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| Green Twin Oscillator Cast/Build |
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| NickG:
Great stuff. The only time i've cast anything was for a couple of simple loco parts. I made the pattern myself and my dad used to work in a school as a design technology teacher so we went in and used the crucible he gad in his classroom! We only cast in aluminium though and i was surprised how much heat even that needed - nothing compared to iron i guess. He said he bought some bronze or gunmetal to try once but it wouldn't get hot enough! |
| MetalCaster:
--- Quote from: tekfab on July 27, 2013, 05:41:25 PM ---Sorry to interrupt, what size of delevan nozzle did you use ? Mike PS Good stuff ! --- End quote --- Feel free to interrupt at any time. I post this stuff on here for others to see and comment on. Any/all feedback/comments are more than welcome at any time from anyone, and much appreciated. |
| MetalCaster:
--- Quote from: NickG on July 28, 2013, 03:34:14 PM ---Great stuff. The only time i've cast anything was for a couple of simple loco parts. I made the pattern myself and my dad used to work in a school as a design technology teacher so we went in and used the crucible he gad in his classroom! We only cast in aluminium though and i was surprised how much heat even that needed - nothing compared to iron i guess. He said he bought some bronze or gunmetal to try once but it wouldn't get hot enough! --- End quote --- Thanks Nick- Glad to see the interest. In the old days, it seems like almost everyone had shop classes. I never got to take shop classes in high school, it was considered beneath those people who ran the school. When I went to college, I took a number of shop classes in metal working, woodworking, welding, etc., and those were the most interesting classes I ever took, but they did not have metal casting. It is a shame they don't teach more of that sort of thing. People don't like to get their hands dirty. We did get to take a school tour of the International Harvester foundry which was still in business in this area at the time (1978), and I vaguely recall a huge process with tons of green sand, and iron flowing out of giant ladels. I wish I had known more about what I was looking at during that visit, I would have learned more. I do recall that one item they manufactured was the front axle for a large truck, and I presume it was made from maleable iron. Melting iron is really quite easy, but you really need a good setup, high temperature refractory, iron-rated crucibles, a stable burner calibrated for the correct btu input into the furnace size that you are using, etc., and it can be rather tricky to discover that information online or anywhere else. Pat J |
| tom osselton:
I wouldn't worry about interest a lot are lurkers including myself. Still gathering equipment to set up a home shop and gathering knowlege for builds and machining operations. I am at that point now where I have to get on with it I have the machines and am starting to build a furnace using a beer keg and fiber blanket like Ironman's video. I have cast aluminum back in school one time shot for some handles, Im 60 now lol my son has been bitten by it he has completed his 1st year training at sait and had his teacher help him cast some pillars for my dad'engine build so he is eager to get into casting. Tom |
| MetalCaster:
Tom- I guess everyone likes attention, myself included. Sometimes I wonder if there is anyone out there in model engine land, but then I am the king of lurkers too, so what can I say. And speaking of kings, ironman is the king of cast iron, but I think there are a few here and elsewhere that perhaps can start the journey he has been on for 20 years, and perhaps rival some of his work. I know Rob Wilson has done some iron a while back (perhaps more recently), and is actively involved in a cupolet build, which is capable of making bucketsful of molten iron fast. It is easy to get bitten by the casting bug, that is for sure. I have found few things as addictive as pouring molten metal. Be cautious with the fumes though, you can't necessarily see them, but they can cause some serious damage. Keep us informed of your engine building and casting progress. Pat J |
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