I want to make some 55 gallon drums so I was thinking of casting them. But how do I make the mold and what do I use to cast them?
What you are asking for is a short course on a large subject. You might be well advised to google small scale casting procedures. A lot depends on what you are planning to cast - brass, plastic, hydrocal…
As for making patterns, the main thing is that the pattern will have to be oversize if you will be using anything that shrinks during the process. Other than that, it must have smooth surfaces and no undercuts (unless you are going to use the lost wax process - a large bucket of worms!)
In the past there were a number of toy casting stations available. I don’t know if that is still the case.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
What scale? I have seen 55 gallon drums offered on e-Bay in G scale and HO scale. These would probably be far cheaper than casting your own unless you already have all the casting materials. Most things of this type are turned on a lathe from wood dowels instead of being cast.
Micromark offers kits for casting white metal or resin parts, but as others have said, that’s a lot of cost and effort just to do a quick run for yourself. You also need something to make a mold from, which is a lot of work in and of itself.
If you’re looking for HO scale, Walthers lists 24 different entries under “oil drum”, about half of which would seem to fit your needs perfectly. They also have a couple of entries each in O and N.
If you’re really dead set on making them, cutting them from a dowel with fine wire (or putty) to create the ridges is probably your best bet.
Grandt Line will sell you a dozen very nice 55 gallon drums for three bucks. They come with two types of tops, steel for use as shipping drums, and wood for use as fire barrels on bridges. If you can make a dozen open-top drums with lids for less, I would be very surprised. However, if you enjoy the challenge, go for it. [swg]
Wayne
By the time you buy all the casting materials, RTV, etc, and fabricate a mold from a good amout of “masters”, you could buy an awful lot of decent scale 55 gallon drums.
Now that is an idea! I’ll have to try it.
I use the mold making kit from Micro-Mark.
This is the mold making box…with some parts I wanted to duplicate.
Parts of the mold making kit from Micro-Mark.
After mixing and pouring the rubber.
The rubber mold.
Someone ask for barrels?
Can cast a lot of 55 gallon drums in a short time with my white metal casting machine. Casting machine and melting pot roll outside garage on a clear day.
