Technical What should I cast?

For years i have been day dreaming about what i could cast if only i had the tools to do so. Recently I bought the last piece of the puzzle, a foundry furnace to melt aluminum and make my own castings! I have a 3d printer and CAD software and knowledge to create precise casting patterns on a digital platform, access and ability to program and use cnc machines on the weekends, and finally a furnace to melt the metal in. SO, the question is, what would you make, or what would you like to see be made? Something that cant be bought? Comment below, and i just might be my first project!

 

427 Ford aluminum cross bolt block that will go to 600 cubic inches.

Edit: needs to be a side Oiler too......

Bones

 

ARDUN heads and valve covers

 

OK, seriously, how 'bout starting with dash knobs? Or Auburn style dash inserts? Or gearshift knobs? Or art deco hood ornaments? Or car club plaques? Or fictional car show trophies? Or TIKI statues? Or air cleaner tops? Or coil covers? Or radiator overflow catch cans?

 

Belt buckles in the shape of club plaques

 

3 foot dildos ! Hey man .... sex sells!


Seriously, I would do dash knobs, gauge panels or speaker grills. Start easy and work your way up.
Really cool

 

Maybe one-off valve covers.

 

Conversion bellhousings.

 

Find (or make) some really cool tail light lenses and cast new one-off housing/surround.

License plate frames; maybe with built-in plate lighting.

 

Oh, and you might as well use cast aluminum scrap as the raw material, as opposed to extrusions, pop cans and the like that others seem to like to use for "backyard casting".

Like iron/steel, aluminum comes in many grades, and those for casting are quite different from those for rolling into sheet metal.

 

Ok.... how about some super cool individual air cleaners for three duece set ups. Seems to always be in demand.



Bones

 

1941-47 FORD COE grilles!

 

Car club plaques.You could make money if the local club is big enough,and doesn't have one.

 

Start small and learn how to make the sand molds from your patterns. Also learn how to form gating to get aluminum into the mold and add risers to reduce shrinkage and porosity in the finished casting.

 

Replica or generic car club plaques (if they can be made and sold at a reasonable price).

 

Took metal shop in high school, 66-69, and everyone had to cast a tiki head, and that progressed into shifter knobs, and of course, most of those shifter knobs were Hurst T-Handles, although the Hurst logo was essentially non-existent by the time 500 or so students had used the casting patterns. But, we all tried just the same.
I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Some cool art deco air cleaners and what I really want is a deep fin valve cover for a 240/300 Ford six inliner.

 

Something like your avatar picture, plaque or a belt buckle.

 

Tag toppers, key fobs, zipper pulls... these could be done in multiple quantities with a single pour.
piston shift knobs....
replacements for any of that hard to find small pot metal trim pieces...
bottle openers
devil head shift knobs
non-billet looking window cranks and door pulls
some cool looking tilt windshield slide arm nuts...
Chappy

 

I don't know if its beyond your expertise at this early stage, but I think aluminum intake manifolds for the tall deck DeSoto hemis would sell. They are nearly non existent and the DeSoto hemi is still available at reasonable prices since the intakes are scarce.

 

A kid in my shop class cast himself some brass knucks,until the instructor found them,,Then he got a good warmed up ass...

 

Valve covers for a Dodge Red Ram hemi that look like ARDUN ones.

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how about fuel blocks? you could do them for 2-3-4-6 carbs

 

^^^This with a H.A.M.B. logo (with proper approval of course)

or cup holders

 

I'm about 2 months ahead of you. I've had so much fun casting bits and pieces. The learning curve is steep but the rewards are many. The satisfaction of making it yourself is well , satisfying! When things don't work out you just recycle your mistakes back into the soup. Good luck!

 

These............................................

 

Paint dividers for 1957 Fords. Small, east project, every body wants them and they are not reproduced.

 

Remember to compensate for shrink. Dimensions will change as aluminum cools.

 

A serious money maker right here in these Commando valve cover fins. There are still hundreds of covers circulating (only made from '64-'67) but the aluminum fins suffer. I even have two heavily-guarded cores in my stash you can use for patterns.

 

Where can you buy the foundry and how big is It?

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