Author Topic: Maggot's mould! (Read 933 times)

Double D · « **on:** April 13, 2004, 06:09:05 PM »

I finally got all my Casting gear sorted out today and thought I would try the Mould I got from Maggot. My Casting technique needs some work.

I'll post pictures tonight and tell you about it tomorrow night.

maggot · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2004, 07:29:47 PM »

Double D try carbonizing the mould with a match or burning rubber, this should help smooth out the balls surface!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2004, 01:13:19 PM »

Maggot -
Thanks for posting that comment. I'd previously thought - so what - about smoking a mould.

BUT, what you're implying, which I think is right, is that the mould would be insulated a bit (hence the melt would flow better BECAUSE it would have COOLED LESS).

SO, DD - tell us if it does better at the same temperature of pouring!

jimwaits · « **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2004, 05:42:34 PM »

DD are you pre-heating the mold?

maggot · « **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2004, 07:23:45 PM »

The purpose of carbonizing the mold is to create a non-stick surface. I assume everyone preheats thier mold. Double D what did the balls mic out to, .960?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2004, 12:32:55 AM »

Agree with you 100% on pre-heating, but lead/tin doesn't stick to aluminum - why should it make a difference with carbon?

jimwaits · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2004, 03:26:11 AM »

Well, I am not sure just what the smoking of the mold does. When I was a kid...65years ago...I had a little lead soldier mold kit and a dipper. I melted the lead in a coal fireplace grate. I always had to preheat the mold and smoke it to get a nice slick finish on the little soldiers, else they had grooves and ridges on them.
In later years I have molded lead sinkers using propane torch and a pot to melt the lead but the same thing...had to preheat mold and I always
smoked it....Never tried it without smoke...it might work okay without it.

Double D · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2004, 05:56:17 AM »

Okay Guys,

I found the lead pot and the stove. The pot still had some lead in it.

I was doing other things and just fired it up.

I have had some aluminum moulds that did not need smoked. This one does.

While casting I had the mould sitting on the cold concrete slab while pouring. That didn't help with mould temp. This where Jim says we don't have that problem in Florida. :grin:

My first few pours were with a ladle. That didn't work, the ladle didn't hold enough.

Next I just took the pot off the burner and poured. That took a little practice to get right. If I spilled the sprue over the top of the mould I had use the pliers to bend the sprue up to open the mould. I also had take the mould apart with my hands and that was tricky even with welders gloves.

Next time around I will smoke the mould and see what happens.

I think part of the problem is the length of the sprue hole. The sprue hole now is 1/2 in long and I think 1/8 would be better.

The mould also needs handles to be worked, but that can be fixed easily

I am going to cast up some more with the mould smoked and then I feel a need to go visit Cat Whisperer....fire in the hole!