i assumed you used store bought molds so seeing you carve the bird just made me respect you and your art even more!! this is such a unique craft that must have taken so much trial and error
Final project in my "Chemistry of Art" class was to do a presentation on literally anything. I've always thought bismuth crystals looked cool, so I took a shot in the dark and decided to present on bismuth art. I didn't know of any bismuth art at all, but in my research I found this, and it's got me super excited. Seriously, why isn't this an established thing? You can literally paint this thing with a torch, it's brilliant. You are a genius
Thank you for posting this concise and informative video. Do you have another video about the time/temperature of the the final torching in reference the color change? I was curious about that process.
Just stumbled upon your channel and i already in love with your art!! It's amazing how that Crystal can be made that way ! You're absolutely amazing!!😍
I make bismuth and I am curious how you keep the blow torch from melting your casting post mold removal? Additionally I am curious how you get the colors so uniform. Ive not found a way to co trol the color so that it looks like a painting. Genuinely curiius here.
To think this was that many years ago so for anyone that has no idea how far he’s taken this, I suggest you check it out 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I’m blown away every time I see all the work put into each of these.
The questions are, can a person, diamond drill small holes in Bismuth, can one use diamond wheels to cut notches into Bismuth. and can carbide grit sanding disks be used to change some features? Or does it exhibit some of the similarities of tempered glass.
this is such an excellent video and it really explains a lot about the time and process. Unfortunately, there is only one thing I don't seem to understand: how do you get the bismuth to change color, using the blowtorch, by force?
I just started playing around with bismuth! I grew a dozen or so smallish (~30 mm across) but extremely detailed and colorful crystals with. I only had 1kg to start with so I ended up melting it in a ceramic mug inside of a large steel can with the spaces filled with sand to insulate/slow cooling, I then 'seeded' the crystals by submerging a piece of wire in the center of the molten bismuth. The result is a really cool cluster that grows around the wire, down from the surface of the bismuth so when the wire is removed the cluster has a flat base to sit on. I've been wondering though, how are the large/singular crystals grown? My best guess is that volume probably plays the biggest role, and having a veritable vat of molten bismuth and just waiting/pouring might generate a 'spongey' network of crystals which could then be pried apart to separate out the cleanest specimens. Also, have you experimented at all with anodizing bismuth using a lye solution? I want to experiment a bit with that, and maybe with pure oxygen as another comment mentioned. Let me know if you have any tips! Really cool process!
Its over 8x rarer than silver, but silver is $0.60 a gram and pure bismuth is $0.03 a gram. It's also about twice as abundant as gold, but thats from Wikipedia, so Idk how accurate that is.
This is super cool. Maybe he could try niobium next. If you anodize niobium it changes colors. Starting at 12 volts, it changes to brown. If you turn up the juice, it can be any color except red.
I don't know if you'll ever see this Kyle, but does the temperature that you store these at affect the colors lasting power? I live in Arizona where it gets HOT like 115° sometimes so would shipping them during the summer fade the colors?
Hey Bismuth Smith. What kind of Wax and Corn Starch do you guys used exactly for these projects? and how do you guys make it, so it won't be liquidly but partly solid, like clay.
how difficult is it to very specifically color a piece? for instance, if you wanted to take a smaller flame, would an almost-full-color piece be possible?
Wow. But what kind of clay or composite material is available to withstand the heat of the molten bismuth. I've tried a few things and while it might give a general shape, there is usually some deformation. I'm finding it hard to get precise detailing.
Not sure who want s that junk they take a material and coat it in metal using a vacume they take any junk material and turn it into somthing that will sell and there is no work involved
On the site right now everything 30% off no code needed it should show the original price and the discounted one at the same time before opening the listing your always welcome to find me on facebook to chat
The friend I was going to get one for has some very particular specs in mind, so she wants to visit your shop the next time she goes to Montreal. So I won't be buying a piece this time, after all. Best to you!
Bismuth isn't that rare I can buy 8 lbs for $75. silver is over $300 lbs per pound, so no, bismuth is not 8 times more expensive than silver, plus it's widely used in PEPTO BISMAL.
I love the ignorance of this response. Bismuth is 8x rarer than silver not more expensive watch it again. Yes there is approximately one gram of a bismuth compound in pepto bismole. Just because you can readily buy it doesn't make it not rare is has little industreal use. Look at the chart of precious metals I'll put the link below for parts per billion mass abundance. He'll I'll put links stating it rarity that have over 9 million views on the largest chemistry channels online if you'd like.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precious_metal ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--_qpzFlpgpo.html He'll your pepto reference likly comes from this video were at the last 4 minutes he states its rarity in comparison to silver. Wish you well
@@thebismuthsmith4005 Silver is high in value due to scarcity, just like gold, the more scarce something is and the more use and function it has, the more valuable it becomes. Also, you're still wrong, don't trust wikipedia. "Bismuth is an uncommon mineral composed of the element of the same name. Its rarity is about the same as Silver." Source: www.minerals.net/mineral/bismuth.aspx#:~:text=Bismuth%20is%20an%20uncommon%20mineral,slight%20reddish%20or%20pinkish%20hue. Despite all that it's an incredibly interesting element since it repels magnetism and is actually a physical expression of a tetrabrot fractal.
@@TheAmazingJimmy The rarity is based on mass abundance witch is statistically idiosyncratic everywere. Bismuth has such few uses as a metal due to its crystal structure driving the price way down. Also no entrensic value like gold or silver outside of these items I work at. I put my life into this material I can take criticism and aprecheate your time.
@@thebismuthsmith4005 Your work is great, beautiful stuff, I just disagree with the rarity of the item. They say neodymium is rare, but I really wonder how rare it is since I can buy a bunch of nickle plated neodymium and it has plenty of uses.
Not to be that guy but I actually think you over stress the fine details on your creations, the extraordinary number of grooves to illustrate the fine details of the feathers, hair, etc. If you left the work less detailed in that respect I personally think the outcome would be more appealing. Obviously, I've never made anything like this and I'm no artist but I just thought you might want to know. Perhaps try it and see if you like it simpler looking. For me they end up looking busy and, well, wrinkly.
Iv worked with it so much I'll state it as fact the more detail the better the cast other wise you end up with pits and unsmooth points that creates to much of a Crystal's structure making the peice somtimes even incomplete
He does have a large selection of pieces available right now in his catalog. Are you looking for a specific animal/figure? He's also got jewelry pieces now as well.
