How to Cast White Metal
Soapstone molds are excellent for casting white metal, especially pewter, the most popular white metal for the hobbyist. Soapstone is soft, easy to carve and readily available. Pewter can be used to make jewelry and household items like candlesticks, flatware and drinking mugs.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Make the soapstone into two things: a mold and a black plate to hold the mold in place. Each piece of soapstone needs to be the same size and about 3/4 of an inch to an inch thick. Any type of saw will do, but a band saw is best. Sand the rough sides smooth with medium or fine sandpaper, going in a circular motion.
-
2
Carve your design into the soapstone. Trace your design onto one sanded side of the soapstone with a fine-point black marker. You can carve your design with almost anything. Your local art store will have chisels and knives that are perfect for the job. You also need to carve a channel for the molten metal to enter the mold. This is called a sprue, and it needs to be cut on both pieces of soapstone. The two sides must match up exactly. Also, it needs to be wider at the outside than it is on the inside of the mold. A good size is 3/8 x 3/4 inches on the outside and 1/8 x 3/16 inches where it touches the pattern.
-
-
3
Melt the pewter. You can use a special melting pot or a cast iron pot on and electric hot plate. You can even use a propane blow- torch. Pewter will melt at a temperature of about 750 degrees F. It is a good idea to invest in a metal thermometer.
-
4
Cast your design. Make sure the mold and the backing plate are clamped solidly together. Pour the metal as soon as it has melted.
-
5
When the metal frosts over, pull the mold apart. If it did not come out right, do it over again. Fortunately, soapstone molds are reusable. When it is the way you want it, let it cool and then polish it. But before you polish it, you need to cut off the sprue and file off the edges.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure the mold is dry before you pour in the metal. If water touches the metal, the mold will explode. Wear a full face shield, thick gloves and a leather apron. Make sure the room is well ventilated. There will be a lot of dust.
Resources
More Like This
Comments
-
revpapa42
Feb 08, 2010
How do you get the 2 halves of the mold to match up exactly if the thickness of the item needs to be that thick and symmetrical?
