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

Awesome!!

 

HRTH, this is a lenghty answer:
Sand:
the sand casting process has been the same for hundreds of years. Traditionally, the sand was mixed with water and Bentonite clay (a natural occurence in Wyoming and various regions in the US). It is used in petroleum drilling for it's absorbency: a cup of Bentonite clay can gel 5 gallons of water... It is the main ingredient in KITTY LITTER.

Bentonite clay can be de-naturized into Bentone38, an OIL receptive product used in house paint. I followed a recipe called K-Bond (for Kent University, where students developped it). Sand (olivine-140mesh) + Bentone (bought at a local paint manufacturer) + Indopol (synthetic 2 stroke Oil ) + Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol (catalyst).
Total cost: 50$ for 100 pounds!
The alcohol kicks the Bentone in the balls, causing it to open up and soak up the oil, that sticky mess then gobbles up the sand... Simple but effective!
Powder:
It's talcum powder. For baby's butt...
Oven:
Basically sheetmetal rolled into a cylinder with a sheetmetal base. I placed a 9 inch cylinder (an old chimney section) into the big one and poured a mix of refractory cement. That's the stuff masons use to lay bricks in the fireplace. It can whitstand up to 2800 degrees!

The beauty of oil based sand is that it DOES NOT produce steam the way water based casting does, so you rarely see bubbles...

I hope this helps?
wz.

 

Broman, this is just a hobby for me...
Most of my work is virtual now and I needed something 'hands-on' for creative output...
There are outfits out there (like O'brien Truckers) who have been keeping the torch of plaque and accessory casting lit for years. Even when the trend turned to billet.
Hat's off to them, send more business their way!

 

I felt as though I was back in shop class...!

You win this tech week...! Pick up your trophy now so that we can start another tech week right away!

Mark

 

Well now that I know its not really an archeological find I'll win for sure.

Good tech, I'll have to keep it for when I get serious about casting some pieces.

 

YOU ROCK! Very cool tech post! and your narration kept me smiling. You've got a great sense of humor.

The winner of the "Lucky Star" will be one lucky HAMBer indeed.

 

What an excellent tech!!! "whizzerick", if your not an instructor as a side line you should be, because when i can understand the instructions the first time around, and not have to go back and re-read to understand axactly what is trying to be explained, thats saying alot. Great tech

 

[ QUOTE ]
Finished pattern.


[/ QUOTE ]

Note that all the sides of the pattern are angled. This is important guys!! To get a clean release of the pattern from the mold you must have some angle on the pattern. The angle doesn't have to be great just about 5 degrees or so.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Oven curing lacquer.
Wife screaming in background.
Divorce threats...

LOL! I know exactly what your talking about here Whiz. I used to bake on crinkle paint on bike heads in the house oven with the same threats screamed at me!

 

[ QUOTE ]
Oven curing lacquer.
Wife screaming in background.
Divorce threats...

LOL! I know exactly what your talking about here Whiz. I used to bake on crinkle paint on bike heads in the house oven with the same threats screamed at me!

[/ QUOTE ]

Timing IS everything.Just wait until she goes to the Hairdresser.

 

[ QUOTE ]

Timing IS everything.Just wait until she goes to the Hairdresser.

[/ QUOTE ]

coming from a single guy........ Trust me, she would know. That stuff smells, and is toxic I'm sure.

You guys need to go out on the trash day of the month when the city picks up old appliances (last Wed of the month here) and find an old oven for the garage. Might save the marriage, and your health as well.

 

Zeke. Thanks for bringing that up.
Kitchen AND foundry savy, are you?

 

Where did you get the plans to make the furnace?

If anybody in my area (West central coast of FL) needs an oven, I have a double oven (twice the capacity, twice the fun) free, come and get it! If you are close enough, I'll bring it to you.

 

* Creative mind
* Professional approach
* Forward thinking (well documented/explained)
* Generous & Supportive
* Humble in response

Hands up, you are a winner. Thanks for your efforts, I'm sitting here dumbfounded how awesome that little star is.

The finishing touch would be seeing it fitted on an Aussie car.....like mine

Thanks again for the effort,

Drewfus

 

You can only win it Drewfus if you send your envelope in. Send it now and avoid the rush

 

Foundry, plastics molding and vacuum forming, gunsmithing, kitchen,and a few other things

Good tech man. How'd you manager such a nice cast without a vent? the few castings I've done I've always used a vent.

 

What kind of fuel are you using for your furnace? Just propane, or something else?

-Jeff

 

[ QUOTE ]
Where did you get the plans to make the furnace?

[/ QUOTE ]

4T64RD, it all started 5 years ago when I came across an old, worn out copy of 'How to cast Small Metal Parts' by Bill Cannon. He builds a 20$ furnace (in the 60's) using an old metal 5 gallon paint container, an old hair dryer and propane. I derived my furnace from his basic explanation and some info I found on the web.

 

Drewfus, thanks for the kind words.

 

[ QUOTE ]
I know it's only Monday, but this wins for sure. Just too cool.

[/ QUOTE ]
ModelAcoupe, I think TECH week should start with a KA-BANG!
But if one wants to WIN, one should post later in the week...
The 'excitement' wears off, Paris Hilton wears a Von Dutch T-Shirt and then you're on page 2!

 

Seeing as you are from la belle province shouldn’t your posts be in both official languages? Next time I’m in Montreal I’ll be skipping the Super Sexe and heading directly to your place to check out your cool set-up.
Simply put, that is the coolest topper ever, period

 

[ QUOTE ]
What kind of fuel are you using for your furnace?

[/ QUOTE ]
Propane from my barbecue tank...
I cut the supply line and inserted a 1/4 inch brake line.
The line is MIG welded to a 1 inch steel pipe.
It takes very little gas and lots of air.
It can melt 5 pounds of aluminum 'ingot' in 15 minutes.

 

What a great post, well done...

The winner in my humble opinion.



Dave

Saw this one on a car locally, thought it was cool....

 

Wow Nailhead, you actually spelled Super sexe in french! C'est très bien, mon cher ami!

 

The Winner....By a landslide, and it isn't even Tuesday yet.

 

Real nice casting Rick and thanks for the plug.

Didn't you show us a Whizzer part you cast once? I remember it because it was finned

Dennis

 

[ QUOTE ]
Didn't you show us a Whizzer part you cast once?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes! My very first part: the Whizzer finned point cover.
Dennis, if I ever get a chance to meet you, I'd love to hear more about your shop. I'd be great to see a feature in a mag sometimes?
HEY! Any editors out there interested in a feature on 'trad' techniques? Enough with the IFS's!

 

Now that is KEWL!!!!!!!!!!

Mike