Need some Help... Casting a Tube

[RyanNJ]

I read the article in the library about how to make a round mold. Now my question is what kind of mold do i use if i want to cast a tube? I was thinking of making a round mold but how would i keep the blank in the middle. I was also thinking of using a regular rectangle mold and then making some 3/4" pieces and gluing a cork to the center and then using that to hold the tube.

My other thought was to make a round mold out of silicone. I would use PVC tube and dowels, i was thinking i could have a hole for the dowel in both sides of the mold so that i open the top insert the tube into the mold and then run the dowel though the center to hold it up

I have only used alumilte up to now but i am thinking of trying this with PR so how would i mix the PR? how about coloring it?

 

[RyanNJ]

another idea i has was to use the cork and to support it with a putty base in the mold.

 

[Padre]

I was just going to say that the resin saver molds from Charlie (newlondon88) work great for this.

But, if you want to make your own, I would make a rectangular mold. Then, put some small fishing sinkers or small bb's in the tube to weight it down, and dowels on the ends to plug the tubes. Take a look at the Casting Feather Blanks tutorial for some ideas on the doweling, etc.