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CUTTLEBONE / CUTTLEFISH CASTING

V.Ryan © 2021

 

Cuttle fish are a deep sea mollusk, related to Octopus and Squid. They are a member of the Sepiidae family, found in the Mediterranean / tropical seas, from the Baltic to South Africa. Cuttle bone is lightweight, soft and has a chalky texture, the internal structure Cuttlefish. It is composed of natural calcium carbonate and is filled with gas, helping to keep the cuttlefish buoyant and manoeuvrable in the sea . When Cuttlefish die, their internal chalky structure, often washes up on beaches. It has been used for centuries as a treatment for rashes and skin ulcers. It is also valued by jewellers.

Cuttlefish bone has several uses. When ground into a powder, it is used by jewellers as a polishing agent. Jewellers also use cuttlefish bone for creating moulds for casting, because it can withstand very high temperatures.

 
 
 
 

When used for casting, cuttlefish bone must be dry. Molten metal poured into a ‘damp’ mould, can result in a failure and can also be very dangerous, even explosive. Normally, two pieces of cuttlefish bone are used to produce a mould.

PREPARATION:
1. The surfaces of the two cuttlefish bone that meet, are flattened, by rubbing on a sheet of glass paper or similar abrasive. It is important that they fit together, without any gaps, through which molten metal can escape.

2. Cut away the ‘top’ of each cuttlefish bone with a hacksaw, leaving a straight edge.

 
 
3. Four small locating pins / pegs are pushed into one of the cuttlefish bones. These can be made from small diameter dowel rod, steel rod or something similar.  
 
 
 
4. Both pieces of cuttlefish bone are then pressed together. The pins / pegs create holes in the surface of the second piece of cuttlefish bone.
During the casting procedure, they hold the two sides in line with each other.
 
     
5. A round file is used to produce the sprue, down which the molten metal will be poured.  
 
 
 
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