Technical TOOLS, Casting the H.A.M.B. Lucky Star! - - - HOT! - - -

WWII is over... Defense Funds are cut off...
Industry is looking for NEW avenues... The thirst for speed is ever present...
New ideas meet new technologies... Edelbrock has an idea for a new intake manifold...
Foundries are hungry for new business... Timing is perfect...

Follow along as we re-visit Hot Rodders infatuation with that most modern of metal: aluminum.

Welcome to this TECH:

 

Design stage.

 

Pattern fabrication. Using Forstner bits and MDF.

 

Parts are assembled. Letters positioned.

 

Finished pattern.

 

Priming. Sanding with 600.

 

Oven curing lacquer.
Wife screaming in background.
Divorce threats...

 

In the shop, foundry setup.

 

Pattern in the drag section. Applying parting dust.

 

Drag section rammed and flipped over.

 

Pattern exposed. Crisp molding. Nice definition.

 

Cutting the sprue (entry) in the cope section.

 

Gating the Lucky Star.

 

Firing the 50$ furnace.
Old blow dryer was obsolete: I am now bald...

 

1850 degrees of swirling heat!

 

Aluminum Muffins (ingots).

 

Rare 'Wheelium' alloy...

 

The pour. Exciting!

 

Mold 'Shake out'.

 

Success!

 

Polishing. Dice cut in half and positioned.

 

12 volt diode installed.

 

Wired.

 

Masking the Star.

 

Applying transluscent Krylon Stained glass paint.
Very muck like 'candy apple red'.

 

Putting the HAMB Lucky Star up for raffle:
raffle

There you go, folks.
I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did making it.
whizzerick

 

Rightous... thanks!

and thanks for the tip on the Kandy paint, been wondering where to find it nowadays!

-J

 

That's awesome! I have a few question though:

1: did you just use regular sand?
2: What was the "release powder"?
3: Can you go into a little detail of your oven construction?
4: do you need to shake the mold or anything to prevent air bubbles?

I think that's it! Thanks again, this post rocks!

 

Ok this is pretty damn cool. I would want to learn more about this but I am certain I'd burn down my garage. What if a person just wanted to send you a pattern and pay you for your troubles...what would be the limitations on the patterns, like how much detail is too much and how thin is too thin, blah blah blah.....

 

This post is great. I have all the same questions. That's awesome.