Balteus apron studs/disks

[germanslinger37]

[attachment=0:3psys7xt]<!-- ia0 beltdisks.jpg<!-- ia0 [/attachment:3psys7xt]
are these usable?
they are a rough first attempt at making my own.

[QVINTVS ARTORIVS CORVINVS]

I actually bought a book and DVD on brass/bronze casting, to say it was illuminating would be an understatement.

Basically, here is what needs to be done:
Make two 2"x2" wooden frames... in my case with an inner work area of 3" x 12"
Drill pilot holes and inset lag bolts so that it aligns the top and bottom halves.
Pack the two halves with clay
Press your simple object (in this case and apron stud) most of the way into the clay
Slide the top half of the mold assembly down its track rails and squeeze hard
Do this the other 20 or so times (if you only have 1 template stud)
Note... don't put them too close together, give them at least 1/2" between pieces
Scrape away the channel where the pointy ends are stuck down to the point where the holes are just exposed
Clean up those holes better
Put the two halves together and prepare to pour the Brass/bronze into the mold

For a kiln, use a small oven made of firebricks.
Make sure you leave a hole to put your propane torch like the roofers use to melt the tar
Line interior with clay
Make a top for it out of 1/4" plate and put some sort of handle on it to remove the top with your tongs

Get a small crucible preperably cast Iron...
Make sure it has an integrated spout and a lifting hook for you to fish it out of there with your tongs

Heat up your metal, remove the oven top, take out the crucible and pour it into the flipped over mold (so the scraped out holes are exposed

Wear safety shield and welder's apron and of course welder's gloves. And any other precaution one would typically take when welding.

After a few minutes of the material being in the mold, start dribbling some water onto the exposed brass.

This keeps the ambient temp down somewhat so the wood doesn't start to get burnt.

Give it about 30 minutes and pull the mold apart, and push the pieces out from the same area you poured the Brass in

Replace any clay that was removed/wrecked, and begin the process all over again.

Enjoy!!