Author Topic: Can't find a mold (Read 1317 times)

Evil Dog · « **on:** June 30, 2004, 02:53:27 AM »

I've checked most anyplace I can think of, but so far haven't been able to find a round ball mold in the .900 to .950 range. Anybody know who might have one for sale or where I could have one made? Thanks.

Blaster · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2004, 03:56:38 AM »

Hey Evil Dog.....I had a mould made a few years ago and I'll have to locate the makers address for you in case you want to contact him. I believe he's located up in Minn. He made a nice aluminum block mould with wood handles and the ball produced with wheel weights measures about .960. This is for my 1-inch Dahlgren.
I'll find that name/address and get back to you later today. In what part of the great South West do you hang your hat/cap??.....Blaster (Bob in CO)

Evil Dog · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2004, 04:02:53 AM »

Hey Bob..... I'm out in the Victorville area of Southern California..... about 20 miles north of San Bernardino. Sure will appreciate that address info. Thanks again.

BADGER BOB · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2004, 05:20:28 AM »

hey,evil dog...until you find a mold you could try some 3/4 sweat copper caps filled with grout or mortar mix.they are slightly undersized for windage and cheap-about 4or5 for a buck at a plumbing supply house.good luck with yer new cannon.badger bob.

Mike Scott · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2004, 11:41:07 AM »

I have an NEI 1.025" mold. They will make about anything for $100 or so.

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2004, 12:02:23 PM »

From the Steen Cannons website link "Sources for Cannon Stuff"

Smoothbore Machine, G.E. Everitt
3900 Greentree Road
Stow, Ohio 44224
Ph. (330) 688-1556

and South Bend Replica Catalog

Jim Mathisrud
3035 Salem Av SO
Minneapolis, MN

Blaster · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2004, 01:52:45 PM »

Hey Evil Dog.... Looks like ole Double D beat be to the furnishing of that name and address that I referred to in my post this AM. It's that James Mathisrud chap in Minn. that made up my mould. If you do contact him, please advise what his price is to make one up for you. I bought mine many many years ago and believe it was around $60.00 for the single cavity mould but the price of gas at that time was around .50 cents per gallon, so............ :shock:
And, I have a sister and her family living over in Upland which I guess isn't too far from you. Pretty nice area........Blaster (Bob in CO)

Evil Dog · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2004, 03:30:04 PM »

Hi guys..... thanks for the info. Will try to get ahold of them tomorrow.

One thought came to mind on using those 3/4" sweat on copper caps.... instead of filling them with mortar or the like, why not just go ahead and fill them with wheelweight? Wouldn't be any problem at all to heat up the cap with a propane torch and then put it under the spout of a bottom pouring pot. Just might have to give that a try.

You are right Bob.... Upland is only about 45 minutes from here.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2004, 03:47:33 PM »

Think that I have found what I am looking for...... a guy in England can do them for $55.00 US.

http://www.jt-bullet-moulds.co.uk/moulds.html

Double D · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2004, 12:09:27 AM »

I'll get that one added to the resource list!

When you above in inch and a half you want a mould to cast zinc or aluminum. Using lead above that size drastically increase chamber pressure.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2004, 02:34:18 AM »

Here is another one you can add to the list. I haven't personally had any transactions with him, but the pictures look good and the prices seem reasonable.

http://www.users.qwest.net/~cannonmike/

maddmaxx · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2004, 03:07:26 AM »

For a cheap mold, especially for experimental projects, green sand is hard to beat. Patterns can be made from bondo, marbles, bearings, shovel handles, etc. They can take anything from mercury to cast iron, be reused, and don't cost anything more than a little time.

Blaster · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2004, 04:32:26 PM »

Badger Bob. You gave me the idea of taking some 3/4-inch sweat copper caps but I filled them with wheel weight lead. Hey they looked real good however, the lead had enough shrinkage that it dropped right out of the copper fitting as soon as it cooled off. I'm going to drill a small hole on two sides so that a little bit of lead will run out. Then, I'll dress em up and that should hold the lead in the cavity. You are quite lucky if you can get four or five of the copper caps for a buck. Here at the local hardware stores, they run around .62 cent each. There is enough windage so that the copper caps will easily slip right down the barrel of my 1-inch Dahlgren and shows absolutely no resistance at all. Now, I'll have to try shooting one. Blaster
(Bob in CO)

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2004, 04:40:05 PM »

Blaster -

Shrinkage will be a problem. Linotype was designed to both be hard for wear and minimal in shrinkage for sharp crisp type.

You might think of 'tinning' the inside of the pipe cap - using flux and a soldering iron. That should keep the assembly together.

airco02 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2004, 11:59:37 AM »

Wild Imports mentions custom mold making on thier website, the molds look lightly constructed, so if you were pouring zinc it should not be to hard to keep them up to casting temp.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2004, 01:53:04 PM »

I obtained a very suitable mold from J J Tanner in England.... all machined brass. A very nice mold.