new ingot moulds

[Big Dog]

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[lightman]

Nice looking molds! Now we want to see some ingots cast in them!

[Big Dog]

Nice looking molds! Now we want to see some ingots cast in them!

that will be at least a few days

the jet burner is currently committed to making scrapple

[MrWolf]

They look good. Tell us how they work out.

[Mal Paso]

Excellent! And it looks like you made enough of them.

[Big Dog]

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[rollmyown]

Keen to hear how they drop from the mold. Post some pics when you cast some up. Nice work

[BK7saum]

I welded my 4" wide c channel molds on the outside only. I have very few gaps, and even where there are, the lead doesn't make it into the small gaps. Mine only have a 1 or 2 degree close at the end. They drop well when cool, but sometimes have to tap the end a bit when still hot. My ingots are about 8 lbs each and fit into my lee 20 lb pot just fine.

Nice looking molds. For the spatter just use a cold chisel and maybe a hammer in the stubborn spatter.

[Walter Laich]

I'd try them first before all the elbow grease. Unless you really want pretty looking ingots if the drop out I'd use them as is (this from a guy that bought brand new ingot molds from NOE)

[Big Dog]

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[Don Purcell]

I know how you feel. My niece's husband had gone through a machinists class and worked the lathe and mills. I asked him to dish out some Star punches I had for seating gas checks. He finally got it right after the fourth try. Afterwards I bought my own lathe and mill.

[Big Dog]

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[Mal Paso]

I'm a big fan of welding from the backside. Even an ingot mold warm from the last batch won't fill small cracks. Lead shrinks as it cools. Carbide in a die grinder will probably clean it up faster than you can find another welder.:smile:

[Big Dog]

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[ncbearman]

Uh......other than getting rid of the spatter those welds look ok to me. They may be just fine for you. Clean up the spatter and give em' a try. I have some RCBS ingots that look rougher than that.

[Drew P]

I like your design. I might copy that on my next try. I'm a certified welder and I messed mine up on the first go as well because, well, I rush through things too. Must be a welder thing. But for those, a coarse carbide ball on the die grinder would smooth them out real fast.

As as the old saying goes, $hittty welders make good grinders.

[lightman]

The way I heard it was "grinders and paint make a welder what he ain't'! Seriously, a cup brush in a drill and maybe a little scraping with a chisel might make them work for you. If not, an hour with a carbide burr and a die grinder should do it. You fit up looks good, good job on the measuring and cutting.
I've thought about making some molds and I like the channel vs the angle. I plan to butt mine together and weld from the back. I think a little more work and they will work ok for you.

[RogerDat]

JB Weld applied to the inside seam seals it up so lead has nothing to grab. At least on mine welded from the outside only. So far has held up to the heat just fine. JB Weld might also act to smooth out any irregularities in the weld that you find are snagging the ingots.

I used to weld on a regular basis, both production and some prototype work. However it had been over 10 years so..... before I had the first chamber of the first mold welded up it was very clear my memory was writing checks my rusty skills could not cash. So I just switched to outside welds only. Member here mentioned JB Weld for some use in an ingot mold so I gave that a try and it cleared up a couple of chambers that tended to stick.

[kenyerian]

Great design! If I get a spare moment I'm going to copy it before you get a patent on it.

[allen16323]

that will be at least a few days

the jet burner is currently committed to making scrapple

You a PA guy not to many folks out side of this state that know what it is let alone make it, or is it in other states now too? Nothing like a nice thick slice of scrapple with a runny egg and hot sauce on top.

[tallpaul]

just try them first... other than the spatter and that usually scrapes off easy... these are not match grade bullet molds for cryin out loud... I could see the whining like a lil girl who got a knock off barbie if they did not release... maybe :p

What is the purpose for the gap between cambers? I am assuming cooling?

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

You a PA guy not to many folks out side of this state that know what it is let alone make it, or is it in other states now too? Nothing like a nice thick slice of scrapple with a runny egg and hot sauce on top.
I thought the same thing and had to look at his avatar to see if a location was present as I had not heard the word "scrapple" since I left PA 31 years ago :)

[LuckyDog]

Scrapple, Puddins, and Lebanon Bologne.


The bologna showed up in RI for a spell. Didn't compete with the Chourico to well, but it was nice while it lasted.


I get several pounds of each when I go to PA to visit the family.

[allen16323]

I thought the same thing and had to look at his avatar to see if a location was present as I had not heard the word "scrapple" since I left PA 31 years ago :)

Would love to move out the your area, PA is getting pretty dumpy anymore and now adays the heroin problem is everywhere, hear about 2 or 3 each week here in western PA.

[Big Dog]

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[Big Dog]

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[Big Dog]

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[tallpaul]

well "Barbie" I spent good money on steel to make good ingot moulds and my so-called buddy being a so-called union certified welder screwed them up after I told him to just drop my cut & fitted steel off at my place since he did not have time to weld them


well then just slice the ends off and get a few new angle... no big deal. Likely anyone able to weld to your satisfaction will have the tools to do so. Stop by and I can slice them off on my metal cutting miter saw... I love the saw blade vs a cutting disc :) I just talked to a fab shop and am gonna have them make 16 pieces of thin channel with a slight angle so the lead drops free... I will angle cut the ends slightly too and hopefully my welding skills suffice :p
...

[fred2892]

Heres mine, made and used for over 10 years. Made from 1 1/2" angle with a couple of odd gauge sheet welded to the sides. My welds make yours look professional, but they are welded from the rear. Dont worry about the gaps inside the moulds, they will not cause the ingots to stick. Just try yours as it is, it will be fine.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160310/045b47c5469d3b566a12c6464f80a6d0.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160310/120740e4fd8d9798487a2f9ffbb40cc9.jpg