Using silicone for a mold to pour lead

[Bantam1]

I was curious if any of you use silicone for molds to pour lead? Its going to be low production. I know silicone can handle a lot of heat, but I'm not 100% sure about using it over and over.

If not what should I use?

[Mattlures]

silicone will work fine for lead but you have to use platinum cure silicone. You also need to get a very firm silicone. Tin cure will not last long and it will distort. You will also need to build a good mold that is rienforced because even a good platinum silicone will want to distort after you pour a bunch of lead through it. One little tip, dust your mold with talc powder and the lead will pour much easier. I pour a bunch of talc in a sock and then zip tie it. I tap the pouch against the mold after each pour.

[Bantam1]

Thanks Matt!

[jfowler]

  I deal with silicone molds almost everyday, the platnium cure will hold up like matt said, talc is a must, give Silicones Inc.  in Highpoint , NC a try, great people to deal with. they have what you need and sell it by the pound.

let me know if you need anything else

thanks

james

[-ebby-]

alumilite makes a mold putty that handles some lead pouring and might be easier depending on what you are doing.

[Bantam1]

I'm trying to copy a jig head that was given to me. Its from Japan and its hard to get, and at $15 each its not worth it to buy. I just want to make a mold of it and pour a few more for testing. Eventually I plan to get an aluminum mold cut, but I want to test it more before I spend the extra $$.