Castable permanent mold idea (1 viewing) (1) Guest
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TOPIC: Castable permanent mold idea
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Castable permanent mold idea 1 Year, 7 Months ago
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Iron cement was mentioned in a Popular Science article as being a castable reusable mold material for casting metal. The problem is finding such a thing. Apparently it was quite common in the 50s but not so much now. Its ingredients are 60 parts powdered iron(expensive stuff to buy, time intensive to make) 2 parts ammonium hydrate(i think that's what it was anyway its ammonium something that's used as a solder flux) and 1 part sulfur. Anyway the powdered iron is what puts me off.
I used a soapstone mold for my first casting at although it did effect the mold it should be usable various more times. Soapstone is essentially talc which has great resistance to heat. I am thinking of a cement based on talk so I searched "talc cement" found very little of use but someone had mixed talk with sodium silicate so i researched sodium silicate. Turns out it is frequently known as water glass and its uses include(drum roll)refactory binder!!! and radiator stop leak(aha! a cheap source!!!!)
Now I am thinking there is a potentially possible pair of ingredients for what I want. I am thinking these and perhaps some bentonite clay and perhaps some borax.
Does anyone have any ideas pro or con about this?
I have only just done my first melt after which my flower pot/cement charcoal burner crumbled to chunks and I am planning to build an electric furnace next so it will take me possibly a few weeks to get a chance to try it. I will let y'all know what happens. Meanwhile if anyone else tries it or knows of something else that works please let me know.
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Zonker (User)
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Posts: 3
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Re:Castable permanent mold idea 1 Year, 6 Months ago
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I will tell you what I found out from experimentation. I used bentonite (Cat litter from Walmart), Ash from my grill, and Plaster of Paris for my refractory. Then I was informed after I had made a working functioning foundry that the plaster would explode if heated. This being after my 3rd or 4th burn melting 2160 aluminum. Amazingly it failed to blow up even though I almost melted my steel crucible. I am pretty sure I heated up quite a bit! LOL.
What I am saying is feel free to experiment. Report your results! If your burn causes the refractory to melt, well then you are out the cost of materials. Otherwise, you are good to go!
(By the way, if you ever use plaster of paris, cook the mold first to dry it. Water pockets CAN explode.)
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If you can't figure out how to do it, ASK!
The only project too difficult is the one you are too lazy to finish.
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Re:Castable permanent mold idea 1 Year, 5 Months ago
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I am quite new i this field.
Could you give some tips so I can get started?
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