Casting

My favorite part of all metalworking, hot molten metal. A hot glowing fire, a silver river flowing into a nondescript block of sand, then breaking it open to reveal the shiny product, a successful casting!

Disclaimer: casting is dangerous work. 1,000°F is more than enough to char anything including fingers. It can also make small spots of moisture explode and spread molten metal EVERYWHERE - be careful! And remember, YOU are responsible for your own safety. Take common sense precautions. Have fun.

On to the fun stuff!

• A must-read: alloying - part one, two
• The Foundry:
  • First and foremost, the Furnaces
  • Relining the Furnace
  • Melting tools
  • A Molding Primer
  • Casting in sand, part 1: Molding - part 2: The Pour
  • Casting Defects
  • Another pour, somewhat a tribute to Castaway :)
  • Cupola Mk. 1 - Page 1, Page 2, Page 3
  • Making Charcoal - Overview - My Operation
  • Using some of that charcoal - melting brass
  • Oil burner
  • Propane part 1, the burner, part 2: melting, part 3: a new burner
  • Melting bronze, attempt 2: using a reverberatory furnace
  • Building a new reverberatory furnace: Part 1, Part 2, Photos, Melting
  • Need more capacity? Try my big reverberatory furnace design!
  • Finally, some actual bronze castings
  • New crucible furnace, primed and ready for quality bronze casting
  • Making aluminum-silicon master alloy
• Orphaned Photos
• Projects:
  • Rammer
  • Patternmaking
    • Chassis
    • Wood Lathe's Patterns
    • Pulleys, Part 1, Part 2
  • Hot-wire Foam Cutting Saw
  • Cross-Slide Casting: Part 1, Part 2
  • Check my induction furnace progress under electronics!

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