Newby on the block... well, to casting anyways.

[avator]

Ron... really? I would think that hot lead would melt the silicone.  Hmmmm.

[RonsPlc]

Ron... really? I would think that hot lead would melt the silicone.  Hmmmm.

That's what I thought too, but I saw something on youtube (go figure), and decided to try it.

I ordered a silicone muffin tray from wallyworld, and some (4) cheap mini-loaf ones from china for less than 1/4 what the muffin one cost.
To my surprise, they both came in at about the same time. The mini loaf ones were thicker, and felt like they would do better, so I tried them first, not expecting much.
Low, and behold, they did GREAT.

[RonsPlc]

I ended up giving the still unused muffin one to my sister-in-law so she can actually use it for its intended purpose.

[avator]

Interesting.

[Madd Hatter]

Ha ha... and I thought my corn on the cob was fun. I can just see those little guys melting down into the pot like the Wicked Witch of the West.

[RonsPlc]

Contrary to what I expected, I don't see, or feel ANY degradation to the silicone.
They have been used twice so far.
I'll update if/when they start to fail.

[Madd Hatter]

Contrary to what I expected, I don't see, or feel ANY degradation to the silicone.
They have been used twice so far.
I'll update if/when they start to fail.

They put little silicone dots on oven mits and they have no problems.

[avator]

Contrary to what I expected, I don't see, or feel ANY degradation to the silicone.
They have been used twice so far.
I'll update if/when they start to fail.

They put little silicone dots on oven mits and they have no problems.

Makes sense.

[Back_Roads]

 I know there is high temp silicone gasket maker rated for 800f , one could possibly make a simple bullet mold even.

[triggertreat]

I assume these silicone molds come with some sort of base support.  Seems dangerous for pouring lead into otherwise with their typical flimsyness.

I  have a silicone ice tray that I can't stand to use that my Sister purchased.  It did come with a storage base though.  The base is required if wanting to make it to the freezer without a spill, lol.

[avator]

LOL... I don't doubt they work but I think I'll stick with my muffin tins and cast iron corn cob mold. By the time I fill them all the lead is solid enough to drop the pucks/cobs and pour another batch if I even have that much wheel weight lead smelted down. Right now I have enough of them to last me quite some time.

[Insanity]

I have one ice tray that makes small cubes I might want to try but I know the walls are so thin it could make for an interesting nuget.

[avator]

It seems I fried my hot plate by bypassing the rheostat. It was a cheapo and the wattage was likely too low. Nothing inside the PID box took the hit. I'll have to do some research on scientific type hot plates. Meantime I may just pick up another cheapo just to warm the molds.

[Nvreloader]

Bill
Would the hot plate from a coffee maker be hot enough?

[cosmic]

Toaster oven..

[avator]

I don't think a coffee maker would get hot enough and you can't close the door on a toaster oven door with the mold handles. I wouldn't want the wood handles exposed to 375 degrees.

[cosmic]

Put the handles outside the door and use something to prop the door closed  ..  The handle will be fine,,

[avator]

Put the handles outside the door and use something to prop the door closed  ..  The handle will be fine,,

Hmmm... wonder if I can modify the door to open from bottom to top. Or even find one that opens that way.

[cosmic]

Very possible .. I have heated my mold this way for years  and my handles look like new... I also use the oven for powder coating..

[avator]

Thanks Ray..
We have a discount store here in town called Roses Discount. They sell lots of cheap household items.. you know, the kind of stuff you would need if you are setting up a college dorm or your first apartment. Also cheap clothes, shoes, basic hardware and tools. Nothing of high quality. Walmart cheap stuff if you will. This is where I bought that $11 hot plate.... BTW, I see what I did to burn that up... one word.. "polarity". I wired the PID box outlet backwards and ran the current backwards through the element.
Anyways, they had a $20 4 slice toaster oven. It can run up to 400f and be timed or it also has the "stay on" setting. It will also work with the door gaped oven so the wood handle can stay outside the oven. I can make a flap of the 2400f insulation blanket I covered the oven cover I made for the hot plate and cover the gap providing I don't cover the oven's factory vents. Plenty of space to pre heat 3 molds at the same time.
Looks like I'll have a spare PID for the casting pot.