Back in my uni days I spent some time in the art department learning to make jewelry, cast bronze and forge blades. Since my retirement I have been longing to return to foundry work. This time I may make machine parts in addition to art object. In the past my foundry work was done using lost wax investment casting. This time I would like to try sand casting and lost foam.
I have collected some equipment from other hobbyists, flea markets, and craigslist.
Yesterday I dusted off the Kerr 666 burnout oven. Today I made a crucible for melting aluminum from an old propane bottle and a device to remove the hot crucible from the oven. It is made from a steel shelf brace cut in half and riveted. At some point I plan to switch to graphite crucibles.
The firebrick in the oven looks a bit odd. I did a test run with the crucible and the oven came up to red hot and the thermostat cycled.
The temperature meter does not work.
Green sand is a mixture of sand and clay. Others have documented this so I will restrict myself to the work I have done in that direction.
My ground has a fairly high clay content. So I opted to try refining some of it. I had some on hand from digging a pit for an irrigation manifold. So I dumped it into a feed tub and added water.
I have 3 choices of sand including what is locally called blow sand. None of it can be used without screening. The hope is this can be automated to some degree.
This machine was used by the local news paper to vibrate lead scrap to settle it. At least that is what I was told. My plan is to adapt it to screen sand.
What's next?
- Melt some aluminum to make ingots
- Work on refining clay (or buy kitty litter)
- Work on screening sand.
