« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !  (Read 4126 times)

Online davec2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2956
    • The Lucky Bag
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 »
Logged
"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 Justin Urbantas

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1395
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?
Logged

Offline JPK

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 386
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.


Logged
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

Offline Pukka Bundook

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3469
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.
Logged

n stephenson

  • Guest
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
Logged

Online davec2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2956
    • The Lucky Bag
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.
Logged
"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

  • Member 3
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12671
Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2018, 09:03:29 PM »
Very cool!
Logged
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Timothy88

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 63
Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2018, 04:51:48 AM »
That is a very nice mold!
Logged

Offline JPK

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 386
Re: Graphite Ball Mold....a big one !
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2018, 05:06:38 PM »
Thanks davec2.
Logged
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

Offline Daryl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15832
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 »
Logged
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »