A simple step-by-step guide to sand casting with silver!

One of my absolute favorite techniques is sand casting. It is a playful and direct method where you can make casts of objects or wax sculptures in metal.

Unlike more advanced machine casting, it is quick and you often get a more vivid, organic result.

I have created sand-cast silver rings, silver rings with gemstones, silver necklaces with gemstones and with sand cast motifs with this technique.

Sand casting does, of course, have its limitations: the mold must have what is known as a "release," i.e., slopes that allow you to press down and lift the object you want to cast out of the sand without breaking it. But the possibilities are endless! You can capture fine details, play with the texture of the sand, and even cast stones directly into the mold.

Here I show you how to do a simple sand casting, step by step.

You will need

• A mold (two-part sand mold)
• Sand for casting
• Body powder and a brush
• Ruler
• An object to cast from
• Drill or similar for casting and air holes
• A melting furnace and metal (e.g., silver)

Step 1: Prepare the sand

Start by breaking up the sand into smaller pieces using a ruler or similar object.

Sift some of the sand through a fine-mesh sieve; the more even the sand, the better the detailed result.

Step 2: Fill the first half of the mold

Place the bottom part of the mold (the one with the edge) on a flat, clean surface.

First fill a thin layer of fine sand in the bottom, then the rest. Press the sand down hard with your thumbs or a plastic hammer.

Fill all the way to the top and scrape off the excess with a ruler.

Then turn the mold over and you should now have a smooth, clean sand surface.

Dust the surface with body powder and use a brush to remove any excess powder.

Step 3: Press down the object

Take your object and gently press it into the sand, about halfway.

You can use your thumbs or a ruler to apply even pressure.

Then dust on a little more body powder and brush off the excess.

Step 4: Fill the second half

Place the second part of the mold on top of the first. Make sure the lines on the sides are aligned so that the parts fit together.

Repeat the same procedure: fill with a little fine sand first, then the rest over the edge and scrape off.

Step 5: Open the mold

Gently wiggle the mold until the two parts come apart.

When you open it, you will see the imprint of your object in the sand.

Carefully pry the object loose, using your fingernails or a thin sharp tool to remove the object without damaging the sand.

Step 6: Create a sprue and air holes

Use a drill to make a hole through the sand where the metal will be poured in; this will be the casting. Make a small bowl around the opening on the top, e.g., with the handle of a spoon.

Then make a few air holes with a narrow, thin tool, such as a drill, so that the air can escape when the metal is poured in. Remove any loose sand that may fall into the mold.

Step 7: Put the mold back together

Put both parts of the mold back together, using the lines on the sides as a guide.

Now the mold is ready for casting!

Step 8: Melt and pour

While you were preparing the mold, you heated up the oven.

Silver melts at around 960°C, so set the oven to around 1100°C to achieve a good, liquid melt.

Carefully pour the melted metal into the mold and allow the mold to cool.

Once the metal has cooled and you remove the casting, you will have a completely unique metal impression straight from the sand!

Here you can see the final result.

Some tips:

• Try pressing natural objects such as seed capsules, shells, or stones into the sand.
• Experiment directly in the sand. Create patterns or shapes directly in the sand; you can do this without a predetermined mold, and it will be a fun surprise when you open your mold.
• The sand can be reused several times! Just remove the black and burnt parts, sift the rest and reuse it for the next casting.

Want to learn more?

If you want to delve deeper and learn more tricks, come to a sand casting course at Smedjan Blackeberg!

There, we go through the technique in more depth, and you get to cast your own jewelry in silver.

Get in touch if you want to know more, and good luck with your casting!