[TheForge] Casting newbe

Tue Aug 1 11:12:50 EDT 2006

Aubrey- a good source of  books(reprints)
on technical subjects such as casting are available from  lindsay 
Books(www.lindsaybks.com) the books cover such subjects  pattern 
making-green sand casting- building a burner for melting brass -etc
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <theforge-request at mailman.qth.net>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 3:26 AM
Subject: TheForge Digest, Vol 31, Issue 1


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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. RE Blower handle (Bob Ehrenberger)
>   2. Re: Visiting Portland, OR (debmiller at fuse.net)
>   3. [RE]Re: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR (crimsonkil)
>   4. Re: Visiting Portland, OR (John Switzer)
>   5. Re: Visiting Portland, OR (Ries Niemi)
>   6. Re: Visiting Portland, OR (schade at acegroup.cc)
>   7. Re: Visiting Portland, OR (Chuck Robinson)
>   8. Casting Newbie [Was: RE: [TheForge] Casting a power hammer?]
>      (Washington, Aubrey O.)
>   9. RE: Visiting Portland, OR (The Wilsons)
>  10. RE: casting (Dan Brewer)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:37:38 -0500
> From: "Bob Ehrenberger" <eforge at centurytel.net>
> Subject: [TheForge] RE Blower handle
> To: "theforge" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <006d01c6b4bf$a4160ea0$6502a8c0 at eforge>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Fred,
>
> A wooden file handle drilled to fit would  make a nice blower handle. They
> are already countured to fit your hand.
>
> Robert Ehrenberger
> Shelbyville, Mo.
> eforge at centurytel.net
>
> Fred Zickrick wrote:
>
>> At 04:50 PM 7/30/2006, you wrote:
>>
>>         I have a Champion 400 that I rebuilt for a blower.  Turns very
>> smoothly and runs down very slowly.  I do need a new wooden handle for
>> it.  I'd rather not get into the wood turning business.  Any ideas?
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Fred Zickrick, fredz72 at cableone.net
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:16:39 -0400
> From: <debmiller at fuse.net>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR
> To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Cc: Bruce Freeman <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com>
> Message-ID: <21601140.1154366199945.JavaMail.root at webmail5>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> I don't have any blacksmith contact recommendations, but I can tell you 
> from my vacation there last Summer. YOU WON'T WANT TO GO HOME!!!
>
> Public art, clean streets, incredible weather, friendly people, great 
> food, incredible sites, Mt Hood, Columbia Gorge, etc. etc. etc......
>
> You might be able to tell I was quite taken with the area!!
>
> I would have to consider "retiring" to that part of the world. Possibly 
> open a metal studio in the wine country and hammer out the rest of my 
> life!!!
>
> ---- Bruce Freeman <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com> wrote:
>> I expect to be in Portland from about Aug 15 to about Sept 15 (very
>> tentative yet), and would like to make contact with blacksmiths while
>> there.
>>
>> All suggestions welcome.
>>
>> Bruce
>> NJ
>> _______________________________________________
>> Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
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>> http://www.photoaccess.com
>> Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>> password:  anvil
>> ___________
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:28:36 -0400 (EDT)
> From: "crimsonkil" <crimsonkil at lycos.com>
> Subject: [RE]Re: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID:
> <20060731132836.HM.0000000000000D2 at crimsonkil.bos-mail-wwl18.bos.lycos.com.lycos.com>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
>
>   Do  a  web  search  on  Powell's books. Worth the visit. Wayne Goddard
>   (premiere bladesmith) lives in Eugene, a ways south of Portland.
>   -Chris K.
>   It is I who formed the blacksmith,
>   who fans the flame into a fire and
>   fashions a weapon fit for it's work.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:37:14 -0600
> From: John Switzer <switz at mindspring.com>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR
> To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <6.1.2.0.2.20060731113359.0353d870 at pop.mindspring.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
>
> I don't know any blacksmith.  But Timberline lodge on Mt Hood is a
> blacksmithing museum of sorts.  Lots of interesting CCC / WPA era iron 
> work
> as well as more contemporary pieces from Daryl Nelson and others.  If you
> go take lots of film or extra memory for your camera.
>
>
>>---- Bruce Freeman <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com> wrote:
>> > I expect to be in Portland from about Aug 15 to about Sept 15 (very
>> > tentative yet), and would like to make contact with blacksmiths while
>> > there.
>> >
>> > All suggestions welcome.
>> >
>> > Bruce
>> > NJ
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>> > theforge mail list group photo site is
>> > http://www.photoaccess.com
>> > Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>> > password:  anvil
>> > ___________
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
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>>theforge mail list group photo site is
>>http://www.photoaccess.com
>>Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>>password:  anvil
>>___________
>
> John Switzer
> 7019 Burnt Mill Rd
> Beulah, CO 81023
> (719) 485-3109
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:28:58 -0700
> From: Ries Niemi <rniemi at fidalgo.net>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR
> To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <397863f2fe41c9de24b49c17316354dc at fidalgo.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
>
> There are some Portland Area NWBA (Northwest Blacksmith Association)
> members- not sure who, though.
> There is some cool forged public art- Jean and Nick (Whitesavage and
> Lyle) have a big piece there.
> http://www.sullivansgulch.org/
> then click on "street twig".
>
> Also, Robert Rayson is located there, who is the US rep for Hebo- the
> German made CNC ornamental iron machines. This may be too far away from
> the true path for you, but the machines are truly incredible, and, as
> they say, machines dont make bad ornamental iron- people make it, using
> all kinds of tools.
> http://www.usahebo.com/contact.htm
>
>
> Ries Niemi
> Industrial Artist
>
> http://www.RiesNiemi.com
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:38:24 -0500
> From: schade at acegroup.cc
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR
> To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <16614702084ab077bbf81fef1d006894 at acegroup.cc>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
>
> On Jul 31, 2006, at 12:16 PM, <debmiller at fuse.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> I would have to consider "retiring" to that part of the world.
>> Possibly open a metal studio in the wine country and hammer out the
>> rest of my life!!!
>>
>>
>>> I expect to be in Portland Bruce
>>> NJ
>>>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ____
>
>
> Washington is one of the seven states
> that has no state income tax!!
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
> Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
> Two others, New Hampshire and Tennessee, tax only dividend and interest
> income.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 14:13:02 -0500
> From: "Chuck Robinson" <robi5515 at bellsouth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <002301c6b4d5$584294b0$6401a8c0 at CHUCKHP>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8";
> reply-type=original
>
> Visit Boeing surplus sales and load up for your trip back home.
> They are located South of  Seattle near the Airport.
> Chuck
>>> I expect to be in Portland from about Aug 15 to about Sept 15 (very
>>> tentative yet), and would like to make contact with blacksmiths while
>>> there.
>>>
>>> All suggestions welcome.
>>>
>>> Bruce
>>> NJ
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>>> theforge mail list group photo site is
>>> http://www.photoaccess.com
>>> Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>>> password:  anvil
>>> ___________
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>> theforge mail list group photo site is
>> http://www.photoaccess.com
>> Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>> password:  anvil
>> ___________
>>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 14:47:54 -0500
> From: "Washington, Aubrey O." <awashington at ou.edu>
> Subject: Casting Newbie [Was: RE: [TheForge] Casting a power hammer?]
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID:
> <2E392E1E4AF06D46B1720012FF4E20700393F178 at XMAIL1.sooner.net.ou.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Frosty and Mickey,
>
> Okay, now you've gone an done it!  My 19 year old son wants to do some 
> casting.  He is familiar with coal forge blacksmithing, so he knows about 
> being careful around hot stuff.  Right now what he thinks he wants to cast 
> is knife (and sword) hardware, belt buckles, and medallions, etc.
>
> I have several ingots of brass that came from a defunct belt buckle 
> factory, so I know it is suitable for casting.  And, I have Mickey's book 
> on burners.  Aside from that, I don't know jack about casting.
>
> My questions to you fine folk are, how shall I advise him to get started? 
> Which of the two Yahoo groups Mickey mentions (Castinghobby or Hobbicast) 
> would be best for a newbie to join?  Does one seem to tolerate basic 
> questions better than the other?  What is a good starter book for him to 
> read?
>
> I feel a new sickness coming on....
>
> Aubrey
> Rock Creek Forge
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net on behalf of Michael
> Sent: Sun 7/30/2006 1:11 PM
> To: 'Sponsored by ABANA'
> Subject: RE: [TheForge] Casting a power hammer?
>
>
>
> Frosty,
> I'm not laughing; it sounds to me as if you have worked out a logical 
> plan.
> However, it also sounds like you have not consulted with the Australians 
> at
> all when it comes to cupola construction. I would suggest you do so. They
> have been playing around very successfully with cupola performance
> enhancement schemes in recent years. Go to Castinghobby or Hobbicast Yahoo
> newsgroup > look in files for Cameron Mckeown > Do Web search under name >
> Do Web search again, adding AU after name > Finally, go to website:
> http://home.iprimus.com.au/cmckeown/ > select foundry > resist temptation 
> to
> linger over various out of date burner plans and early furnaces > Select A
> Day Out In The Valley as the place to begin your quest to find a practical
> furnace plan > learn all you can > Contact Cameron (tell him I said "hi."
> Shrug it off when he says "who? Oh, him; it's been years." Get to know
> Cameron, write back and forth, and come up with more convenient plan for
> your proposed furnace.
> Mikey
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 18:46:46 -0700
> From: "The Wilsons" <KC7PME at tscnet.com>
> Subject: RE: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR
> To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <000e01c6b50c$59ee9200$ec0d7140 at 9535DEE118EC44B>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Bruce,
> Visit Fort Vancouver, a National Park Service site, is just north of
> Portland across the Columbia River in Washington. The Fort was the Hudson
> Bay Co. headquarters for the northwest in the early to mid 1800s and had a
> production blacksmith shop with 10 blacksmiths. The Fort Vancouver
> Blacksmith Guild, a new ABANA affiliate,  operates the Blacksmith shop on 
> a
> daily basis.  They are a great bunch of folks. If you get there, say hello
> from "the Wilsons".
> Jeff and Ryan
>
> Visit WWW.fortnisqually.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce Freeman
> Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 6:24 AM
> To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [TheForge] Visiting Portland, OR
>
>
> I expect to be in Portland from about Aug 15 to about Sept 15 (very
> tentative yet), and would like to make contact with blacksmiths while 
> there.
>
>
> All suggestions welcome.
>
> Bruce
> NJ
> _______________________________________________
> Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> password:  anvil
> ___________
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 00:14:40 -0700
> From: "Dan Brewer" <danqualman at gmail.com>
> Subject: RE: [TheForge] casting
> To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <009901c6b53a$289e4730$7401a8c0 at papa>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> Sent for Mike Porter
>
>
> Aubrey,
>
>
>
> (1) Send him to Castinghobby, as Hobbicast can get pretty snotty at times.
>
>
>
> (2) You would be a lot better off to forget the brass and have him use
> silicon bronze. Brass often has lead in it; even the zinc content is 
> likely
> to boil off during casting procedures, creating health issues and porosity
> in the castings. "Pay the man the two dollars" up front and avoid dealing
> with a mess. Silicon bronze is safe, cheap, and can be used over and over
> while he is climbing the learning curve.
>
>
>
> (3)For the work he wants to do, lost wax casting is going to work out 
> best.
> Try getting him "The Handbook of Lost Wax or Investment Casting" by James 
> E.
> Sopcak and "Practical Casting: A Studio Reference" by Tim McCreight. I am
> NOT a McCreight fan, but he did a pretty good job on this book; it would 
> be
> the one I'd recommend first to anyone just getting started at casting 
> small
> parts like belt buckles and medallions  (gagging on my words, but they are
> true). The reason is he shows a lot of home built tooling.
>
>      OK, I've still got a case of the red-a*s over McCeight's book "The
> Complete Metalsmith." Compared to "Metalwork and Enamelling" (British
> spelling) written by Herbert Maryon almost a century ago, it's a bad joke!
>
>
>
> (4)Casting part size has everything to do with expense. Because he wants 
> to
> cast small stuff his expenses will be minor. Therefore, do insist on 
> proper
> crucibles; they are dirt cheap in the small sizes.
>
>
>
> (5)Being into blacksmithing, you can make proper fitting tongs for the
> crucibles.
>
>
>
> (6)Have him build the Jeweler's Furnace model with the lowered lid, so 
> that
> he can move the crucibles straight in and out of the furnace without 
> setting
> them down and changing tongs.
>
>
>
> Mikey
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Washington, Aubrey 
> O.
>
> Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 12:48 PM
>
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
>
> Subject: Casting Newbie [Was: RE: [TheForge] Casting a power hammer?]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Frosty and Mickey,
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Okay, now you've gone an done it!  My 19 year old son wants to do some
> casting.  He is familiar with coal forge blacksmithing, so he knows about
> being careful around hot stuff.  Right now what he thinks he wants to cast
> is knife (and sword) hardware, belt buckles, and medallions, etc.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I have several ingots of brass that came from a defunct belt buckle 
> factory,
> so I know it is suitable for casting.  And, I have Mickey's book on 
> burners.
> Aside from that, I don't know jack about casting.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> My questions to you fine folk are, how shall I advise him to get started?
> Which of the two Yahoo groups Mickey mentions (Castinghobby or Hobbicast)
> would be best for a newbie to join?  Does one seem to tolerate basic
> questions better than the other?  What is a good starter book for him to
> read?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I feel a new sickness coming on....
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Aubrey
>
>
>
> Rock Creek Forge
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
>
>
>
>
> End of TheForge Digest, Vol 31, Issue 1
> ***************************************
>