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

[Washington, Aubrey O.]

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linger over various out of date burner plans and early furnaces 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