Has anyone done cold cast bronze?

What would the cost be, as opposed to sending it to a foundry and having a bronze casting done? I was reading in an old art book about using thixotropic polyester, MEK peroxide catalyst, and bronze metallic granules (101 mesh). This mixture was made to a buttery consistency and applied to the plaster mosd with a spatula. Do you think this would work. I went on the net and it seems like most cold casting done now are more liquidy.........which would not work for me. Thanks for any input.

If production cost is your main concern just cast the piece in polymer plaster/polymer concrete/sandfilled resin and then spray paint bronze, gold, copper or anything else you want. Get some colored shoe polish to finish the patina (let dry and buff out). Going to the many extra hours to hand layup/cast in fiberglass (Forton MG - unless you solid cast, much more expensive), and then hand polish and patina the piece, you will not get you any extra money for the piece. This is in the Pacific Northwest at least, serious collectors just don't buy cold cast and the people buying eye candy really only care a) does it match my interior and lifestyle b) can it go outside c) can I get a bargain. There is great joy in selling a piece of spray painted resin for $50 - especially the 'primed - ready for faux finishing' cast for a mere $40.

If you still want to try cold cast, bronze filled polyester is still your best bet, but epoxy must be used for any metal powders containing aluminum. There are some new Mica powders which are promising, but like I have written, paint is the way to go and the fine grade powders can be made into a sprayable paint. The only advantage to cold cast is if the piece chips - who cares about that once the piece is sold? If you are worried about chips, why buy cold cast in the first place? Finally, the cold cast is nowhere near as strong as bronze and this will have to influence the design of your piece - no pointy bits or thin sections carrying weight.

Hope this helps - you may have a totally different experience. I think the only interesting thing left to do with art casting is to incorporate found objects, unusual materials, into a resin base and then polishing it out. Another option to look into is sand casting aluminum and then highly polishing - this should be less than bronze and if successful easier and less costly to setup than a bronze foundry.

People have been trying to do cold cast bronze for 20 years- it simply can not work well.

The casting will come out a lovely chocolaty color and buff up to a nice luster- except- the bronze powder is so heavy you will note that the finish is rather uneven since the bronze settled into the low parts of the casting. Even if you are happy with the result, it will not stay buffed and bronzy- it will ultimately turn back to that chocolate color and sealing the casting won't stop it since the color comes from inside the casting as a reaction between the bronze and resin.

The only effect that seems to last is a quick murriatic acid wash to turn the bronze green., but then, why have it bronze at all.

If you really want a metal look on a resin casting- coat the finished resin casting with something that carries a current and electroplate it with a real metal surface. Or go for Vapor Deposition, which is a dry process with the same result. If you plate with copper you can use the same patina chemicals as with real bronze and because the copper will be pure, the color effect will be more dramatic and rich.

Or use one of the many surface treatments that are essentially a resin paint with a heavy metal fill.

any of these will get you a surface better looking than cold cast.

You can achieve fabulous results using fast setting urethane resin with bronze powder added and a hint of black pigment added into the mix. I have used Smooth-Cast 320 & 325 resin very successfully. I have numerous pieces outside for up to 10 years now; the pieces take on natural patina; I have also used artificial patina which works really good too.
You need to buff pieces directly out of the mold to take down the surface slightly to get the metal additive exposed....

Hi I have done cold cast resin for 20 years for many sculptors it is a lot cheaper than real bronze.my number is 07734007126

Dear I tried calling your number 07734007126 but it is not availaible... kindly send your mobile number and email address to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ----- i am intersted in cold casting for our statues......

Bronze cold casting can be tricky especially if you are thinking of pouring a solid mold. Not a good idea to pour solid powdered bronze unless it is in an open flat mold like a plaque.

My advice would be to create a thick mixture of the powder with a gelcoat and brush this on the inside of the mold. I normally apply at least three coats, the third backed by a thin layer of fiberglass.
Once dried ( depending on the size of the mold ) it should be easy to pour a filler compound. Surface cracking due to expansion of the inner pour can occur and for a detailed and concise plan of action you will need to contact me further on this.

I have cast hollow detailed molds and filled these once completely dried....others I have simply filled with sand for weight or led weights for a heavier more realistic feel....the base is all important. With patience and attention to detail it is possible to create stunning work at a fraction of the cost.
Creating hollow one piece casts from an open mold is best for a cold cast process...this way there are no seems to match up.
Bronze like many metals that are cast in a foundry often have a patination. Standard bronze casts ( classical bronze) doesn't look like an actual bronze cast fresh out of the foundry....the fresh foundry cast is often much lighter in color. I have many example photographs of the technique and actual sculptures that I have created in foundry bronze as well as the cold cast methods. More info is available by contacting me. If you know what you are doing this process can be extremely rewarding.
Hope this helps....gotta get back to casting 15 cold cast dog sculptures for a great charity!

Roby Braun

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