Hi there! Which one of your alloy should I buy? I will reproduce sculptures from many originals (around 20¨tall and 2¨width), by casting (gravity) with high temperture silicone molds up to 340 C. Sculptures with a lot of details like faces, hair, hands, eyes, and so on. Repros must be strong and must not bend, and I have to be able to finish them by using a dremel, polish and nickel or chrome plated. There can not be shrinkage involved, I mean when comparing with the originals. Thanks!
metal shrinkage is a feature of metal casting. The only way to mitigate it is through small parts later assembled, or hollow parts like the body of a horse having a cavity inside and cast in two parts. As far as hardness goes, 5 star metal works well, but your silicone rubber cannot handle the heat to cast with that (380 Celsius for casting). You can try our other metals instead, the 6 Star metal will be ok at the temperature you work with. Its lead free too. it has less metal shrinkage, but it is brittle compared to 5 star due to the crystaline nature of bismuth. Model Metal will also cast under 340 C, and looks lovely when shined up, but is softer than 5 star and will bend and lose detail with plating processes. In your case you can try the 6 star first and see if that is useful, bearing in mind that it will NOT bend as its not flexible at all.
You are so right! I never thought of "reusing" my old miniatures... thanks.^^
0:03 Why is that British Guard holding a Mosin Nagant?
what are you referring to? Is it the mural soldier?
I have no idea what gun was used by the mural painter. If its incorrect, it was just a mistake.
Hi there! Which one of your alloy should I buy? I will reproduce sculptures from many originals (around 20¨tall and 2¨width), by casting (gravity) with high temperture silicone molds up to 340 C. Sculptures with a lot of details like faces, hair, hands, eyes, and so on. Repros must be strong and must not bend, and I have to be able to finish them by using a dremel, polish and nickel or chrome plated. There can not be shrinkage involved, I mean when comparing with the originals. Thanks!
metal shrinkage is a feature of metal casting. The only way to mitigate it is through small parts later assembled, or hollow parts like the body of a horse having a cavity inside and cast in two parts.
As far as hardness goes, 5 star metal works well, but your silicone rubber cannot handle the heat to cast with that (380 Celsius for casting). You can try our other metals instead, the 6 Star metal will be ok at the temperature you work with. Its lead free too. it has less metal shrinkage, but it is brittle compared to 5 star due to the crystaline nature of bismuth. Model Metal will also cast under 340 C, and looks lovely when shined up, but is softer than 5 star and will bend and lose detail with plating processes. In your case you can try the 6 star first and see if that is useful, bearing in mind that it will NOT bend as its not flexible at all.
@@princeaugustcasting Grat answer!! Thanks a lor for your help!! I will try with the 6, great!
Ok so you can just melt down painted miniatures and skim of the paint like dross... Does the type of paint used have any affect on this?
well it should not. We use acrylics so it just is like a skin you scoop off after remelting the figure.