I.C., steam, air poll, please participate!!

[aonemarine]

Im curious as to what is the preference for machining projects from casting sets. If you can find a moment to humor me, Do you prefer I.C. castings or steam/air engine castings? What alloy would you most likely purchase this in? Brass/gunmetal, aluminum, or iron?

 

[jwcnc1911]

Possibly a dive into selling castings? Your work looks great, if I can afford it I'll support you. I would also say that price of castings often makes me look for things I can build from barstock regardless of material. I want that popcorn engine from Stuart's but it's too pricey right now.

 

[aonemarine]

JW, Yes this is a dive into making a casting kit. I have been working up to it for about 5 years now and am now to the point where I feel comfortable selling a casting kit to even the most particular of purchasers. But I have no idea what is desireable to others peoples intersets.
So far it is looking like an IC engine (no surprise there) and in iron (Now thats a shock). Id really like to hear more "in depth" thoughts of what you would all like to see. Id like to make something that has not been done in the past, something different, limited production, and high end. I need your help to do this.

 

[lennardhme]

Cast iron, bronze, aluminium, in that order. Cant envisiage buying brass castings. Only my preference of course.
cheers,
Leonard

 

[metalmad]

Hi aonemarine
Its great to see you doing this and I really hope people get behind you.
I feel weight will be an issue and so many will end up actually ordering Aluminum castings with perhaps cast iron Flywheels.
A good range of ornate flywheels with curved spokes etc will make lots of friends in the hit n miss as well as steam community's.
Pete

 

[Maryak]

Personally, I feel that castings are a model representation of the full sized machine be the design a scale down or freelance. So the castings where possible should be of the same metals as the full size engine type.

Best Regards
Bob

 

[aonemarine]

Cast iron, bronze, aluminium, in that order. Cant envisiage buying brass castings. Only my preference of course.
cheers,
Leonard

Good to know, and surprising to me. I had some bad luck with iron castings I purchased in the past, they were really hard white iron and not just a chilled skin. Ive come up with a nice repeatable grey iron casting thats easy to machine with no hard skin. Its probably about a 30 class iron but would have to have it analized to be 100% sure. Jixxerbill has recieved one of my castings and im looking forward to his feed back on it.

Id like to build something new, that has not been done in the past. Ill even offer up a free casting set to someone that is experenced with machining castings if they will document the way they handled the machining process and provide feedback on what they like and what they dont like.

 

[stevehuckss396]

Personally I like IC engines. I have been dreaming of doing a 1/4 scale 1928 model A engine and a 1/3rd scale briggs stratton for many years. I have been getting into casting aluminum slowly and hope to get one of the two going in the next year or 2.

 

[cheepo45]

There are quite a few interesting engines at the Rough and Tumble Museum in PA. Maybe a scale model? The spring steamup is in a couple of weeks. I think a slide valve engine would be interesting-they have several full size ones in the museum.
cheepo45

 

[aonemarine]

Personally I like IC engines. I have been dreaming of doing a 1/4 scale 1928 model A engine and a 1/3rd scale briggs stratton for many years. I have been getting into casting aluminum slowly and hope to get one of the two going in the next year or 2.

The model A engine would be neat, so would the briggs...Guess a bit of diversity is needed for the long haul.

 

[aonemarine]

There are quite a few interesting engines at the Rough and Tumble Museum in PA. Maybe a scale model? The spring steamup is in a couple of weeks. I think a slide valve engine would be interesting-they have several full size ones in the museum.
cheepo45

Ill look it up and check it out. Im still hung on building the Palmer YT1 single marine engine. Still open to suggestions though.

 

[kuhncw]

Hi aonemarine,

Good luck with your casting venture. I prefer IC engines and cast iron for the historical types like hit & miss engines. I like aluminum for the more modern multi cylinder engines.

Regards,

Chuck

 

[aonemarine]

Hi aonemarine,

Good luck with your casting venture. I prefer IC engines and cast iron for the historical types like hit & miss engines. I like aluminum for the more modern multi cylinder engines.

Regards,

Chuck

Thanks for the reply. This is the sort of things I really need to know.

Maybe Ill cast the engines in aluminum and iron kits, its no harder for me, and gives people a better choice to suit thier skills and equipment.

 

[Jasonb]

A lot will depend on the subject. For example a hit and miss IC I would prefer in iron but a aero of motorcycle IC engine would be better all or part in ali.

Steam wise then Iron with a few glands etc in bronze.

Having said that unless you can cast small iron parts without them chilling you may be better off going for bronze/gun metal which is something you see quite often with casting sets.

Would you make two sets of patterns if offering both ali and CI due to different shrinkage rates?

J

 

[aonemarine]

Id make one set of wood masters at 103% cast an aluminum master from them to make a pattern for iron castings, then cast an iron master from the wood patterns for the aluminum castings. I have the chill problem licked. My iron castings cut very easily with no surface skin.

 

[Tin Falcon]

I am mostly an air steam guy .

What price point are you shooting for.
also what size.
Keep in mind the PMR mill engine kit lists for $ 72. and the stuart 10 H 10V and the S50 sell for 73 pounds ( $115)

I love the look of bronze and it makes great kits and castings.
I would much rather pay $100 for a nice kit in CI than two or three times the money for bronze. and you can mix bronze/gunmetal and Iron in the same kit as PMR has done.

Tin

 

[aonemarine]

Tin, I havent really come up with any sort of pricing yet. This will mostly depend on the detail of the patterns, thier weight, and what alloy. A rough calculation comes up to about 10.00 per pound in iron, but smaller more detailed castings may be a bit more.

 

[Tin Falcon]

Price is something to think about. If it is not affordable and competitive with what is out there you will have failed before you start. And you have to cover expenses and make some profit.
I understand there are higher end casting sets out there and that is fine if that is the market you are targeting. but it has to be a consideration. the neighbor at work was in business for a year never made enough to pay the rent.
Tin

 

[aonemarine]

Tin, this is more a hobby thing than a full blown business. Id be making patterns and casting the parts tor an engine I want to build. Since the patterns are made it just makes sense to cast a few extra sets for others that are interested in building the same. I'll all ways have the patterns, and could cast up a set at any time they are wanted. I did the business thing for 5 years, worked my butt off, and decided to get a job. I make the same amount of money with less work.

 

[Tin Falcon]

I did the business thing for 5 years, worked my butt off, and decided to get a job. I make the same amount of money with less work.

Then you understand the into manure thing better than I do . Just make sure folks pay you for your work. It is a hobby we pay ourselves to make stuff that we could often buy cheaper. just do not pay yourself to make things for others at least not too often. A gift is a gift and has an appropriate time and place.
Tin