Is any amount of porosity acceptable ?

[JohnnyKarate]

Hey guys just a quick question. I'm getting a ring cast in 18k gold and the first time around it came out with porosity. The jewelers re-doing it but said he has no control over the porosity. He says he is using a casting grain. So my question is, is any amount of porosity acceptable ? If there is porosity the second time around should i go elsewhere ? Is it too much to ask to have a porosity free piece made ? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[denverappraiser]

Ask your jeweler this. Fundamentally, there will always be a certain amount of gas impurities in any torch melted casting, but they may not be visible and they don't have to melt with a torch. Some have induction melting (these are very expensive and small shops don't usually have them). There are manual ways to eliminate surface reaching porosity in most castings and it's just a matter of work. In both cases, this is a matter of time, and time is a matter of money. You need to have a conversation about both your standards and theirs. '10x perfect' is possible, but it may not be what they think they've agreed to do or what you've agreed to pay for.

 

[JohnnyKarate]

Thanks for the advice.