Aluminum molds for ZA-8 casting?

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RONALD
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Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2003 7:27 am

Re: Aluminum molds for ZA-8 casting?

Post by RONALD »

When I was a kid in high school, we would "borrow" type metal from the school's print shop, and cast HO parts over the kitchen stove.

We made the molds out of Wood Putty, the kind you can still get at many hardware stores, it worked great for making a few parts and was REAL cheap!

Worth a try with Zamac.

Turned out lots of HO parts, like switch motors, signal boxes, etc. We were known for the HO size pigs and cows we made; filled up several stock cars!
dorin
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Joined: Thu Nov 28, 2002 5:24 am

Re: Aluminum molds for ZA-8 casting?

Post by dorin »

Type metal was lead right?
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DavidF
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Joined: Wed May 14, 2014 12:28 pm
Location: Delaware

Re: Aluminum molds for ZA-8 casting?

Post by DavidF »

dorin wrote: Mon Jun 18, 2018 5:20 pm Type metal was lead right?
Lead tin antimony alloy. Pretty hard stuff.
DavidF
Posts: 282
Joined: Wed May 14, 2014 12:28 pm
Location: Delaware

Re: Aluminum molds for ZA-8 casting?

Post by DavidF »

For lead anyways
RONALD
Posts: 754
Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2003 7:27 am

Re: Aluminum molds for ZA-8 casting?

Post by RONALD »

RONALD wrote: Mon Jun 18, 2018 3:52 pm When I was a kid in high school, we would "borrow" type metal from the school's print shop, and cast HO parts over the kitchen stove.

We made the molds out of Wood Putty, the kind you can still get at many hardware stores, it worked great for making a few parts and was REAL cheap!

Worth a try with Zamac.

Turned out lots of HO parts, like switch motors, signal boxes, etc. We were known for the HO size pigs and cows we made; filled up several stock cars!
I made an error, I should have written: Durham WATER Putty: http://www.waterputty.com/
dorin
Posts: 606
Joined: Thu Nov 28, 2002 5:24 am

Re: Aluminum molds for ZA-8 casting?

Post by dorin »

Water Putty!
Wow, I wonder if it can take the heat ? ZA-8 I think requires 750 degrees.

Or could the water be baked out of it before trying it?
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