[TheForge] New Member introduction.

[Washington, Aubrey O.]

Matt,
 
Welcome to theforge, where we have members interested in all kinds of metal working.  No doubt you will get many good answers to your questions here.  However, since the theforge is primarily devoted to blacksmithing, forging steel, iron, and other metals, let me suggest you post your casting questions to castinghobby or the other casting groups you may have found.  Those groups are a wealth of information on casting.
 
That said, let me encourage you by saying that neither blacksmithing nor casting is terribly expensive to get started with.  The sky is the limit regarding how much you eventually choose to spend.  But, if you have the time, basic tools, and manual skills you can make most of what you need to start casting.  Both sand casting and lost wax (investment) casting are very doable at home.  In its simplest form all you need is a way to melt the metal and a form to pour the molten metal into.  Most casters build a crucible furnace fired by propane.  This can be as simple as a stack of fire brick with a burner stuck in, or much more elaborate.  Mike Porter has written an excellent book on how to make your own high efficiency propane burns titled something like Burners for Forges, Furnaces and Kilns.  Mikey also includes plans in the book for building a crucible furnace to use the burner in.  But there are many other good resources out there as well.  Aluminum melts at a relatively low temperature.  But you will probably need a higher efficiency furnace (than a pile of bricks) to melt brass, bronze, or copper.  I will leave it to others to describe the processes of making molds.
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of metal working.  Warning:  Once hooked, there may be no turning back.
 
Aubrey Washington
Rock Creek Forge

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From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net on behalf of MattCrunk at aol.com
Sent: Sun 12/24/2006 9:39 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] New Member introduction.



Hello folks, and happy holidays on this very pleasant Christmas eve.

New member here. I was researching metal casting and finishing online and  it
lead me to this list. Several lists actually. So I've joined them all at once
 in hopes of finding my answers.

My interest in (and knowledge of) metalworking is fairly limited and 
specific. I'm a tattoo artist by trade and also an occasional builder of 
professional tattoo machines (most people outside the industry call them guns)  for
myself and other artists. I have previously either hand made the frames  for my
machines by cutting and bending, milling them from solid stock,  or purchasing
them ready-made from outside sources. But I would like to  start casting my own.

These frames are small, with overall dimensions no larger than about 4" x  3"
x 1" max. They are commonly cast in iron, brass, or steel, and occasionally 
copper or aluminum. I would prefer to cast in brass. They could actually be
cast  in any material as long as it was reasonably rigid and sturdy.

I'm vaguely familiar with the casting process, sand casting, lost wax, etc. 
but know nothing about home casting or what such a set up  requires. However,
seeing that there several yahoo groups and other email  lists devoted to
home/hobby casting, it makes me think that maybe the setup is  at least not cost
prohibitive for my needs.

I'd welcome any advice you could give me on set up, sources, etc.  Thanks.

-Matt Crunk
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