Had a go at bronze casting

[Seadog]

"Whittled with a penknife?"

Exactly

 

[brightspark]

I did aluminium casting in the 4 th year at senior school , I doubt very much school kids would be allowed to today? Bronze casting looks very interesting

my brother was the technician in the metal work room at a school that had a gas furnace that was never used , he got it up and running and taught the kids sand casting ,when he retired its never been used since

 

[Onoff]

Casting is good fun. My furnace design was not really up to the higher temperatures but one day I will fix it.

These videos are worth a watch, he mostly uses alu, that is a lot more fussy about how you gate and pour than brasses and bronze, but much easier due to lower temperatures.

Olfoundryman

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This was my most successful attempt in brass which came out quite good I would say

Don't forget you made all the kit yourself which is even more impressive.

 

[oldbikedavey]

I'm very fond of sand casting.....

 

[northwest]

I once found a socketed bronze axe head whilst metal detecting. My best find ever. Mint condition. Near Glynneath. Back in the 1980s. On loan to a museum. It dates to around 800BC. The copper came from Anglesey and the tin from Cornwall. Also trace amounts of antinomy and lead to help it flow better during casting. They certainly knew their stuff!

I have often mulled over getting a metal detector, the cost has always put me off, that and the experience of trying to use a metal detector back in the late 60's early 70's that was pants. I would be really pleased if I found something like this axe head, what a cool thing to find. Ah well, just another daydream.

 

[Melvyn Best]

my brother was the technician in the metal work room at a school that had a gas furnace that was never used , he got it up and running and taught the kids sand casting ,when he retired its never been used since

Is it any wonder we have a skills shortage in this country? Carpentry/woodwork/ metalwork no longer taught . I’m don’t know of any practice skills being taught in schools today, I bet a lot of people struggle to sew on a button let alone any repairs , alterations or dressmaking , cooking etc

 

[Scott M]

Delightful casting. I like lost foam and a hot wire cutter/sandpaper but the fumes are nasty.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I have a gas fired kiln that I made for doing raku pottery, basically a reverse flow stainless box lined with foundry blanket and a shelf for the pots to sit on. It gets to 1000⁰c and I keep thinking I should try some casting.

 

[oldbikedavey]

I have a gas fired kiln that I made for doing raku pottery, basically a reverse flow stainless box lined with foundry blanket and a shelf for the pots to sit on. It gets to 1000⁰c and I keep thinking I should try some casting.

It'll work well on aluminium and zinc, and perhaps on aluminium bronze.
Enjoy, but be careful to be safe.
Not that I know much compared to some, but I'll help if I can.....

 

[julianthegypsy]

It'll work well on aluminium and zinc, and perhaps on aluminium bronze.
Enjoy, but be careful to be safe.
Not that I know much compared to some, but I'll help if I can.....

Thanks. It's on my "things I'd like to do when I find some spare time " list. It could be a while...