"Creating" Resource: DIY Metal Casting! Check out what they mould!

I was cruisng the net looking for info on making my own hot rod club plaques when I came across this website - Foundry 101. Great website on casting your own metal works.

http://foundry101.com

I reckon some of the talented TC artists could make some cool cast aluminium tiki stuff.

I thought this may be of interest in particular to the mug makers too - check out some of the shapes they can make! This link shows them making a mould of a spoon in a cup and saucer in one go - all those "negative" areas!

http://foundry101.com/racert2.htm

i did some aluminum casting last year - it's REALLY cool and a lot of fun. no need to worry about the undercuts and seams in the same way as slipcasting. at near 1500 degrees F, aluminum doesn't even glow red hot - it looks like mercury - pretty neat.

it was unfortunately not until the end of the semester that we got to actually use the furnace and everything, so i only made one project:

the one on the left is aluminum, the two on the right are different types of resin.

[ Edited by: Rain 2006-04-17 05:33 ]

That's cool! I have been thinking about building my own backyard foundry - I know a guy that did it and it is quite successful. Here's alike to the place for plans:

http://www.geocities.com/zoellerforge/simplegasforge.html

This is pretty cool!

Why isn't the process of using sand mould used for mugs? Imagine a mug making world where there was no undercuts!

So surprised to see this post! I was bitten by the "bronze bug" in college and have enjoyed sculpting in metal ever since. SO rewarding - there is noting like the permanence of metal. In fact, I am cooking up some stainless steel Tiki shot glasses! They will be lost wax cast - not sand cast. I'll post pictures as they take shape, of course!

VanTiki

On 2006-04-19 16:11, VanTiki wrote:
In fact, I am cooking up some stainless steel Tiki shot glasses! They will be lost wax cast - not sand cast. I'll post pictures as they take shape, of course!

that's how i did the moai - lost wax from a silica/ceramic shell. the wax was actually slush-cast in a rubber mold i made from a plasteline original sculpt, though (whew). i'm can't wait to see your shot glasses!