What Is Good for Metal Molding?

Question

I would like to get into metal molding, but I have some Questions.

1. What would be a material that could hold up to molten metal?

2. What would some good melting metals be? I can get sheet metal whenever I want, but I don't know if the melting point is low enough.

3. What would I need to melt the metal? I would prefer if the metals could be melted simply on the stove, or at least in a fire.

4. Would I be able to change a metal's actual color, or would I need seperate metals for each color?

Answer 1

There many different metals that have different melting points, Copper, silver, ect.

If you get good enough or have the natural talent you can make good money as a metal artist.

Do some research and buy some good books.

Then experiment. You never know you may become famous.

http://www.saferhorseracing.com/gpage24....

Good luck and enjoy.  

Answer 2

take a class. Seriously. It's a multistep process, you can make a lot of mistakes which can be time consuming, costly and not the least dangerous.

Sheet metal can be copper, brass, bronze, but I assume you refer to mild steel. You cannot melt down mild steel. I think the melting point is around 2600F. Apart from tin you are not going to be able to melt anything in your oven. Look up tin casting and make sure you inform yourself thoroughly about the process before you get any equipment. Anything else you will be best off with a class.

Look up "patina" for coloring metal. What colors are available depends on the metal. The most variety is for bronze.

If you just want the metal look, ron young has a range of paints which contain enough metal so you can cold patina the paint. The result can look very like metal if you take some effort with it. I would definitely go this route if you just want the metal look. Otherwise messing around with molten metal can be dangerous and a fire hazard unless you know what you are doing.  

Answer 3

lead, tin and pewter have some of the lowest melting points, but when molten are still hot and viscous enough to cause serious injuries. You can cast into many things from plaster of paris, the carved insides of cuttlefish   to into damp clay earth, but all are pretty risky if you dont fully understand the procedures, techniques and safety.

Any damp or air in your mould can cause the mould to blow - literally explode - showering yourself and everything around you in molten metal, so i absolutely suggest that you find some local classes or even an apprenticeship if you wish to get into this!

A great new alternative around recently is PMC or Precious Metal Clay, which as it says is  a clay substance formed of various kaolin's etc with silver or gold. These you form items as you would from any clay, before heating with a blowtorch or similar to burn off the clay, leaving behind hallmark quality silver or gold. With the PMC you can get as much detail, or even more then with casting although it is pricey due to the precious metal content, but a great alternative when you are limited for facilities, and much more manageable to use without a foundry!

:-)