vermiculite board for casting molds

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mikefromitaly
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vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by mikefromitaly »

Hello people.

i would like to know if anyone of you have anu experience with Vermiculite Board.

I want to "carve" it to do some casting molds. Do you think is a good material ?
What is best separator to use? Kiln wash wet or dry ..or BN ?
I shouldn't have to use wet powder separator...

Anyway glass doesnt stick at board?

thank in advance
any help will be appreciate

thank you

ciao
mike from italy
thanks for sharing !

mike from italy


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Bert Weiss
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Bert Weiss »

Glass is very sticky to vermiculite boards. I have never tried to carve it and cast with it.
Bert

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Stephen Richard
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Stephen Richard »

Mile,
I have recently discovered calcium silicate boards. 25mm thick. No fibres. Carves easily. Needs kiln wash. Lighter and cheaper than Vermiculite.
Steve Richard
You can view my Blog at: http://verrier-glass.blogspot.com/
mikefromitaly
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by mikefromitaly »

Hello thanks for reply both Bert and Stephen

Any source about calcium silicate boards ? never heard spoken before..
no need to be hardnered ?

Anyway i think to carve need a strong and hard board to be used more times...no? (hight density?)

thanks for support and collaboration

mike from italy
thanks for sharing !

mike from italy


"secret of success?... passion & experience"

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Bert Weiss
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Bert Weiss »

mikefromitaly wrote:Hello thanks for reply both Bert and Stephen

Any source about calcium silicate boards ? never heard spoken before..
no need to be hardnered ?

Anyway i think to carve need a strong and hard board to be used more times...no? (hight density?)

thanks for support and collaboration

mike from italy
Calcium silicate boards are commonly available from any company that sells high temperature materials. They come in a wide range of qualities and are rated by temperature. Just like alumino silicate boards, they have different densities and different insulating qualities. In general they can not take as much heat as the alumino silicate boards, but they are often rated within the fusing temp range. They tend to warp, so large sheets don't make good shelves.
Bert

Bert Weiss Art Glass*
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mikefromitaly
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by mikefromitaly »

Calcium silicate boards need to be pre-fired ? or harndnered with hardnering liquid?
While Vermiculite boards seems not need hardnered : but need pre-fired ?

thanks

mike
thanks for sharing !

mike from italy


"secret of success?... passion & experience"

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Brad Walker
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Brad Walker »

I have cast in vermiculite boards. I have also carved them with a CNC machine and used as texture plates. Kiln wash or boron nitride is necessary. It's not the perfect casting material. One issue I have found is that some boards leave a hazy appearance on the glass. This can come and go, depending on the brand or board and even the batch of the same brand of material.

I am interested in trying calcium silicate boards. Does anyone have a US source? My US refractory supplier does not carry them.
Bert Weiss
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Bert Weiss »

Brad Walker wrote:I have cast in vermiculite boards. I have also carved them with a CNC machine and used as texture plates. Kiln wash or boron nitride is necessary. It's not the perfect casting material. One issue I have found is that some boards leave a hazy appearance on the glass. This can come and go, depending on the brand or board and even the batch of the same brand of material.

I am interested in trying calcium silicate boards. Does anyone have a US source? My US refractory supplier does not carry them.
Brad talk to Jim Wiles in Charlotte. Let me know if you need his contact info.
Bert

Bert Weiss Art Glass*
http://www.customartglass.com
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mikefromitaly
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by mikefromitaly »

Thank you brad
Casting in vermiculite board ( or in that can be best) carved with Cnc i that i have in my mind
of course need to find the best material and try best (wet) separator.
Of corse need to be enough strong material.
I also want to test calcium silicate an Alumina Silicate board. Any help How t o get a sample?

Thank you

Mike
thanks for sharing !

mike from italy


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Brad Walker
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Brad Walker »

Bert Weiss wrote:Brad talk to Jim Wiles in Charlotte. Let me know if you need his contact info.
I've got a call in to him, thanks.
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Glenn »

http://www.skamol.com/Products.4.aspx


They have a Charlotte, NC branch.
Brad Walker
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Brad Walker »

Glenn wrote:http://www.skamol.com/Products.4.aspx

They have a Charlotte, NC branch.
Unless you're buying full skids, Skamol no longer sells direct to the public. You have to go through a third party, most likely Jim Wiles, also in Charlotte. Jim's company is Neuex.
Bert Weiss
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Bert Weiss »

Brad Walker wrote:
Glenn wrote:http://www.skamol.com/Products.4.aspx

They have a Charlotte, NC branch.
Unless you're buying full skids, Skamol no longer sells direct to the public. You have to go through a third party, most likely Jim Wiles, also in Charlotte. Jim's company is Neuex.
Jim also sells other manufacturers of vermiculite boards, as well as calcium silicate boards.

I would like to make kiln floors out of a combo of calcium silicate boards for the back up and vermiculite board for the hotface. I have to make a decision about what size to cut the V-boards, in to, so they don't warp when heated from one side. This costs less than insulating fire brick and is also less dense, overall.
Bert

Bert Weiss Art Glass*
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mikefromitaly
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by mikefromitaly »

thank you
Does Jim send international orders? has he any website address?

and what can you tell me about Alumina Silicate boards?

thank you

mike
thanks for sharing !

mike from italy


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Glenn
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by Glenn »

Mike,
Skamol is a Danish company. You should contact them for a local distributor.
mikefromitaly
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Re: vermiculite board for casting molds

Post by mikefromitaly »

Hi thanks for reply

sent an email
thanks for sharing !

mike from italy


"secret of success?... passion & experience"

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