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Author Topic: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !  (Read 3770 times)

Offline davec2

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Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« on: March 08, 2018, 07:22:49 AM »
Daryl and Taylor and I were exchanging comments about shooting the blunderbuss on another thread and Taylor mentioned making a mold for a 1 inch bore gun out of maple with a spade bit.  However, the mold only cast one ball before it was un-usable.  I made the following mold for a cannon the same way, with a 3 inch, home made spade bit, but I made the mold out of graphite so you can cast projectiles to your hearts content.  Here is the mold:














These cannon balls are cast out of zinc rather than lead or iron as zinc is very close to the same density as iron but is much easier to cast.  The mold holds up well at the melting temperature of zinc (which is higher than lead), but it was very easily made with a spade bit as the graphite machines very easily.  I did make a 1 inch version of this as well.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2020, 05:32:32 AM by davec2 »
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"No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned... a man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company."
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Offline Justin Urbantas

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2018, 07:34:41 AM »
how do you make a perfect sphere with a spade bit?
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Offline JPK

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2018, 07:39:42 AM »
Very nice mold. I made one out of aluminum for my 1 3/4" cannon and would like to try zinc, where did you get yours.


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Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2018, 05:14:26 PM »
Davec,

I would Really like to see how you made this mould!
Looks beautiful work.

Richard.
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n stephenson

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2018, 05:21:02 PM »
Dave , as usual Very Nice Work!!     I notice you didn't call it your new "bag mold"  ;D   Nate
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Offline davec2

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2018, 06:33:08 PM »
Thanks for the kind comments.....JPK, sometimes I buy new zinc ingot here     

https://www.rotometals.com/zinc-ingot-99-8-full-ingot/?gclid=CjwKCAiA24PVBRBvEiwAyBxf-f11EYDBv7Hykxwi3dQcq6tqKq9C7T1C5HW8Fy-QGDDyeNgbcJuArRoCWi8QAvD_BwE

If you can find it at a scrap yard, scrap zinc die cast material can be had for quite a bit cheaper (like $1 a pound).  However, the pouring temperature is 850 to 900 degrees F and the zinc, at that temperature, will likely destroy your aluminum mold.  Thats one of the reasons I made this mold out of graphite.

Pukka and Justin....as soon as I can, I will write up how I made this mold.
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"No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned... a man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company."
Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1780

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2018, 09:03:29 PM »
Very cool!
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D. Taylor Sapergia
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Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Timothy88

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2018, 04:51:48 AM »
That is a very nice mold!
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Offline JPK

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2018, 05:06:38 PM »
Thanks davec2.
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Offline Daryl

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Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2018, 09:27:50 PM »
That is a BEAUTIFUL mould, Dave - both are beautiful - thanks for the pictures, Dave and JPK.
Ahh - those 3" cannon balls look like 'frightened' lead., Dave, but likely true enough for a cannon.  ;)
« Last Edit: March 09, 2018, 09:29:34 PM by Daryl »
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"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V
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