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HS Art Teacher needs bronze casting help [Kansas] 

March 5, 2008

Hi. I've been doing pewter casting with my high school students, and its going great! Recently, I found some "bronze casting metals" by a company that appears to be "star performer." We've been using acetylene and a metal casting dish to cast our pewter, and I was wondering if the same technique would work with the bronze. Please let me know if this is possible or if I'm wasting time trying to melt bronze this way. Thanks in advance!

Tiffany Wiles
art teacher - Topeka, KS, USA

There is a big difference in melting points between Pewter and casting Bronze. Pewter will melt and cast in the 500 degree F temperature range and the bronze will need a 1850 to 2100 degree F temperature range. You will need to use a ceramic crucible (melting dish) for Bronze. If you are using straight acetylene, you may need to use oxygen with it to melt the bronze.

Good luck & Best regards,

Jim Sivertsen
Alloys & Refining - Alden, NY, USA