DiResta: Skull Belt Buckle

In each bi-monthly episode of DiResta (every other Wednesday at 2pm PT), artist and master builder Jimmy DiResta (Dirty Money, Hammered, Against the Grain, Trash for Cash) lets us into his workshop, to look over his shoulder while he builds whatever strikes his fancy. On this episode of DiResta, Jimmy casts a skull buckle from delft clay and a tin alloy to make any metal head swoon. – Stett Holbrook 

• Tin alloy 178-888
• Delft clay
• Steel wire, 3/16 inch
• Black spray paint

Tools:

• Carving chisel
• Propane torch
• Crucible
• Steel wool
• Shop tools

Jimmy’s Notes:

A few years ago I was introduced to a great material: delft clay. Using this casting material with a low-melt tin alloy, it is possible to make your own metal jewelry at home. In this video I make a belt buckle. I always like the look of wood grain in metal castings. Here I carve a “form” from a piece of Paduk (same piece I used for the Hatchet vid. It has a nice grain that shows through the carving. In the video I make two castings. One will be used as a badge for my truck. For the other you  can see how I make the “mechanics” of the buckle out of one piece of 3/16″ rod. I simply dropped it into the melted tin alloy. I drilled a few small holes into the bent wire to help it adhere to the casting. I chose a skull because I am metal head … in more ways than one.