2-tone senko - Page 2

houstondominant · #11 (**permalink**) September 28th, 2007

I pour 1/2 the mold, put it togerther, then pour the other half. After that I take my $20 Wagner heat gun from Wal-Mart and heat the outside of the mold while it is standing up in a small vise. This works with just about any 2 piece aluminum mold. I have never had any seperation problems when doing it this way. It is a longer cooling process, but the final product is perfect. This also lets you go at your own pace, no rush to pour the second color.

JD

152nd Street Baits · #12 (**permalink**) October 1st, 2007

That's a great idea! I've done a similar thing but used the oven with great results. That's when I was single and didn't cook. I'm not allowed to use our oven since getting married.
What model heat gun are you using?

ghostbaits · #13 (**permalink**) October 1st, 2007

May have to have Del jump in here but I seem to remember if you overheat and cool the 2 piece molds excessively and repeatedly, they could warp a bit.

I may be way off on that as my memory may be (OK is) fading. Just hate to see that expensive mold become a paper weight!!

Jim

Smallie · #14 (**permalink**) October 1st, 2007

I think you would have to get over 600 degrees F to cause any problems. I interpret the use of the heat gun to remelt or soften the two colors to make them stick. Play it safe and stay under 350. You will be operating in the range the mold is normally used to seeing.

houstondominant · #15 (**permalink**) October 3rd, 2007

I use a digital temp gun, and only take the mold to around 325 degrees. I was putting my mold with the plastic into the oven at 350 degrees on a cookie sheet for 5 minutes. At least until the cookie sheet bowed, and dumped the plastic into the bottom of the oven. Needless to say I lost my oven privileges. I got the Wagner heat gun idea while shrinking some heat shrink tubing. It is the Wagner Multi-Purpose Dual Temp paint stripping gun. It is in the power tool section of Wal-Mart. They have this one for $20, or one for $55. No real difference between the models. This way is much easier and faster than heating the mold in the oven, plus I do not need to leave my work bench where my microwave is located. I also use it to preheat my molds.

JD