How do cast these free form rings?

[glowpear]

Hello all,
Happy new year.
After a year's break I have 3 months in a workshop and I'd love to try something new.
My casting skills are limited to none, but I'm keen to learn! I've carved in wax and had the casting done by a profesh and that's it.
I love these rings by Kelvin Birk and Ruth Wood and I would love to experiment with free forms but I don't know how they are done. I would guess sand cast but not sure how to create the mould with all that lovely fluidy bumpy texture.
Obviously stone setting would then be even more of a challenge but first off I'd like to understand what processes are used for the metal work.
Any thoughts gratefully received.
Thanks in advance!

[Goldsmith]

Check out Delft clay casting, there are these clips on Youtube;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0sCDTRwMwg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtrPX3jEJC4

They give you an idea of what's involved.

James

[glowpear]

Thanks. Any thoughts on how the moulds were created, though?

[Goldsmith]

The first video shows how to create the moulds. Or do you mean how to create the original patterns?

Here is a link to what gear you would need to use; http://www.cooksongold.com/category_...ry=wax+casting

http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery...rcode-999-1086

James

[glowpear]

Yes the original form... Sorry my question wasn't very clear obviously sorry!i had a tinker with some wax and a flame but didn't get very far...
Thank you.

[Dennis]

Two quick fixes to start you off:

1. Lay various small pieces of scrap into a circle slightly smaller than the size required. You can scribe a circle on your bock. Make sure they are all in contact, flux and gently heat until they connect by fusing. Smooth the inside with a sanding drum.

2. Start with a strip of silver, about 0.9mm thick and 9.0mm wide. Drill a few random holes and put notches in the edge if you like. Heat to dull red and pickle 4-5 times. The surface will develop a coating of fine silver. (Depletion gilding)
Then try reticulation, by just reheating until the surface shimmers. As the strip cools the surface will wrinkle. You can repeat this last heating until you like the effect. Now you have material to form a ring in the normal way. Dennis

[glowpear]

Ok thanks for the suggestions.