My very own clam kit

[cool-arrow]

What is that soft metal used for the clay mold method. All I know is that it melts easily with a little heat. What is the proper name and where can I pick some up at?

[Jaakko]

Choose your weapon: http://www.gizmology.net/fusiblemetals.htm

You want anything that melts under 100C (or 212F) and the best is that it uses NO cadmium and NO lead, so it is safe to handle.

I'd go with bismuth (shotgun shells used in duck hunting) balls mixed with proper amount of tin (5 parts bismuth, 3 parts tin, by weight).

[Safety0ff]

I think lead free fishing weights could be used ( I think they're a mix of bismuth and other stuff,) but you're best off verifying that information.

[lynxboy]

Could someone answer these questions I have about the clam case?

1. What do you melt the plumbing solder in? (What can handle such heat)

2. Do you then pour the molten plumbing solder straight into the closed clam
kit via the top hole?

3. What do you do with the excess solder? (E.g If not all of the solder is used,
where do I dispose of it and in what state? (solid/liquid) )

4. What do you do if the solder gets on your floor/you hand (removal method/amputation ?)

[dougfarre]

1. You can melt it in a spoon.

2. Yes.

3. Excess solder can be reused.

4. Solder dries really fast, normally you can peel it off of a surface within about a min after you remove the heat.

[lynxboy]

Thanks for all the help. Now I'm gonna try it on my house keys (jokes, never experiment with locks you currently use)

[E1001]

Thanks for all the help. Now I'm gonna try it on my house keys (jokes, never experiment with locks you currently use)

go ahead and try it on your keys, just don't stick that key in your locks, as it will probably break and be a pain to get out and probably ruin your locks.

[fsdhy]

[BraveHeart.]

WoW!!

is that stuff you put into the lock and it hards???

[fsdhy]

WoW!!

is that stuff you put into the lock and it hards???

No. That's impossible.

It's a casting kit made by a german company. It includes chemicals which quickly harden into a gelatin-like mold, instead of clay. Its meant to be more concealable than walking around with a bunch of clay in your pocket. It's expensive, but works great. In fact, the first key I tested it with (a year ago) is still working fine. The metal is much stronger than I thought it would be.

[BraveHeart.]

so you do it and take it out, then you go and make a key from it?

[Schuyler]

you copy a key with it.

[dougfarre]

Do you have a link to where we can buy this kit from?

[Jaakko]

I really would like to know what that stuff actually is in the tubes, but I think it might be like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone#Moldmaking

I just need to find a place to buy bismuth to make a proper alloy from tin and bismuth...

[fsdhy]

That's why I posted this, I was hoping to find out what exactly is in those three tubes. If we have any budding chemists among us, who might be able to tell from a tiny sample, PM me.