One Day Foundry - For Casting Aluminum

As a challenge to myself I decided to make a very simple foundry setup for melting and casting aluminum. I have a larger more involved equipment but I thought it would be interesting to revisit some of the methods I used for my first castings. I also wanted to explore some new ideas I had for setting up a simple aluminum foundry.

It is a lot of little tools that make up one big tool, a foundry. The sample part I cast in the video is a Gingery lathe part (compound slide).

The project page is here: One Day Foundry - For Casting Aluminum


Below is a picture of the parts/tools I started with and the project video.
Attachment 3507

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVsQ1ys7D80

Thanks scorch! I've added your Aluminum Foundry to our Forging and Casting category, as well as to your builder page: scorch's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/aluminum-foundry-7"><img src="http://www.homemadetools.net/uploads/117692/aluminum-foundry-7.jpeg" /></a></div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/aluminum-foundry-7">Aluminum Foundry</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/scorch">scorch</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/foundry">foundry</a></div> </div> </div> </div>

Cool post, scorch! Easy enough to follow for guys wanting to try a foundry build.

Hi scorch,

Great idea and a great explanation! Your Aluminum Foundry is the 'Tool of the Week'!

You'll be receiving one of our official HomemadeTools.net T-shirts:

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If you've already received one of our official HomemadeTools.net T-shirts, we'd be glad to award you a $25 online gift card from GiftRocket. Your choice!

Either way, just let me have (via PM) your details (size, color choice, and mailing address for the shirt or email address for the gift card) and we'll get things processed directly.

Congrats!

Ken

This thread has been moved to the Must Read subforum. Congrats (and thanks) to scorch for making such a valuable contribution!

Hi Scorch,

Wow, the method and video is very informative and encouraging to those wanting to get started with doing their own casting. What I liked the best was the use of hand tools that most of use own and readily available raw materials. The only thing requiring power was the hairdryer and again something we probably already own. Can't wait to see more of your work.

Paul

Thanks for the Tool of the Week honor Ken!

Thanks Paul for the comments. On this one I made a directed effort to make the tools needed as simple as possible (Although I also used a power drill in addition to the hair dryer). I had not worked my body that hard in the workshop in a long time. Makes me appreciate some of my power tools a little bit more.

Making it look so simple... Thanks.. Will give it a try!! Thanks again These are an oldie but goody posts!!:rocker:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scorch

As a challenge to myself I decided to make a very simple foundry setup for melting and casting aluminum. I have a larger more involved equipment but I thought it would be interesting to revisit some of the methods I used for my first castings. I also wanted to explore some new ideas I had for setting up a simple aluminum foundry.

It is a lot of little tools that make up one big tool, a foundry. The sample part I cast in the video is a Gingery lathe part (compound slide).

The project page is here: One Day Foundry - For Casting Aluminum


Below is a picture of the parts/tools I started with and the project video.
Attachment 3507

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVsQ1ys7D80

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I built my foundry over 40 yrs ago,[when there was no intenet for info!] but I must say that was a fantastic one day job!! well done.