Has anyone tried plaster-of-Paris for lead molds?

They work but won't last long.

Hardwood last longer? Sounds like both might burn back until the diameters are off.

What's recommended? A blank Do-It mold that you have machined?

They work but won't last long.

Will they last one long session of pouring??...say like 15lbs. Or do you mean long term??..years of pouring

Hardwood last longer? Sounds like both might burn back until the diameters are off.

What's recommended? A blank Do-It mold that you have machined?

Yes that is what i would recommend.


Will they last one long session of pouring??...say like 15lbs. Or do you mean long term??..years of pouring

Also yes they won't last to many pours the heat will break it down.If you want years of use out of the same mold go with aluminum.

I recommend buying a completed Aluminum mold. If you have something unique and want to make a few just for yourself, as others have said you can make a plaster mold, but they kinda suck.. You can have made a vulcanized rubber mold, and you could get as many as 100 pours out of that. You can buy the rubber and make your own mold but there is a guy out there that made me a very nice mold out of this for a VERY VERY reasonable price and I have used it for years. Further the rubber he uses is different than you can find online. I found an ad for his services in a fishing magazine and I wrote him. I don't have the contact anymore.

Blank AL molds require someone that can machine it properly, I would not try this myself unless you have done it before. (its a one shot deal)

Since you are just starting I'd make molds out of maple, two pieces and bore the holes in between. You can make all sorts of sizes for short money. After a year or two if you find that they die too quickly and have some standard weights that you use a lot of invest in a aluminum mold.
I have not yet found it worthwhile to do aluminum.

Since you are just starting I'd make molds out of maple, two pieces and bore the holes in between. You can make all sorts of sizes for short money. After a year or two if you find that they die too quickly and have some standard weights that you use a lot of invest in a aluminum mold.
I have not yet found it worthwhile to do aluminum.

But when you do you know a machinist or two.:uhuh::buds:

Since you are just starting I'd make molds out of maple, two pieces and bore the holes in between. You can make all sorts of sizes for short money. After a year or two if you find that they die too quickly and have some standard weights that you use a lot of invest in a aluminum mold.
I have not yet found it worthwhile to do aluminum.

cherry is much better for this. You'd be surprised what a beating cherry can take when in contact with hot stuff...
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cherry is much better for this. You'd be surprised what a beating cherry can take when in contact with hot stuff...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
I'll try cherry next time, is this some old time glassblowing information?

Yes it is... Apple runs a close second.
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Since you are just starting I'd make molds out of maple, two pieces and bore the holes in between. You can make all sorts of sizes for short money.

i did this my first time out, last month, I used maple, but only one piece, not 2 joined. the weights knocked out onto floor w/ a little help.... crude but effective. drilled holes, by guess-timate, for different sized bellys. (they weighed out to be 2gm thru 14gm.) borrowed buddy's melting pot, got out my old lead fishing weights and poured away for a day! very happy with results and the plugs swim beautifully!

Eric - Plaster of Paris fatigues quickly. I use bondo and if you don't push the pouring you can get good results. Be sure to soot up the mold before pouring. Not good for mass producing tins. If you are going to do lots, a do-it blank and custom machining is the way to go.

Thanks, gents' -- all good information. I'll start with some cherry.