Palladium is in an enviable position among precious metals right now. It's becoming sort of the popular kid -- the one everyone wants to get to know. They like that it's got a white color that rivals platinum and outshines white gold without the need for plating that might wear off over time. They like that it's relatively inexpensive compared to platinum and gold. As with many popular kids, everyone's impressed by its appearance and its potential.

But there's another side to palladium, a bit of a stubborn streak, which comes out when it's readied for casting. This stubborn side can cause no-fills and gas porosity. But take a little time to really get to know palladium and you'll learn how to tame its stubborn streak-and really let it shine.