Gold bars

[dguzzi]

   I'm looking for a good way to make a mold for casting gold into ingots. (not really gold but same size) Does anyone have ideas?

[n3303j]

   I'm looking for a good way to make a mold for casting gold into ingots. (not really gold but same size) Does anyone have ideas?

Back when Hector was a pup I bought one SCUBA weight for a weight belt. I used it to make a female mold out of Devcon Plastic Steel. I poured a bunch of weight duplicates from melted scrap lead pipe using that mold.

[dguzzi]

  Thats an idea, but how much Devcon would I need for a 10x3x5 mold?  It would be good to line the mold in sand in order to get the smooth finish.   

[AJ Huff]

Search eBay for "Ingot mold"

-AJ

[dguzzi]

 Ebay has some cool ones, but none the right size.

[RinkRat II]

     If you have a scrap metal yard nearby a piece of channel with ends welded on would work.  The first part of the video is what I'm referring to.

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGinGdjpyUU

     Paul B

[dguzzi]

  I think so!!  I have that here, maybe you got it for me!  checkin...

[aklawok]

 As far as casting goes, the mould is the easiest part. First must have a crucible or smelter with heat source. If this is all you want look on line for a microwave crucible, yes it actually works.
https://a.co/d/0dcNYAVx

[dguzzi]

 I have a melting unit (not a pot, more flat, electric.)  I saw where a guy made prop ingots from cardboard, that would work for making the mold in sand.

[John A]

https://www.speed-kingscycle.com/products/ohlins-gold-bars
I couldn’t resist 

[dguzzi]

 At that price I'd be ashamed to have them!

[AJ Huff]

If you want smooth, you don't want to use sand. I would imagine gold is not something you want to be cleaning up with grinding.

-AJ

[FarmallA]

https://pmcsupplies.com/casting-supplies/molds/cast-iron-molds/loaf-molds

Lots of choices here.  Generally one uses a light coat of motor oil as a release agent.
You’ll also need an acetylene or oxygen-acetylene torch, or an electric melter, and some welding gloves.  Some gas welding goggles are a good idea too. And some borax for flux. And a crucible. And tongs to pour the crucible. It starts to add up.

Looks like this place has all that stuff.

I have no connection to this vendor.  It’s just the first place that came up with a simple search.

FarmallA
Steve

[dguzzi]

  Thank you FarmallA,  that's a nice site to surf through!

[PeteS]

What metal are you casting? Its melting temperature will determine what mold material you have to use. Smooth On has a mold material suitable for casting pewter. Most other metals have a higher melting point.

https://www.smooth-on.com/

Pete

[AJ Huff]

Gold melts at about 1900°F. As does cast iron. But the heat transfer of cast iron is so high it *should* work as a molding material.Plate steel has a significantly higher melting temp than cast iron and should work fine.
Something like graphite would be better in this application.

-AJ

[FarmallA]

"Gold melts at about 1900°F. As does cast iron. But the heat transfer of cast iron is so high it *should* work as a molding material.Plate steel has a significantly higher melting temp than cast iron and should work fine.
Something like graphite would be better in this application."

Actually, the OP said he isn't casting gold. (not really gold but same size)???

It would be nice to know what we're talking about.

FarmallA
Steve