Here is an ingot mold tip from @rushan_kamilovich - “This is how I cover the ingot mold with a thin layer of soot.
Pros:
1. The melt slides well on soot.
2. Thermal insulation. The soot prevents the melt from quickly transferring Its heat to the ingot mold.
3. Soot is carbon, and carbon, when heated, takes oxygen, thereby preventing copper, which is part of many jewelry alloys, from oxidizing.
4. Unlike other methods, the soot will not boil or "blow up" the melt in your face.
5. The candle flame evaporates moisture from the ingot mold surface.
Cons:
1. Soot gets your hands dirty.
2. There are no more cons🙃, in my opinion." Thank you for sending this to me to share! We appreciate it!