Simple Mold for Lead Weight

[Patrick]

[img]../images/moldx.jpg[/img]


The photo above is a mold made from "Plaster of Paris". This will be used to make two pieces of lead which will fit inside the tow plate pipe with the actual tow plate in the middle of the lead. Once the lead is in, the whole thing will be drilled and bolted together.


Patrick

[Jan]

Re: Simple Mold for Lead Weight

Patrick,


Is the dish glass or plastic ?


I think mould might get very hot and might shatter glass or melt plastic.


Could you post foto when done?


At the moment I use sand to cast, but wanted to experiment with plaster.


How smooth is the surface of the lead oblect ?


Regards, Jan.

[bob]

Re: Simple Mold for Lead Weight

It looks like plastic to me.


You could surround the mold with a second tray of water..

[Jan]

Re: Simple Mold for Lead Weight

Well, just take mold out of dish and pour lead.


No problem.


Its just one has to think of the heat, 300-400 degrees Celsius, I believe.


I pour lead in wet sand, lots of wet sand, and it still get quite hot.


Regards, Jan

[Patrick]

Re: Simple Mold for Lead Weight

Jan,


The container is plastic. I should note that the mold was dry enough this morning to remove it out of the plastic container ... as planned. It "popped" out easily.


Plaster of Paris should make a nice, smooth mold since the plaster is pretty smooth itself. Much smoother than sand.


If I get a chance to make the weights tonight, I'll send a photo.


Patrick

[Duke]

Re: Simple Mold for Lead Weight

You shouldn't have a problem with the plastic but you may want to throw the mold in a warm oven for a couple of hours to totally dry it out. The plaster still contains a lot of water after curing and I have had molds crack apart when pouring hot lead into them.