Casting Newbie [Was: RE: [TheForge] Casting a power hammer?]

[Jerry Frost]

Aubrey :

There's not a lot I can say, I'm not a caster. I did a 
little in jr. high and high school but that's been a . 
. . while ago. <grin>

The ingots you have may not be brass, there's just no 
telling by color. Silicon bronze looks like brass and 
red brass looks like bronze and, and, you get the idea. 
You're better off buying known metal at least till 
you've got some experience.

Bruce is right, aluminum is a good place to start 
though bronze isn't a terrible place to start.

The one piece of advice I feel is extremely important 
you follow is. Do NOT attempt the harebrained iron pour 
I was talking about! Iron is not a good place to start 
let alone large quantities of iron.

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

http://www.artmetalradio.com/

From: "Washington, Aubrey O." <awashington at ou.edu>


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