Create your own dragon design for a silver necklace.
Carving a silver dragon pendant is a complex process that involves specialized equipment. Silver is not carved directly; instead, the carving is done in a special type of wax. This wax is then prepared and put into a mold--a process called investment--then the wax is melted out, usually with a steam dewaxing machine. A centrifugal casting machine is used to inject silver into the mold. The silver dragon figure is then removed from the mold and the piece is cleaned and finished.
Instructions
1. Carve your dragon out of jeweler's wax with wax carving tools. You may use the kind of carving tools that are electrically heated or you may heat them manually with an open flame as needed to cut through the wax. Pay special attention to areas of fine detail on your dragon, such as teeth, scales, wings and a tail. You can design your dragon based on traditional styles, such as Chinese dragons, which rarely have wings and tend to feature dog or lion-like faces, or choose a more modern fantasy style of dragon that is more serpentine. Use a cold tool to obtain a rougher texture for the scales and a warm tool to achieve a smooth texture for the claws. Make sure all of the detail you want in the finished dragon is present in the wax.
2. Determine which part of your dragon you want to use for the necklace attachment, such as the arch of the back or a wing that is raised overhead. Make sure there is a flat surface in that area large enough to drill a 1/16-in hole through, while leaving at least 1/16 inch of silver between the hole and the edge.
3. Create a sprue out of sprue wax and melt sticky wax to attach the sprue to a part of your dragon with the lease amount of detail, such as its chest or haunch. The sprue is a rod that will, when melted, allow the silver to enter your dragon mold.
4. Weigh your model to the nearest ounce and multiply the weight by 10.4. The result is the amount of silver you will need to melt.
5. Attach the sprue to the bottom of your casting flask with sticky wax or the container's built-in attachments, if it has them, leaving approximately equal space on all sides of your wax dragon model. Mix enough plaster of Paris to fill your flask, carefully breaking up any lumps, then pour the mixture into your flask.
6. Place the casting flask on the vacuum table and close the lid. Turn on the table and allow it to vibrate the air out of the mold for the amount of time specified in your user's guide.
7. Place the flask in a steam dewaxer to remove the wax. This will also heat the mold, which is necessary for a smooth cast. Place the silver casting shot in a crucible in the furnace and turn it on to the recommended setting for silver, per the manufacturer's instructions.
8. Place the flask and crucible into the appropriate spots on the centrifuge and operate the centrifuge according to the manufacturer's instructions for casting silver.
9. Let your silver dragon pendant cool and harden for about 2 hours, then remove the plaster from the flask and break it open with a mallet. Clean off any remaining plaster, using a toothbrush and warm water to scrub textured surfaces such as your dragon's scales and between its toes.
10. Cut off the sprue with a multitool, then use the tool's grinding attachments to remove the rest of the sprue.
11. Drill a hole in your designated spot on your dragon, using a drill press to keep the hole straight and a 1/16-inch drill bit. Grind away any residual silver around the hole, then use your multitool's buffing attachment and a buffing compound such as red rouge to polish the dragon pendant.
12. Spread the prongs of a necklace bail with pliers, then firmly pinch it together so the prongs at the front and back rest firmly inside the hole at the top of your pendant. String the chain or cord of your choice through the bail and your silver dragon pendant will be ready to wear.
