Spin Casting Insects~ Massive DUW

[MrsWTownsend]

So far I've only cast a couple of insects, although I do have more in the freezer.  I had some trouble with the legs on the scorpion collapsing back in during the investment process.  I had re-enforced the weaker joints with wax (you can see the re-enforced areas in the pics) but didn't want to lose the original shape of the legs...  Just for the record, frozen bugs still stink...  I had a pet centipede in the freezer to cast but it just plain stunk too bad to sprue it!
Spruing the the insects:  A feeder cockroach that was in the tank when my tarantula died ate it's butt so this is why the back half is not there
 
Using my x-acto to hold the legs in place while the wax cools after reinforcing the joints
 
Sprued
 
Fitting the tarantula into the flask correctly
 
Spin Caster

An invested flask after spin casting~ notice the metal button in the center
 
Our highly technical and professional casting set up and my sweet hubby
 
Cast pieces on sprue
 
After cleaning
 
  Notice how even the finest points on the scorpions stinger and pinchers are complete?  I am really pleased with the amount of fine detail that is preserved.

[Heathr03]

That was so way creepy and really really cool! I  can't wait til tomorrow to show my boys (& actually my girls too)

What kind of metal is it, (I know nothing about casting)
What else have you cast?

Thanks for sharing - I'll be looking forward to more!

[MrsWTownsend]

Thank you for your comments!

I've been casting in sterling silver thus far.  We started doing this in March of this year and it's been pretty cool.  The process is called "lost wax" casting because the patterns/pieces used to make the castings are usually made from wax which is encased in a plaster like investment (actually a fine silicon material) and then burned out (or lost) in a kiln.  Then you take the metal of your choice and inject it into the cavity left after the wax is burned out to create a metal duplicate of the original pattern.  We are using a centrifuge (the spin caster) to inject the molten metal by centrifugal force.

Here are some other examples (you may notice a particular theme here):

wax patterns




my very first cast pieces ever


my new favorite chain from start to finish:






This is all stuff I've made using little things that I've cast out of sterling silver, then wire wrapped or soldered together








I just started messing around with macramé knot work making cell phone charms and have been starting to incorporate some of the little castings in these

[MrsWTownsend]

Some of my favorite little things






OH YEAH~ my first "order" using lost wax casting and also the first patterns I actually MADE~ the previous castings are from a company that makes/sells the wax patterns (except for the links in the chakra bracelet which were cast and then hammered).

CHA CHA RINGS  =]

[mookiejones]

i am glad you arent casting horses the same way you are casting insects-lol.  extremely interesting. thanks for showing the step by step process. a little yucky to me ( those bugs) with a beautiful result.

[MakinTheBestOfIt]

Who would have thought that bugs could end up so pretty! 

[mairzydozy]

Wow, creepy and absolutely fascinating at the same time! - Marie

[dreamriverdesigns]

Who would have thought that bugs could end up so pretty!

I totally agree!!! amazing process with amazing detail.  thanks for sharing.

[MrsWTownsend]

Thanks for all of your comments.  I've been having a lot of fun with the casting~ creepy crawlies are a part of my every day so that was only inevitable.  You all would probably have a coronary if you knew what else was in the freezer.

I need a bigger kiln and centrifuge for the horse... and freezer...   

[Dragonclaw]

WOW... Way cool!

[Heathr03]

I need a bigger kiln and centrifuge for the horse... and freezer...   

LOL!

[kindofstrange]

Fantastic!  I absolutely love this idea.  Dig the other work you posted as well.

[Dragonclaw]

Thanks for all of your comments.  I've been having a lot of fun with the casting~ creepy crawlies are a part of my every day so that was only inevitable.  You all would probably have a coronary if you knew what else was in the freezer.

I need a bigger kiln and centrifuge for the horse... and freezer...   

Yes I'm old enough to remember "creepy crawlies " and those old kits are kind of expensive on ebay

[Dragonclaw]

Hmmm somehow this got missed to be scheduled for a tweet... so I fixed that

[Eiriel]

Exceptionally creepy, but very cool.

Well done, that's such an inventive thing to do!