Comments on: My first casting – results both good and bad! http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/my-first-casting-results-both-good-and-bad/ A website for the novice and expert model engineer. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:18:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andy from Workshopshed http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/my-first-casting-results-both-good-and-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-1207 Andy from Workshopshed Sat, 27 Mar 2010 17:51:00 +0000 http://mikes-models.com/blog/?p=2276#comment-1207 Mike, I shared your page with the Home Foundry and casting group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeFoundry_and_Casting/ Gene's response was My take on the flask side and lettering is: 1.) all patterns rammed into sand need a bit of draft or taper so they pull out cleanly and crisply. 2.) I don't recommend having the sprue, riser, vents etc right into the pattern as this tends to wash loose sand into the mould and may cause turbulance or other troubles. Also removal of large hunks from the finished casting is hard work and often causes marks or damage, etc. 3.) the lettering or finished side should be in the cope side for better results. 4.) go to Office Depot, Staples, etc and ask for the plastic lettering like used in sign boards, such as used in office buildings etc, - ( white plastic letters/ numbers with tabs to poke into the slots on the black sign board.) the tabs can be clipped off easily and a dab of glue or double stick tape to stick them on your pattern and walla nice lettering! I like the sizes above 3/4" as they tend to make the more crisp detail I'm looking for! Mike, I shared your page with the Home Foundry and casting group,

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeFoundry_and_Casting/

Gene’s response was

My take on the flask side and lettering is:

1.) all patterns rammed into sand need a bit of draft or taper so they pull out cleanly and crisply.

2.) I don’t recommend having the sprue, riser, vents etc right into the pattern as this tends to wash loose sand into the mould and may cause turbulance or other troubles. Also removal of large hunks from the finished casting is hard work and often causes marks or damage, etc.

3.) the lettering or finished side should be in the cope side for better results.

4.) go to Office Depot, Staples, etc and ask for the plastic lettering like used in sign boards, such as used in office buildings etc, -
( white plastic letters/ numbers with tabs to poke into the slots on the black sign board.) the tabs can be clipped off easily and a dab of glue or double stick tape to stick them on your pattern and walla nice lettering! I like the sizes above 3/4″ as they tend to make the more crisp detail I’m looking for!

]]> By: Mike Freeman http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/my-first-casting-results-both-good-and-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-1199 Mike Freeman Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:25:16 +0000 http://mikes-models.com/blog/?p=2276#comment-1199 Hello Alex, many many thanks for your link! It is very interesting to see yet another approach to castings. I was going to try lost foam myself quite soon but I do like the concept of the dry wall mixture and ordinary sand........simples............ Thanks for your comment Alex. Kindest regards, Mike Hello Alex, many many thanks for your link! It is very interesting to see yet another approach to castings. I was going to try lost foam myself quite soon but I do like the concept of the dry wall mixture and ordinary sand……..simples…………

Thanks for your comment Alex.

Kindest regards,

Mike

]]> By: Alex Buchan http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/my-first-casting-results-both-good-and-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-1198 Alex Buchan Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:16:27 +0000 http://mikes-models.com/blog/?p=2276#comment-1198 Mike, great blog, always something interesting here! have you come across this site: www.buildyouridea.com/foundry/lost_foam_howto/lost_foam_howto.html This guy coats foam patterns in drywall plaster, then just plants it in sand, no casting boxes, no part lines - seems to have some excellent results Mike, great blog, always something interesting here!

have you come across this site:

http://www.buildyouridea.com/foundry/lost_foam_howto/lost_foam_howto.html

This guy coats foam patterns in drywall plaster, then just plants it in sand, no casting boxes, no part lines – seems to have some excellent results

]]> By: Wine Lover http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/my-first-casting-results-both-good-and-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-1197 Wine Lover Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:28:21 +0000 http://mikes-models.com/blog/?p=2276#comment-1197 Thats a great entry, thanks for writing it. I've bookmarked your website and will be eager to reading more! Thats a great entry, thanks for writing it. I’ve bookmarked your website and will be eager to reading more!

]]> By: Mike Freeman http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/my-first-casting-results-both-good-and-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-1192 Mike Freeman Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:13:15 +0000 http://mikes-models.com/blog/?p=2276#comment-1192 Stop press: I should have sloped the sides of the letters on my first casting and or made them much thinner (thanks to both David and Andy for there swift comments). David (Myfordboy) also suggested the use of dyno-tape for the relevant application, works well. One of the sets of Seal castings I am working on does indeed make use of dyno-tape to good effect. Stop press: I should have sloped the sides of the letters on my first casting and or made them much thinner (thanks to both David and Andy for there swift comments). David (Myfordboy) also suggested the use of dyno-tape for the relevant application, works well. One of the sets of Seal castings I am working on does indeed make use of dyno-tape to good effect.

]]> By: Andy from Workshopshed http://mikes-models.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/my-first-casting-results-both-good-and-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-1191 Andy from Workshopshed Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:26:17 +0000 http://mikes-models.com/blog/?p=2276#comment-1191 Mike, the letters look quite thick, perhaps you might want to taper them or make them thinner. You can also be very generous with the parting dust (talc seems to work for me) for single sided patterns like this as it does not need to hold upside down. Mike, the letters look quite thick, perhaps you might want to taper them or make them thinner. You can also be very generous with the parting dust (talc seems to work for me) for single sided patterns like this as it does not need to hold upside down.

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