RogerH Posted July 26, 2021 Report Share Posted July 26, 2021 Hi Folks, has anybody dabbled with casting aluminium. I want to make some small items - apprx 2" x1" x 1" and I think If i cast the basic shape it would reduce the machining time and effort. What is used for the mould etc etc etc Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted July 26, 2021 Report Share Posted July 26, 2021 I've used plaster of Paris in the distant past. Melted the aluminium in a cast iron saucepan. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevo_6 Posted July 26, 2021 Report Share Posted July 26, 2021 Hi Roger If I remember correctly, when I did it at school some 50 years ago we used casting sand. 2 halves put together and then poured the molten aluminium in through a hole. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2021 Hi Pete/Kev thanks for that. Something to work on. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malcolm Tatton Posted July 26, 2021 Report Share Posted July 26, 2021 You can buy casting sand and other stuff for casting on Ebay: always fancied trying to cast something but never have apart from lead fishing weights when I was younger (still got the old saucepan that we used but wouldn't fancy melting lead nowadays), and aluminium casting a screwdriver handle at school. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOW500 Posted July 26, 2021 Report Share Posted July 26, 2021 Hi Roger. I have completed many aluminium, and bronze projects in the past. For the patterns I have used a variety of materials, plastic, wood, steel, aluminium, and latterly 3D printed plastic patterns. I have never cast aluminium myself at home. I have always had concerns with regard to temperature, type of material, porosity, de gassing, etc. I have seen first hand your other projects, and I wish you well with this one, Im sure you will succeed. Russell Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted July 26, 2021 Report Share Posted July 26, 2021 Roger-- I did it years ago, and have been gearing up recently to begin doing it again. Plenty of YouTube videos on the processes, but watch at least a few, since there are some really bad ones. Most people use green sand these days, or a commercial product called Petrobond. Molds are commonly a 2-part cope/drag. Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greasemonkey Posted July 26, 2021 Report Share Posted July 26, 2021 Roger, The Workshop Practice series of books has one entitled the Backyard Foundry... worth spending £6 on!! Phil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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