed professional step by step. Namaste 🙏🏽
Thanks Andrew, great demonstration
My mentor always told me when the metal shook like jello it was good. It works
You're great and a wonderful teacher Andrew. Thank you!
Thankyou so much for these videos, Andrew you are MVP
I'm only 6 min into the video and I just wanted to say: good video and great information!
Fascinating and full of all those details that are most likely essential to get a good result.
Awesome explanation and very professionally done. Thank you.
good job! what white power?
Great video! Great information, humor and result. Many thanks for making this and sharing your knowledge 👍
Katie Cote hello.
Thanks for this video. I took a bunch of old gold and silver jewelry and made some electrum and want to pour a Nordic style pendant.
Hello Andrew, thanks for all your sharing. I have learned a lot from you, even joined your website academy for awhile before I retired and had to be more budget-minded.
I was looking at you chopping up this clay, and I was wondering if a flour sifter would work. Just a thought- maybe useful, maybe not.
Congratulations on your matching balls.
Thanks again Andrew, another well presented and informative video
So glad you used a mini torch in this demonstration.... very helpful video, thank you!
hi, i live in delft, the netherlands and i did not know this :) i have delft clay outside my flat :) You are a great teacher, thank you for this video .
I don't care if you hold the camera on your head with bubblegum n duct tape🤣just keep bringing us these awesome videos! I have not been able to join your academy as of yet but someday I hope to; until then I will continue to study your posts n videos n vlogs to Glean all the knowledge your willing to release! God Bless you for all your hard work! This is one lady that is truly thankful for it! You have helped me want to get out of bed again n feel like I can n want to learn something new again! I have been disabled for years with a inherited back disease and pretty much gave up once I was put on permanent disability...BUT NOT NOW! Lol look out I'm making jewelry n I'm making a come back!!! Giggles BLAH BLAH BLAH SORRY I'm just so thankful for your teachings n just thought you should know! I've been watching for over three years now (secretly I think I had a crush on you initially lol don't tell my husband HEHEHEHE I'm a sucker for the accent I guess lol ANYWAYS) I've learned sooo much from you! Oh and one more thing.... I actually have some of my work selling in a store in our little town in Oregon USA 🇺🇸 Yippee! So keep up your great work n just know that your touching lives with every video you share! Thank You!!!!
I hope you have been able to join by now, I joined two years ago and I keep going back and reviewing. Andrew does a great job, I may watch others but I always compare. well worth the $
I loved to watch your video Andrew. Congratulations!
This is REALLY INTERESTING, Ive never quite seen anything like this before!
Seeing that I am not the only one who's too impatient to learn that hot things are hot to touch is reassuring :D Thank you for the information
Awesome instructor, keeps the attention going.
What a good teacher, excellent! Thank you 😊
Thank you very much for the amazing video and your excellent explanation
That delft clay looks like the topping of a coffee cake--brown sugar and cinnamon. I think I am compelled to make a quick run to the grocery store!
LOL More like ground up flower pot.
Great video! You’re super funny and loved watching!
One of the best videos I’ve seen about casting. Still, I can’t find a video in which a ring is cast. One question. Is it possible to cast a ring? A ball is “easy” but a ring is a lot of shape to fill up.
You know how you can tell if someone did a good video? You want to sit down and have a beer, with him.
Cheers :)
James Doyle agreed
Interesting you used a clay type powder wondering if just regular pottery powder clay can be used. I read green sand /foundry sand is need in mass production/ good sand casts... but now i am think you can do it with many sand sources as well.. just haven't figure out which ones work / where you go to get it / find it to uses yet. Really cool stuff nice video you even explained making the vent /pour holes...
You can get it from either a jewelry supply store or Amazon
A metallurgist recently told me he trained using sand and bentonite clay. It’s probably much cheaper but I already invested in the delft clay. Also I don’t know the right proportions of sand and bentonite clay to make my own. However this was very interesting to learn there are other options.
Hello form America. I just wanted to say i really enjoy your videos. I deal in silver and have always wanted to make my own silver ring. Im going to buy the delft clay casting system online and give it a try. Thank you for your clear concise videos.
Ouch that’s hot........ ouch it’s still hot....ouch that’s hot. Continues to hold another 4 times.
Lol
About the 4th time I couldnt help but chuckle
reminds me of my old middle school chemistry teacher when he did a basic experiment about the expansion of a steelball when the hot ball fell out of his shitty pliers he caught it with his hand and that ball wa still red hot...poor guy
I admit I did laugh... what did Einstein say about doing the same thing over and over? 🤭
OCD
That was very interesting. I would've loved to see the finished bracelet to have an idea of how it cleans up. I'm trying to decide between this and silicone, wax, plaster, molten pour method. This seems like less headache. I want to copy a plain, unadorned ring that has a circular depression up top that i want to inset with decorative disc i already have. I know silicone works great for detail. My only detail is the depressed ridge i mentioned Good video tho.
Wow! Clearly explained! Thank you for this video.
Excellent, I wouldn't have though of using oxyacetylene torch. great idea. Thanks Andrew
Never for platinum tho.
Oh....it is so clear...great teacher you are sir
I really enjoyed this video, you explain the steps and the reasons why really well encluding how hot it was. Very cool
You are so good at explaining things. So glad I found you!
Brilliant video, thank you.
Nice job my friend,, you've made it simple to follow your instructions. Be careful, IT'S HOT.... Best wishes..
Thank you so much, amazing work, explains in details 🙏🏻
Friday night starts with the same powder choppin' 🤩😎
Hello im from Honduras i like you work
Yo soy joyero novato no sé mucho inglés pero he aprendido mucho felicidades por tu trabajo he aprendido mucho
a very interesting and good video!
take a shot everytime andrew forgets the metal still being hot. XD
Hi Andrew, here from South America. Clear and detailed explanation, thanks for that. Two little questions before I can try myself in my mini beginner workshop. First: As you regulated the little torch to be not too oxidant, what is the bad effect if you not do that?. Second: Nothing to do with the gold but aluminum, maybe you know. I did my first aluminum melting test in a crucible with borax, the same as you normally do for gold and silver, but it was a disaster, aluminum, borax and impurities were terrible mixed. Then I went to YT, and realized that no borax is used but a bit, and the crucible should not borax prepared. Which is the best way to melt aluminum in small amounts?. I would like to pouring two connecting rods for an steam engine model that I am doing. As hobbyist jeweler too, I do have a good results pouring silver and gold for many years. Thanks for any help.
Maybe look at the folks using Al to cast ant nests...?
I can't 😂😂😂 I laughed so much... What a great guy
Hi Andrew Berry, first of all I want to say thanks for showing this absolutely and amazing demonstration. I have a question I hope you can help me with. I want to cast a shell I found at the beach. It's one of those sea shells that are somewhat flat and round type . I want to reproduce my sea shell and make it with silver. Do you have some advice which is
the easiest way to do it?
Excellent. Now how to cast a ring using a wax mold? Can you do stone in place with this?
Most informative I've seen to date. Thanks.
I believe you can use a little sieve for the delft clay. Great video thank you
FROM THE COLONIES, GOOD JOB MATE.
I'M A 3RD GENARATION BLACK SAND FOUNDRY MOLD MAKER AND THE HOLES ARE CALLED GATES.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
THANKS AGAIN MATE THAT CALLS FOR A PINT ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
THE YANK. ;)
Great video thank you - im a little league pewter caster - i learned a lot - well done sir !
That was really cool to watch. I use a lot of copper. Do you know if you can you use the same method for copper?
Hello just watched this video thank you for going so step by step instructions. Best instructional I have seen. I want to try myself at casting, I was wondering if you can tell me where you got the mould from please? 😎
Great job Man 👏
yay... so how many times can you reuse the sand ?
Thank´s a lot - hope my project will go well with your help.