Lakc
Well-Known Member
Had a semi sucessful casting experiance tonight, casting engine block halves for a twin I am building. Took a few pictures and decided to share them.
The forms were 3d printing in nylon, another first for myself in this project. There are a lot of things I would do differently next time around but what I have is functional, and the education is well worth the $45 spent. I am a horrible patternmaker, and this saved me months of work, even as I have to rework it slightly.
I used the larger of my two crucibles, and made several mistakes due to the rush to finish in one night after work. I tried to cast two sets but only one turned out useable. I need the crucible completely full to attempt two casts at once, but I rushed the pour as my daughter and her boyfriend had just arrived and I had an audience. At least I had someone to take pictures of the pour for a change.
These are the forms getting the first coat of primer. I finished them with white enamel but they are so bright the pictures wouldnt come out.
Followed by a few pics of the making of the mold. The forms are hollow, so I backfilled them with sand first to keep the stress down
I lit off the burner and proceeded to ram the second mold.
Both molds ready to go and crucible is cooking. The furnace is about 14 years old and converted from a charcoal Gingery to propane with a modified Reil angle burner
And the skim and pours. Boots, gloves, jacket, hat, faceshield in 75 degree F weather. Playing with molten metal is fun, but only if you stay scared enough to stay safe.
Daughters boyfriend and I examining all my mistakes.
And a look at the mainly unsucessful cast. One gate choked off by freezing early and not enough metal for the pour. I still learn things every time I screw up.
And here is another pic of the forms, the unsucessful sprue, along with the semi successful pieces, already cut out.
The forms were 3d printing in nylon, another first for myself in this project. There are a lot of things I would do differently next time around but what I have is functional, and the education is well worth the $45 spent. I am a horrible patternmaker, and this saved me months of work, even as I have to rework it slightly.
I used the larger of my two crucibles, and made several mistakes due to the rush to finish in one night after work. I tried to cast two sets but only one turned out useable. I need the crucible completely full to attempt two casts at once, but I rushed the pour as my daughter and her boyfriend had just arrived and I had an audience. At least I had someone to take pictures of the pour for a change.
These are the forms getting the first coat of primer. I finished them with white enamel but they are so bright the pictures wouldnt come out.
Followed by a few pics of the making of the mold. The forms are hollow, so I backfilled them with sand first to keep the stress down
I lit off the burner and proceeded to ram the second mold.
Both molds ready to go and crucible is cooking. The furnace is about 14 years old and converted from a charcoal Gingery to propane with a modified Reil angle burner
And the skim and pours. Boots, gloves, jacket, hat, faceshield in 75 degree F weather. Playing with molten metal is fun, but only if you stay scared enough to stay safe.
Daughters boyfriend and I examining all my mistakes.
And a look at the mainly unsucessful cast. One gate choked off by freezing early and not enough metal for the pour. I still learn things every time I screw up.
And here is another pic of the forms, the unsucessful sprue, along with the semi successful pieces, already cut out.
