"Looking to get into casting my own" Topic
8 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the Moldmaking and Casting Message Board
|
Kookla  | 31 Aug 2015 12:38 p.m. PST |
I used to shoot a bunch and had everything set for reloading, but never did. Anyway, during that time, I did manage to collect about 80 pounds of lead. Lately I've been thinking about casting figures. All I'd need are the molds, have the rest of the casting stuff. Any good suggestions? |
 Sgt Slag  | 31 Aug 2015 12:55 p.m. PST |
Are you interested in gravity molds, or professional spin molds? What genre, scale, etc? |
| DyeHard | 31 Aug 2015 1:26 p.m. PST |
While most makers avoid lead in their miniatures, you will want tin to make a better alloy for casting your lead.
Price August is one starting point:
princeaugust.ie They can provide molds and what is needed to do gravity casting. their metals are: (54% Lead / 11% Tin / 35% Bismuth)
and (65% Lead / 2% Antimony / 33% Tin) But buying metal from them will add up to big money far. Look for local sources.
Like RotoMetal at ~$19.00/Lbs for pure Tin:
link Now, you are looking at about 40 pounds of Tin to match your lead so that would be like $800 USD so not cheep! If you want to master your own figures and make vulcanized rubber molds, the expense just keeps climbing. Here is a site which will give you an idea of how it is done:
cccrow.com/how-2/metal.html |
| Pythagoras | 31 Aug 2015 1:29 p.m. PST |
You might need some tin to add to the lead in the pot. Pure lead is a bit soft and doesn't like to fill in small details. Cost will be a factor. Are you looking to cast on your work bench or in setting up a semi-professional to professional set-up? If all you want are some simple molds to cast on the work bench you will need a pattern and heat resistant silicone… link link YouTube link etc. |
| DyeHard | 31 Aug 2015 1:41 p.m. PST |
Here is a USA dealer of most of the Prince August items:
dunken.com |
headzombie  | 31 Aug 2015 2:18 p.m. PST |
Rotometals is really local to me, but their prices are high. You can get tin for 2/3rds of that. |
| DyeHard | 31 Aug 2015 3:22 p.m. PST |
Feel free to share good suppliers, although I have not got metal in years. RotoMetal just snapped into my head while thinking about it. Probably the catchy name. |
| Kookla | 02 Sep 2015 5:54 a.m. PST |
thanks everyone- as far as the type of miniatures, I'm open to most things I guess. I've been gravitating back to miniatures with an eye towards historical. Medieval, Napoleonic, ACW, ect… This would definitely be a garage job just for myself. |
|
