I have been doing much reading about sand casting lately, and am
interested in playing with the zinc-aluminum alloys.

I would like to be able to make permanent molds for casting a part in
these alloys, and would like to know if anyone has done this. I
understand that steel molds are used in die casting where the melt is
injected under pressure, but this is obviously different. Lead bullets
are cast in steel (and aluminum!) molds all the time.

What kind of steel (or non-steel) is usable for the mold? Is 12L14 OK?

Is mold-release needed?

What questions am I not smart enough to ask?

Parts would generally be smaller than a hockey puck. I am planning on
using a steel crucible in a muffle furnace for the melt. ZA-27 is the
target alloy.

Thanks,

Spencer