Testing metal for use as a mold

[Bev Brandt]

I have some cookie cutters that I'd like to use as casting molds. They're deep enough that I can pile in some frit and end up with some nifty chunks o' glass.

But I don't know what the cookie cutters are made of. They're in a set from Target, some are enameled, some are bare "white" metal. I have a bad feeling that they're aluminium, but if that's the case I'll just use them another way - maybe even as they're intended!

Is there some way to test them without destroying them or my kiln shelf?

- Bev

[jerry flanary]

If a magnet will stick= steel
no stick= aluminum or SS

If light, al
heavy, ss

Can't tell?
Grinder look at sparks compare the results to a known piece of al, ss.

Enamel can mess up set 1.

[charlie holden]

Quite likely they are chrome covered tin. Don't fire them. Poisonous gas.

Roll out a slab of clay, cut the shapes out with the cutter to make tiles with holes in the center, cut each tile in half, dry, bisque fire, coat with kiln wash and fill with frit. You need to cut the tiles in half or thirds so they don't shrink too much around the cast glass and break. As an alternative you can leave them whole and line them with 1/16 inch kiln paper each time you fire.

ch

[Bev Brandt]

I also have some fiberboard that I might be able to simply "cookie-cutter." I'll have to experiment.

Though, a magnet did stick to all of the cutters - even the enameled ones. I still am not all that enthused about firing an unknown metal.

Thanks for the input.

- Bev

[Petra Kaiser]

Hi Bev,

Lisa Voigt showed in an article in the Glass Crafts Magazine to use the cookie cutters to cut out kaiser-lee-board and use it as a casting mold. If you use iridescent side of the glass against the board, you don't have any sticking problems

have fun
petra

[Kay]

Petra, in what issue was Lisa Voight artical on Kaiser-Lee Board? Can''t seem to find it.
Thank you
Kay

[Tom White]

Issue No. 180, p 12 of batch insert.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas