I’ve been using a local sand cast foundry for aluminum and bronze work for about twenty years. I use loose patterns, which basically means they take my pattern that looks like the finished part, and ram the sand over it. I haven’t made any plate patterns. Now that foundry no longer does loose patterns. And I can’t find a local replacement. Does anyone have a foundry near them that still does loose patterns? Shipping my patterns isn’t a big hindrance since I don’t make giant things. I usually do small runs of a half dozen or so at a time. If I was making hundreds of an item it would be worthwhile for me to make plate patterns, but my quantity won’t make it pay. So, let’s hear some new sources!
It's not real close, but I think Craft Pattern and Mold in Montrose, MN may be able to do loose patterns. I've also used Crystl Engineering in Piqua, OH to do loose patterns.
Was that, by chance, Denton in Brandon? If not, you might check with them. Not sure if they do loose patterns or not. To BJR; A "loose pattern" would be an actual sample of the item you wish to have cast. (It should be about 3% oversize to account for material shrinkage.) A "plate" is short for "match plate". That is a casting of the piece, as a plate that can be "sandwiched" between the cope and drag as it's rammed up with casting sand, then removed for the pour. It makes the process quite a bit faster and easier. The industry has gone that direction quite a bit, simply for the lesser time spent on the process. Getting a bit hard to find a foundry that still hand-rams thier castings. Roger
I was using Kloppenborg in Davenport. I’ll call Denton. I tried a place up there many years ago and it might have been them.
Wow, that blows. They did such good work. I was looking at ramping up some products I have been working on.
I don't want lost foam, or sending a file, or 3D printing sand, or any of that stuff. I want to send them a pattern I made myself from wood and bondo and have them cast me a couple.
Many years ago when I started my T5 to FH kits I reached out to a foundry in central Ill. They took my sample and gave me an estimate but I found out I wasn't ready financially for what they expected up front with no guarantee and the large numbers they required to move ahead. Later in years it turns out I should have bit the bullet, borrowed the money and forged ahead. I've looked thru my files and can't locate a number for them.
I've found a small foundry a hundred miles away from me and just boxed up my first part to send to them. I'll keep you all informed on the outcome. In the meantime, if anyone else has recommendations or other comments, please feel free to tell us.
First time did any casting,was Sr High school shop{ 1960). But later 1975, Wanted to learn more,turned out one of my race car friends Dad owned a Foundry. So traded some race engine work,for getting some know how about patterns an shrinkage, n casting. Learned how to make match plates= Worked there for a few weeks.learning. I used what I learned to build some model toy train engines{ G scale 4-8-4 SP GS4/ 4449 } I ended up doing 50 of those,was super more work then I thought. So didn't make any $,bearly broke even. This is 7 ready too pack n ship out. Loco was 9 castings,
Max-Cast in Kalona Iowa casts aluminum. They cast mainly artwork / sculptures. A friend uses them to cast some custom shifter knobs. I talked to him about casting some car club plaques but he was about 25% higher than O'Briens. If nothing else their showroom is fun to visit. Very cool stuff.
Reach out to @Von Hartmann. If you cannot get him through here, pm me and I will give you his info. I believe his connection is still in operation. He's in Rockford, IL. The foundry he uses isn't that far from him.
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