Difference Between Cast and Poured Silver Bars

Silver bars are exactly what the name suggests - bars made up entirely of silver. They are a form of silver bullion that wealthy people can invest their money on. If you have proper storage for it, silver bars from Las Vegas can be an excellent way to protect the value of your money against inflation. There are other silver bullion items you can invest in, but silver bars seem to be the most popular one, succeeding silver coins. With silver bars, you have two options: cast bars and poured bars. But what is the difference between a poured silver bar and a cast silver bar? That is a question that is asked often.

Poured Silver Bar

A poured silver bar is made by pouring molten or liquid silver into a mold. During this process, the mold determines the nature of the bar. When making poured silver bars, the hot metal is poured into open graphite or other heat-resistant molds. The metal is left to cool there. Because of this, the silver that is exposed to the open face of the mold will demonstrate cooling lines or striations. 

 

The practice of pouring and turning liquified precious metals into bars and ingots has been around for hundreds of years. This practice involves a simple process that anyone can learn, especially if one has access to hot and consistent fire and some sturdy tools. However, this process is very traditional and can take a long time. In addition, due to its lengthy procedure, it's more applicable for larger silver bars than smaller bars weighing less than a hundred ounces.

Cast Silver Bar

Also known as pressed bars, cast silver bars are obtained through casting sterling silver into molds or forms. However, these molds or forms do not have open faces like those used to cast poured bars. Casting is often used to make silver and gold jewelry and silver art pieces as a result of this method. A closed mold is usually used, so pour lines are not usually seen.

Unlike pouring silver bars, the process of casting silver bars is more suited for manufacturing silver bars in smaller weights. It's also a more recent practice, so recent that it involves technological advancements comparable to how mints produce coins.