| Gallery, Projects and General > How do I?? |
| Poor man's casting - how do I do it? |
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| kwackers:
I've looked at various articles on casting and they all seem to go the same way, lots of expensive space hungry bits along with tons of advice that seems 'overkill'. So what I'd like to know is, how does someone like me who wants to make a few small castings (say out of ali or brass) go about it without investing real money... I'm sortof thinking that I've got a big blowtorch and lots of scrap aluminium, surely I can make a dent in some sand, blast the aluminium in a melt-proof pot of some description and just pour it in... Apologies if this sounds over simplistic, but that's basically what I'm after. Can I get reasonable results from not a lot of outlay (and in particular without more equipment filling my already pretty tight workshop)? I appreciate something better than an old tin can might be needed to melt the aluminium and I'll need a bag of casting sand to make a mold with. (I even appreciate casting stuff could become addictive and grow with the result of squeezing something out of the shop!) All advice and recommendations gratefully received. :thumbup: |
| Bogstandard:
I was only talking to Stew about this the other day. When I used to show my engines at the Malpas steam rally, the chap on the next stand along used to make all his own ali castings, and make wonderful full sized copies of small turn of the last century engines. He was telling me he did everything the old way. Everything, he said, came from his little garden plot, except for his melting pot, which was an old stainless kettle and the metal he was melting, plus a few bits of wooden planking he had scrounged. He was telling me that he used an open flame pit, burning wood and charcoal for melting his metal, and his moulding material was dried out soil that had been finely sieved. There must be a bit more to it than that, but he said he never bought any of the specialist materials and other gubbins, and his castings were very acceptable. Bogs |
| andyf:
Kwackers, you might find this to be worth a look: http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/foundry.html Andy |
| Rob.Wilson:
--- Quote from: kwackers on October 28, 2010, 08:26:01 AM ---I've looked at various articles on casting and they all seem to go the same way, lots of expensive space hungry bits along with tons of advice that seems 'overkill'. So what I'd like to know is, how does someone like me who wants to make a few small castings (say out of ali or brass) go about it without investing real money... I'm sortof thinking that I've got a big blowtorch and lots of scrap aluminium, surely I can make a dent in some sand, blast the aluminium in a melt-proof pot of some description and just pour it in... Apologies if this sounds over simplistic, but that's basically what I'm after. Can I get reasonable results from not a lot of outlay (and in particular without more equipment filling my already pretty tight workshop)? I appreciate something better than an old tin can might be needed to melt the aluminium and I'll need a bag of casting sand to make a mold with. (I even appreciate casting stuff could become addictive and grow with the result of squeezing something out of the shop!) All advice and recommendations gratefully received. :thumbup: --- End quote --- It is as easy as you say . Large blow touch ,, the type that roofers use and a few fire bricks and off you go . the bricks can be stacked away when not in use . Something like this Rob |
| joshagrady:
Even easier, use a microwave oven! Here's an article (translated from the Spanish original) that should help you get started. Obviously, this technique will be limited to smallish amounts of metal. |
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