Hobby foundry/forge...

[davereid]

I have had a go at casting at home. Got a great big stainless steel stockpot from the warehouse, lined it with firebricks from ITM and cooked it with LPG gas torch, through a hole I cut in the bottom & the lid.

I got some proper casting sand from Milson Foundary when I was in Palmy one day.

Its OK for smaller stuff, (casting aluminium) but large stuff I can't get hot enough.

Will add more gas and a fan (aka Mrs davereids vacuum cleaner) next time I try.

Can fit a crucible about the size of a beer can in it, but can only reliably melt the bottom 40mm of aluminium.

Caught the gas bottle on fire once from a leal where the gas line met the LPG cylinder. Ran away, then got brave and raced back to turn the tap off. Improved my gas lines since then !

Very impressive in a standard 7x8m attached garage. (My Dog still avoids the garage.)

(Garage Dover, not bedroom.)

[degrom]

L.M.A.O.
That's really funny... Luckily you are still alive!!!

What happend that the dog won't come near the garage?

I have had a go at casting at home. Got a great big stainless steel stockpot from the warehouse, lined it with firebricks from ITM and cooked it with LPG gas torch, through a hole I cut in the bottom & the lid.

I got some proper casting sand from Milson Foundary when I was in Palmy one day.

Its OK for smaller stuff, (casting aluminium) but large stuff I can't get hot enough.

Will add more gas and a fan (aka Mrs davereids vacuum cleaner) next time I try.

Can fit a crucible about the size of a beer can in it, but can only reliably melt the bottom 40mm of aluminium.

Caught the gas bottle on fire once from a leal where the gas line met the LPG cylinder. Ran away, then got brave and raced back to turn the tap off. Improved my gas lines since then !

Very impressive in a standard 7x8m attached garage. (My Dog still avoids the garage.)

(Garage Dover, not bedroom.)

[davereid]

yeah, dog (and me) both lost eyebrows and a bit of hair to a flaming LPG bottle.. surprising how big a flame one of those litle 9kg bottles can produce.

Also amazing how fast a 13 year old labrador can run when shes on fire.

Hair grew back OK, but eyebrows are still a bit freaky...

[greggspen]

Hi,
I have built several lpg gas forges and crucible furnaces and used them quite safely without upsetting the neighbours in town (Whangarei).
I have a blog showing my work and tips techniques for people learning (I'm still learning everyday it's an endless topic). My site is http://greggspen.blogspot.com/ or you can drop me a line at greggspen@gmail.com (It's a blog so you need to work back from the start for it to make total sense)
I'd like to run a weekend course sometime this year on making and using your own crucible furnace.
I'm also working on buliding my own metalturning lathe from scrap by casting. I have an online store selling Dave Gingery's books about building furnaces, lathes , milling machines and a whole range of engineering machines. Drop on by and say Hi.
Cheers Gregg.
The Gravel Pit
Diary of a Hobby Metalcaster
http://greggspen.blogspot.com/

[Brian d marge]

On that subject, I am looking into getting a few things cast , for the race bike .. the smaller stuff I was thinking of doing myself , the larger stuff I will farm out ,,( what ever is easier )

Are there any foundaries in NZ , if so what do they specialise in , any details ?

I have used a place in England , the casting was cheap , but the pattern making killed the project

Be interested on others thoughtd about this

Stephen

[geoffm]

On that subject, I am looking into getting a few things cast , for the race bike .. the smaller stuff I was thinking of doing myself , the larger stuff I will farm out ,,( what ever is easier )

Are there any foundaries in NZ , if so what do they specialise in , any details ?

I have used a place in England , the casting was cheap , but the pattern making killed the project

Be interested on others thoughtd about this

Stephen

Plenty of good foundries around. It depends on what youa re casting , and how well you need to controll the metallurgy
A&G Price (Thames) have a metalurgical lab if you need an exact alloy. It will cost though.
For ali castings in the past, I have done my own, or used South Auckland Foundry, Papakura.
Geoff

[The Pastor]

hey boys, how about you post up some pic's eh?

[Pixie]

Funny when you mention forge every one thinks about swards...

Mr Rat,why do I get the idea you want to use the sward to fight of the crime in NZ?

I am more thinking of making some aluminium cast's,maybe end up with some useful new tools in the end...

I'm gonna forge me some cheques...he...he

[degrom]

I'm gonna forge me some cheques...he...he

LOL... Now your talking!!

Why make "stuff" to sell for money if you can just skip the "stuff" part and just make money?!?

And who said crime does not pay? (The only task in crime that is like a "work" is to stay out of the jail..)