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Machinable Wax??

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Brass_Machine:
Does anyone have a good recipe to make machinable wax? I have a couple things (molds) that I want to make out of silicone and was thinking machinable wax would make a good mold (for the mold!)

Anyone have experience with it?

Thanks
Eric

awemawson:
I just heated normal candle wax to melting point and started mixing in MDPE pellets of the sort used for injection moulding plastic parts. As the pellets dissolve slowly raise the temperature to about 135 - 150 or so.

The more pellets you manage to dissolve the firmer the resulting m/w is but about half as much pellet as wax seems about right.

LDPE and HDPE can be used but obviously it changes the  machinability. I've successfully used short slices of blue MDPE pipe that we use here in the UK for water distribution underground. I've heard of people using rolls of plastic bags!

Brass_Machine:
Thanks Andrew!

I will obviously need to create a form to pour it into. Since this will be a large block, I may have to do 2 melts to fill it. Would you see that as a problem or should I just buy a large pot?

Thanks
Eric

awemawson:
From Ade Vickers experience when he was casting a large block as a prototype of his dry sump (*) before machining the final aluminium, the machineable wax from the two pours doesn't really bond.


(* it was this project that lured me into the clutches of Mad Modder back in 2010 and I'm still here  :bugeye: )

Brass_Machine:
I have some of his wax blocks in the shop. Just haven't used them yet (10 years later)

Big pour it is. Will find an el cheapo lobster boil pot and that should work. Don't want to ruin my wifes pots... Remember, she owns more hammers than me and knows how to use them!

Just need figure out the best ratio/mixture/ingredients to get a smooth finish for a silicone pour.

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