Broom Casting and adding patina

by Fiona Watts

A lot of us have done broom casting at the club and I for one had a lot of fun. It’s so addictive, I think we have all done quite a few ‘pours’ and most of us have gotten some really good results. But what can you make from the end results?

I’ve made a couple of pendants (how many can one person wear though right!?!?), some earrings and STILL have some great looking broom castings left over.

The photo is of the same pendant, just showing different sides…..

So I thought about what else I could make and one piece really lent itself to a ring.

First I made a plain, simple ring shank or band. Then annealed the casting piece. And VERY CAREFULLY bent it little by little into a crescent shape. Carefully, as I didn’t want to mar the silver or damage the design. Annealed several times while bending.

Once it was kind of the shape and size I wanted, I made the ring shank the same shape as the casting using pliers. Like matching a bezel to a stone.

Then much to Carol M’s dismay, used a small butane torch to solder it together. She didn’t believe I could solder such a ‘large’ piece of silver with a small torch.

Success!

It’s kind of all about confidence and experience I guess.

Sorry I forgot to take progress shots.

As most of you know, I’m a patina girl. Love, love, love patinas.

And look what groovy colours I got!

Keep creating. And smiling.

Fiona