*Next Video:* Making my own regime to overthrow the government and enstating my currency as the global standard

The next thing you know, he uploads "making my own country"

Yes, the plaster is causing the molten metal to bubble and explode was due to water in the plaster (plaster is a hydrated mineral) . You need a combination of both time and temperature, and you need to pour soon after they have been properly baked as they will start re-absorbing moisture from the air as it cools. It's usually not suggested to use regular plaster of Paris as it also is not porous enough to let gases escape. Casting plaster is specially formulated to deal with different types of metals and different pouring techniques like vacuum casting vs centrifugal castings vs naturally pressurized (i.e. atmospheric pressure gravity feed pour as you did here)

As a metalsmith this episode hurt... I give you a LOT of props for learning and attempting. Keep working and I would also suggest looking into the actual techniques used for better results.

This channel should be called "How to destroy crucibles" xD

I love the overall clumsiness of this channel

Someone: 'lets make my own currency' IRS: 'helllooooooo!'

This is a very solid example of what it's like to not do any sort of research going into doing something.

I love how you've allowed yourself to use some modern tools along with trying to do it the old fashioned way. It provides a good comparison.

HTBC: how to break crucibles

So, regarding your dies, I saw three major problems with them, and I hope these insights help you refine your process in the future: A lot of the primary problem (getting the design pressed to your coins) is that your surrounding die surfaces weren't pulled back but instead bulged out around the face of your dies, so the die pattern's surfaces were recessed instead of raised, which made it much harder to make a clear shape on pressing; of course you want your dies to have matching voids and raised portions on the faces so that they can sit flush against each other, but it's important that the actual work surface of the dies be raised from the immediate nearby area so the coin material is pressed between them directly, rather than caught at the edges and squeezed by the outer die head. Secondly to that, you were just trying to hammer the forms together, rather than using a die press to apply constant, even pressure. Two plates on four screws to clamp together is really all that's necessary, but a proper lever-based hand press provides more than enough force as well. If you did a simple die, like how signet rings were used to stamp in a signatory's crest in wax, you could have used it on the end of a punch and then hammered it against an anvil, but this form of die is a press die, specifically. The reason why constant pressure across the entire surface is so important is because it ensures that material is squeezed into the voids on the die's working face, giving the embossed letters or shape that you want. Hammering it out flat actually is a bad thing for this; you want a thick bead of metal that gets squeezed out into shape, with press dies. Thirdly and, in my opinion, most importantly, you kept ignoring the use of sprues, and the one time you did try to use one, you barely hot-wax'd it on, and when it snapped off when you were pouring your (too-thick) Plaster of Paris, you discarded it. The sprue channel isn't just there to allow air to escape so that bubbles won't form on the surface of the cast, but also so the metal doesn't splash around when you pour it, ensuring a nice, even coating of the surface of the mold, so those gaping pits don't form. The overpour for the sprue also lets the weight of the metal push down into all the cracks and crevices and any air bubbles that might form otherwise form in the sprue channel instead, which is just waste material to be reclaimed anyways.

‘How To Make [A Mess Out Of] Everything

what if he's just learning all this to create a new country tho

P R E - H E A T Y O U R M O U L D S it will reduce offgassing significantly Good work though! I tried making dies in tool steel a couple years ago for the same purpose, and I can tell you you took the better route, I have never cut myself so many times off of chisels slipping.

Is it just me or do you always seem to have a problem with your crucibles breaking or overflowing?

5:12 Jesus, Christ, preheat your molds. This is so freaking dangerous.

You could try using a sandy clay for your moulding. It's more traditional & has the advantage that you can wedge out the air bubbles. The disadvantage is that it's prone to cracking in the kiln. I've never tried it though so there's a good chance l'm completely wrong.

Cool! Now you have enough money to pay three Roman legionnaires for one day, or one of them for 3 days. Also probably one Chinese warrior for a day or so. :)

I love it when people include their fails. It shows how hard it is to do something like this, and shows the process of analyzing and then avoiding making the same mistakes.

I would suggest doing things one step at a time instead of trying for the final product instantly. For the coin, I would have tested minting a regular shape, a square, instead of a complex design, words or a face. This way you can judge if the final product will work, while also troubleshooting mistakes. Otherwise, good tries and keep up the effort!

Most of your videos confuse me. But this one actually makes cents.

I've been looking into "foundering." Have to say. You did a great job with your molds. Big tip though. If you throw your mold in the oven 2 hours before you mold at 250 degrees and pull them out right before you cast your bronze you will have even a lesser chance at air bubbles

This week on HTME: Can You Cast a Bronze Mold?

Knife-shaped currency is clearly the most badass money that's ever existed.

You're just getting better & better.

Easily my favourite channel!

I just love how this guy has the crafting skill of an infomercial model, but still gives it a shot. I wish more people were like that.

If you attempt future casting; DO NOT USE PLASTER!!!! Regardless how much you bake it you will never get all the water out, and when you pour the molten metal it will cause gas bubbles. Use sand casting for any future attempts. If you mill and sieve the sand and bentonite clay to the consistency of flour you can get extremely fine details.

Insanity: Trying the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results

Your plaster consistency is really...thick.

What I learnt from these videos is that an average guy (despite spending thousands on modern tech) still can't make anything half as well as artisans 1000s of years ago.

Andy is slowly becoming a Jack of all trades... Literally

you should try to make your own light bulb!!

14:10 I thought the cat was a racoon 😌😂

I’m glad the appreciation for old coins is shown here and the history and difficult work it takes to make it look useable.

This is the best channel because it's family friendly and interesting and fun.

..... That's not how you anneal silver. Silver (and copper and many other metals) get "work hardened" .... they build up stresses as you hammer or shape them to your liking. In order to allow silver and copper to relax and remove this work hardened state, you anneal it by heating it up past it's critical point and then quenching it in water to QUICKLY COOL IT DOWN.

This has gone so far as a series. Thank you guys for such great content.

I will never understand how someone can have so much patience, especially after watching a few of these videos. Kudos to you and dude.

The plaster is the problem, there is always moisture trapped inside wich causes bubbling also the finer details crack because of the thermic shock. Also you should use warm tools when working the wax positive

hate to be a buzzkill, but I feel like it would have been easier to cast a cylindrical die blank and engrave with hammer and chisel. Sometimes people think casting is the only way the greeks and romans made metallic goods, but as long as we're talking iron age they would have had chisels. You can search hand engraving on YT for some good examples of way more detail achieved with a hammer and chisel. and Clickspring has theories that they would have had files as well which make metal shaping easier.

I bet there are hours of footage you can't use because Andy was being too silly, or said something inappropriate! LOL Would love to see that!

Andy, You can buy a much harder wax from jewelry supply stores. Much easier to carve fine detail into it.

I just binged so many of your videos. Don't stop what your doing.

I would make a mother cast out of wood and pour wax onto it to save having to re-carve the emblems each time would also help with consistence in your design. What could also help is to cast the coin on its side instead of on it's face that way it's harder for gas bubbles to get stuck under it, you would need to design in the rest of the mold proper around it this way instead of just using the rest of the pour area as you seem to be doing.

One of the things you could to do make a cheap but fancy looking coin is get some iron, copper or steel (perhaps home made) and plate some coins in gold after striking them.

5:06 This, this is why we can't have nice things Andy.

You have so much more patience and determination than I do

I really love this channel. I do have some older Canadian coins, some are pre 1968. One Canadian quarter I have is from the 1940s. I heard that Canadian quarters made prior to 1968 were made of silver. The older quarters I have, have a characteristic tarnish, that exists with silver. Keep up the great work. Hope you have a great weekend.

What a "coincidence" I actually just got into coins over the past couple of days!

The patience and attention to detail is astonishing and admirable, especially in this age of instant gratification.

"How to sort of do everything but not very well", I can't stop watching these videos

The most underrated channel on youtube

How does this guy not have a million followers yet??

i recently discovered your channel and i cant stop my self from binge watching all the videos this channel is amazing

didn't they probably make a master first in actual bronze how it would have looked like and then poured a plaster then do the lost wax for the master die?

Bruh i swear all kids watch these days r jake n logan, but the utubers that create actual content dont even have a mil subs

I love the videos man your starting to grow.

FYI, heating up your die molds with a torch before and while you pour should keep the molten metal from bubbling up. Even though you dried them in the oven, just being in the air they absorb moisture which is one reason you got the bubbles.

Plaster isnt good for casting the really hot metals like copper and silver. This is because the heat actually causes the plaster to disintegrate. Also you should make a setup that holds the two dies together on the same centerline. Also a thought: start making a.few good quality coins then make a ggiveaway for patreon supporters.

Love your guy's content, keep it up!

Woah. This is of your first video that I saw. Favorite youtuber. Just subbed! Keep up the great content!

I seriously can't understand how can you be so patient, but I'm glad you are, I really like this channel.

Next episode: How to get removed from the fbi watchlist

One of my favorite channels on KZfaq. Your ethos is inspiring.

I’ve been waiting for this video forever I make my own coins

“Xdxd you make EVERYTHING?” “Yes” 3:42

Lost wax is also called "Cire Perdue", which is used in bronze cast sculpting

This channel should’ve been called “how to make a mess” Cool content got a sub

makes literally anything in the shape of food. my mind: "don't do it" my heart: "you will die if you don't" my body: "bites into nom wax"

In art class when casting stuff we put the mold with the still liquid metal into a centrifuge to force the metal down in and the air bubbles out, maybe try something like that.

The problems you are running into is that the plaster of Paris has a thermal reaction as it is setting up. That causes the wax to begin to melt prematurely and distort the image you made. So to make a better die most were cast using clay as base for the mold. In addition. When casting the dies it is important to preheat them in that reguard.

This is awesome!!

i use the teeth of my kills as currency.

The problem is in the metal casting. Skim off the slag, preheat your molds, make sure it's all dry, and make sure the temperature of the crucible and it's contents is correct.

Always drop everything to watch when it comes out!

Oh Andy I love you, keep trying awesome things!

you should make paper currency next!

If you want better results, you should make the coin thinner so it has less mass for air pockets to go into, so there is less air and less problems. You work hard, and we all need help sometimes. And you chose to work this hard for your job, even when you could do other things. You find this fun, and keep it going for the rest of us, you keep it alive. So thank you, because you help us try, help us get past. Its time *we* help *you*

You should have carved your design out of something harder and then pressed it into the wax. Then you have a master copy. Also, you need a lot more holes in your cans (wrap it in tape while pouring the plaster, then remove once set) that way it dries better. You should also make sure they are hot when you pour as they pick up moisture. You should have also cleaned up your dies more. Take them to a belt sander to knock down the high edges and you should be able to make more precise coins.

never been this early, love the vids 🔥

Love your content

I love how you're so honest about this!

I swear, how do you still not have 10 million subscribers yet?!?! These videos are freaking awesome!

This is very interesting. Keep up the good work!!

There's a reason why I subscribed

I love that he never gives up. Constantly trying to improve!

One of the best accounts in the shit that is KZfaq 2018. Quality content, no clickbait, and the videos are incredibly entertaining. Thank you :)

Who the f*ck dislikes a video when a guy goes through this much work?

How to mint everything

I just love binge watching this.

I can only imagine how frustrated you get at some of these early results but you keep moving forward, kudos!

This is very cool, hope I can melt down some penny’s and make something of my own lol

Just a reminder for comment readers: Consider supporting HTME on patreon.

For future reference, x-acto knives are not usually used by wax carvers for producing the major features of designs. More typically, they use dental tools, some of which - the flat ones, typically - are occasionally also heated in a flame to smooth out the image being created. Since they are designed for removing material, they’re much better suited to this type of carving and produce more consistent results. Source: my mother, who has been a jeweler and first-rate wax carver for about 55 years, taught me a bit of her craft.

As someone who has been with this channel from the beginning im happy to see how this channel is growing

Watching this guy do anything is very painful.

Yo these videos are amazing and how long this takes

I used to work in an Aluminium smelter and from what i gathered, pockets can be reduced by preheating the molds. The molten metal meeting the cold die will quickly solidify in small undesired shapes which can all add up to one big mess. It also ensures their is no left over moisture. I didn't notice if you had done this or not, but if not it's something to keep in mind next time. Love your work!

Love the opening showing all past creations. Good vid btw