Casting metal
Woodsmetal is a lab metal.
And I understand it melts in boiling water (or that temp).
One web source has it at $35 for half a pound.
And it does contain some lead. Other than that I don't know anything about it.
Cerrosafe is metal used in the gunsmith field for casting (checking size of) gun chambers.
It melts at 158° - 190°. I've melted it by heating it with a Harbour Freight heat gun (hair dryer type). So it is easy to use and as safe as melted metal can be. At least it can be cooler than boiling water...
And I don't think it contains lead, but I'm not sure. Can't find my tech sheet on it at the moment.
Its available from
www.brownells.com at $40 for a pound.
Also
www.midwayusa.com at same relative price for half a pound.
And
www.buffaloarms.com for $30 per lb.
I''ve dealt with the first two, and can recommend them.
Another unknown I just saw by quick search =
www.trackofthewolf.com. They show it at $11.95 for half a pound. Be aware that this price used to be somewhat common. So this last source might not have current pricing.
Some have used lead, but the danger of lead poisoning from the fumes is real.
And lead melts at 327°.
Tin would be a better choice at 232°.
But Cerrosafe at less than 200° is a much better choice, imo.
Another alternative:
Permatex brand Plastic Aluminum.
It comes in a tube and can be purchased in some automotive suppliers and/or jewelry supply companies.
Southwestern Jewelry makers use it as an adhesive to simulate silver.
It dries to a nice silvery color and works well on wood.
And its only a few bucks per tube.
And safer still than molten metal even if it (like Cerrosafe) melts about as quick as M&M candies.
Also available in the jewery supplies is Devcon Bronze putty.
But its an epoxy based product with actual bronze flakes.
But much more expensive at about $50 per pound. And I haven't seen it in small quantities.
Devcon, Permatex and Duco have other products you might try. Take a trip to the hardware, Automotive and Jewelry stores and you might find other ideas.
And Jwitnburg just posted a better priced supplier...
57_T-Bird