Joined: Feb 2021 Posts: 292 Threads: 31
Reputation:
3
Location: New Zealand
Car type: Austin 7 Ruby 1938
Chris, I guess that he didn't use an aluminum saucepan!
Joined: Jun 2018 Posts: 519 Threads: 90
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1
Just a quick update for anyone vaguely interested.
I made the mould using plaster of Paris in the end, but heeded the warnings about dampness and dried it indoors for a couple of weeks in a warm place. I cast the piece over the weekend, using a crucible, a MAPP blow torch and insulation blocks to enclose the heat.
I had partial success. The mould worked well and the finished piece where it came into contact with the mould was nicely shaped. The trouble was that I could not melt enough metal to pour the piece in a single go. Consequently, I did it in several small pours, none of which stuck to the previous one. It all looked good until I took it out of the mould to clean up the edges and it felt apart.
Next job: purchase a larger crucible and fabricate a small furnace.
Tune in for the next thrilling episode: same time, same place....... sometime.
Jamie.
Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 1,160 Threads: 68
Reputation:
8
Location: Nottinghamshire. Robin Hood County
Car type: Austin Ruby Mk1 1935
Jamie, Have a look on You Tube for a man under the name doubleboost. He is a hobby engineer with a background in car mechanics. He does a lot of machine work with lathes and milling machines but also does casting in brass and aluminium . He made his own crucible out of a metal beer barrel.
John Mason.
Would you believe it "Her who must be obeyed" refers to my Ruby as the toy.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 933 Threads: 75
Reputation:
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Location: Essex
Depending on what you want to make, a steel crucible is not that good an idea. I used one but subsequently read a little book called the back yard foundry or something similar. A steel crucible may apparently add iron into the alloy and make it a bit brittle. I'm planning on buying a proper one before my next attempt.
