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Post by sculpy on Dec 1, 2017 12:35:58 GMT -5
Hello all.
I'm new to the forum today and am hoping some seasoned professionals can offer some useful advice. I'm unlikely the fist to ask this question and wont be the last but can anyone crash course me in how I can save money on moulding materials.
The websites I have seen offer vast ranges of rubbers, plastics, plasters, resins, silicone etc.. and I have no experience with any of them. I only know they do not seem to be all that cheap and I am hoping someone can give me some moulding money saving tips that come with experience. Yes, that's right. I'm the guy who fills a hole in his shoe with a ten year old hardened bacon rasher. Those are the kind of tips i'm after.
I'm basically looking at the lost wax casting process of small items in various metals and would like as little final finishing as possible using El-Cheapo super inexpensive molding Methods for mass duplication of small high detailed 3d metal parts.
Regards
Sculpy |
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Post by Brian on Dec 1, 2017 18:35:50 GMT -5
When I started out with resin casting, I too went the cheap route....
Lesson learned the hard way...I ended up spending more of my disposable income on cut rate crap expecting the same results as the higher end products than if I would have just started out where I am at today with what I use and recommend. Needless to say I had all but given up on resin pouring until a local model car scratch builder, Bob Hayse, turned me on to Alumilite products. Sure, its going to cost a little more going with Alumilite but in the end, if used properly,the results will be exactly what you put into it...more effort= better results.
I empathize with you, but I don't do any metal casting, yet, but what I did say would still apply with what you are wanting to accomplish. Good luck with your project and welcome.
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Post by john swinehart on Dec 1, 2017 22:31:54 GMT -5
Agree with Brian 101 % Buy the stuff that works, learn from what don't work and ask LOTS of questions. Nobody on here wants to set you up for failure. Alumilte Corp. has darn near seen it all so don't be hesitant to ask the staff and members here. Most all of us have quite a bit of experience (cuz we have all screwed up before + learned from it).
john
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Post by sculpy on Dec 2, 2017 1:28:34 GMT -5
"When I started out with resin casting....." Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Brian. I did not realise this was a company sponsored forum. Can you recommend any products for molding small metal parts with excellent surface finish using lost wax process that wont break the bank? I basically want to create lots of wax models and create casting trees for centrifugal casting into investment plaster. The products i've seen elsewhere from jewellery suppliers seem quite high priced and i'm wondering if this is the norm. Can you give me any idea of how much I can expect to pay per unit area of model if I want to save money without sacrificing surface finish? Would I save money with a vulcaniser machine in the long run vulcanising natural rubber?
Thanks
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Post by sculpy on Dec 2, 2017 1:35:53 GMT -5
"Agree with Brian 101 %...." Resin casting seems to be the cheapest option but can resin casing produce lots of duplicate wax models for lost wax casting? Can it also duplicate foam models for lost foam casting?Thanks |
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