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These are links that I find to be great sources of information and people with much more experience on the subjects than I have and are some pretty good links to check out if you like to machine metal or cast it! I’m still a beginner more or less at casting metal as I have only done simple forms. I have a Smithy 3-n-1 lathe/mill and can make pretty much whatever I need What I have cast has been used mainly for making custom recumbent trike parts. |
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| rick.sparber.org | http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/taig/soigotataig.html |
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Disclaimer – A lot of metal work can be extremely hazardous with hot metal and rotating parts etc.. machinery. I am responsible for what I do but YOU are responsible for what YOU do. Do Not waste your time blaming me if you try to copy something and hurt yourself, others or property. I always try to use proper safety procedures and gear but accidents still happen even to the best prepared and cautious people. If You are not sure about what you are trying to do, find someone who does first! and ask for advice – it will save you both time and possibly keep you in one piece as fingers etc.. work better when still attached or not burnt off! |
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These are pictures of a aluminum/brass smelting pot I built. The furnace pot itself (see below pics) is nothing more that a flower pot cemented into a 20 #lb propane cylinder that I cut apart. It is a slightly bigger version of a design in Lionel Oliver II’s book “The flower pot furnace” www.backyardmetalcasting.com In the book Mr. Oliver goes into detail on how to build an inexpensive furnace and I recommend it to anyone just starting out. I scaled up his design just a bit from his book so I could make bigger castings and I built it into a frame. I don’t want to have to lift the top by hand when it is hot so I built the frame and winch setup shown in the pictures below. It isn’t very high tech but it makes lifting the lid simple and the fingers on the top edge of furnace bowl and bottom edge of the lid makes setting it back in place easy too. This furnace has been used both with charcoal and blower and with just a propane gas burner of the Michael Porter design. It works just fine with both but the gas burner is a lot cleaner to use. So far I have been using some pieces of very heavy wall steel pipe with 1/4″ thick steel bases welded on for crucibles. This works ok but contaminates aluminum slightly when melting it. It doesn’t make any difference for what I do but it I was making something for sale I would use a regular ceramic version. |
BOWL
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CAPBOWL
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CAPBOWL2
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WINCH1
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WINCH2
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WINCH LOCK
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CRUCIBLES
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AIR DIFFUSER
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MOLDS
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INGOTS
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My First Cast!
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 new bearing retainer ingots |
 Almost done turned retainers |
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