DanM

Flush or raised inlay?

People have been using it for jewelry for at least 30+years. https://www.google.com/search?q=fordite+jewelry&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjtvJiUqaX0AhVHlWoFHa9ZB8cQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1250&bih=617&dpr=1.3

Jeweler's hand vise..... https://www.penntoolco.com/grobet-usa-hand-vises/

Have you tried boric acid as a substitute? https://orchid.ganoksin.com/t/adding-boric-acid-to-molten-metal/17426

Looks like a standard rolling mill used for jewelry manufacture and other non ferrous uses.

What are the objects you are trying to cast?The sprue is very wrong and it does need "vents". The base for the pour appears flat and should have a large "funnel" shape.....see example.

Did you prep the crucibles?

I glued the pattern onto brass sheet and pierced the piece with a jeweler's saw. A little file work to even things up and then was clamped into my mini unimat. The knife side was milled for the buffalo horn insert.

At one time I made a number of brass handled cartouche knives.Photo of a dug original and my reproduction.

There is a bit of information about Kris blades on this antiques forum, https://www.google.com/search?q=site:antiquers.com+kris&source=lmns&bih=617&biw=1238&client=firefox-b-1-d&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTvPb1we3yAhUITVMKHUe_AI0Q_AUoAHoECAEQAA

Did you look at the link I posted in Joshua's tutorial? The book will tell you nearly everything about mokume.

Is this what you are looking for?? http://www.thompsonsknives.com/antler2.html

https://shardsofthedarkage.blogspot.com/2013/02/mokume-gane.html

What do you know about mokume? It can be difficult or simple,I don't know if you have read Steve Midgett's book....here it is online. https://www.mokume.com/mokume-gane-a-comprehensive-study/table-of-contents

It needs to be cold forged and annealed frequently.