Poll
Poll Question:
bars   pie





Total votes: 0
« Created by: Schuetzenmiester on: Feb 3rd, 2017 at 9:03pm »
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 [2]  Send TopicPrint
Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Casting With An Aluminum Mold (Read 10160 times)
Joe_S
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1108
Joined: Jun 29th, 2004
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #15 - Feb 3rd, 2017 at 10:40pm
Print Post  
I have a number of Accurate molds, I cast with a plumber's pot for heat, my best results are at about 850 degrees with 30/1 alloy.
Joe S
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
SSShooter
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2944
Location: Southern NJ
Joined: Aug 1st, 2010
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #16 - Feb 3rd, 2017 at 10:49pm
Print Post  
As mentioned, normally cast at 775F and no problems with my several iron molds. Now that that the aluminum mold is figured out (I think) it seems to cast a nice bullet, as well. And, drops the bullet out when I open the mold, which I like. Sprue plate is a bit funky, but something I'll either change or get used to.
  

Glenn - Stevens 044 1/2, Bartlein SS 5R barrel in 22LR
Back to top
GTalk  
IP Logged
 
craigd
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2059
Location: midwest
Joined: Feb 22nd, 2009
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #17 - Feb 4th, 2017 at 1:16am
Print Post  
JLouis wrote on Feb 3rd, 2017 at 8:37pm:
....I have since learned how to make my own blocks and cut my own moulds....

If it's okay, can you comment about the tooling and machine setups to cut the mold in your picture. Particularly, the nose of that bullet looks nicely formed.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
MIEagle
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 27
Location: Eagle,Mi
Joined: May 24th, 2015
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #18 - Feb 4th, 2017 at 7:11am
Print Post  
Recently I bought a 2 cav Accurate aluminum mold, the 45-420P for PP my .45-70. I've been using a 20# Lee dipper electric pot and running the temp about 725. I'd have to cast about 15 bullets to make the pure lead bullets satisfactory. I just bought a single plate electric hot plate (med temp setting) to set the mold on while bringing the lead up to temp. THEN, I read on one of the casting sites, to make sure that you are keeping the sprue plate HOT enough by having a large amount of lead on it.  Think of transferring HEAT. Having just read that comment, I went down in the basement, fired everything up and had one of my best casting sessions ever. I do the same thing with my single cav iron .443 PP mold in a 20/1 tin-lead alloy.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
SSShooter
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2944
Location: Southern NJ
Joined: Aug 1st, 2010
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #19 - Feb 4th, 2017 at 8:08am
Print Post  
craigd wrote on Feb 4th, 2017 at 1:16am:
JLouis wrote on Feb 3rd, 2017 at 8:37pm:
....I have since learned how to make my own blocks and cut my own moulds....

If it's okay, can you comment about the tooling and machine setups to cut the mold in your picture. Particularly, the nose of that bullet looks nicely formed.

JLouis - start a separate thread with the appropriate 'Subject' line and many people who have no interest in this thread will see.

As a point of interest, I purchased the aluminum mold blocks from Accurate and cut the 330gr bullet I posted above from my own design (also posted earlier) on a mult-axis machining center. May go to brass next. Once the other thread is started I'll post some pic's over there.
  

Glenn - Stevens 044 1/2, Bartlein SS 5R barrel in 22LR
Back to top
GTalk  
IP Logged
 
4570mike
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 463
Location: On the Peninsula
Joined: Apr 11th, 2013
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #20 - Feb 4th, 2017 at 10:05am
Print Post  
I have several aluminum, Accurate Molds in 38, 40 and 45 cal. All double cavity.  I use a newer Lyman bottom pour lead furnace with the fancy temp control.  Using 20:1 alloy, I cast at 800F and get very consistent results.  The furnace has a mold heating stand adjoining the pot and it pre-heats the mold nicely.  It usually takes six or eight pours to get the mold hot enough for acceptable castings then I just keep going quickly (not fast) with each new pour and the mold performs as it should.  Seems like the temp of the sprue  plate has a lot to do with it; when it's not hot enough, the sprues are difficult to cut, but when it's right, the sprue plate will slice the alloy easily.
I did find the the most consistent results required the alloy pour to go straight into the hole without touching the sprue plate and then leaving a decent blob of molten alloy on top.  Using the bottom pour pot, I set the mold guide so the sprue plate is about 1/8" below the spigot; just enough so I can see the pour hit the hole and allow for a good molten blob on top.
I did try holding the mold directly against the spigot to simulate using a dipper and this worked okay, but with mixed results.
I don't know what equipment you are using, so I hope this helps.
Good Luck!
Mike.
« Last Edit: Feb 4th, 2017 at 10:14am by 4570mike »  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
desert-dude
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 439
Location: Selah
Joined: Jul 23rd, 2013
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #21 - Feb 4th, 2017 at 12:21pm
Print Post  
Big surprise... Al molds should act different than brass or Fe 

Sp. Heat (btu/lb (F))    emissivity   
Al       0.22                    0.04
brass   0.096                  0.04
Fe       0.11                    .8 

sp heat is the ability to hold heat and emissivity is the ability to radiate heat. 

However a human being in the loop compensates for this pretty well. Smiley
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
JLouis
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 10625
Joined: Apr 8th, 2009
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #22 - Feb 5th, 2017 at 1:56pm
Print Post  
Craigd it appears SSShooter has wore out our welcome so I think it best to ask him how he goes about doing what you have asked of me.
  

" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
craigd
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2059
Location: midwest
Joined: Feb 22nd, 2009
Re: Casting With An Aluminum Mold
Reply #23 - Feb 5th, 2017 at 2:30pm
Print Post  
For me, thanks to both of you for taking a moment to at least let me know, where there's a will there's a way.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 [2] 
Send TopicPrint