University Archives

We have found recently that aluminum dishes, often called aluminum weighing boats by scientists and engineers, can serve as excellent molds for the creation of art medals, providing that the metal to be poured is low enough melting that it will not melt the aluminum.  Examples of such metals include tin, lead, zinc, bismuth, Wood’s metal fusible alloy, and Onion’s metal alloy.  Here we will detail how low-melting alloys can be made, how such aluminum molds can be carved or etched, what techniques maximize the design elements, how molten metals can be poured safely, and the best methods by which such medals can be cooled and separated from the aluminum molds.  Advantages and disadvantages of aluminum dishes as molds, when compared to other techniques, will be discussed.