| Imagine, you've just discovered that it is possible to | | | | techniques.It is not until you actually start moulding |
| melt and cast metal in your own backyard foundry, | | | | and doing things in your foundry that you actually |
| you feel excited at the prospect of making your | | | | start to truly learn. You can look at a heap of |
| very own metal castings. The enthusiasm builds as | | | | moulding sand till your blue in the face, but you wont |
| you start to slowly begin to understand the; how, | | | | be able to tell whether it is suitable to use for casting |
| what & when of this ancient metal craft.You're eager | | | | or not, you have to physically grab a hand full of |
| to begin the search for the right kind of knowledge, | | | | sand and squeeze |
| because there is so much to learn, you wonder who | | | | it as hard as you can, then grab the wad of sand |
| you can ask for guidance, or where to start.In days | | | | between the fingers and gently apply a force to see |
| gone by, the first port of call in the search for | | | | if it breaks cleanly or not.If the sand crumbles in your |
| knowledge was the local library, alas, you begin to | | | | hand, you have some issues to address with the |
| browse around the foundry/metal casting section | | | | amount of binders (bentonite) or water it contains, |
| only to be confronted with big fat text books | | | | moulding sand needs to be neither to dry nor wet to |
| written for the serious career minded commercial | | | | make it ideal for sand casting. It can be a complex |
| foundry worker. Which is great for the student or | | | | substance.Only lots of practice using the sand will |
| advanced metal caster, but not so for the novice.So | | | | teach you the correct temper for your sand. In the |
| you ask your friendly librarian "do you have any | | | | early years of casting you can spend many hours |
| books on home hobby foundry work, The librarian | | | | dragging, adding water, cutting, turning and dumping |
| replies, "ah, well, no I don't think so". You then turn | | | | green sand with a small spade in an effort to |
| and walk out of the library muttering to your self | | | | condition the sand ready for casting. |
| about the lack of info for the hobby foundry | | | | This is real back breaking work.And when the |
| worker..One of the best ways to find the right kind | | | | moulding sand has been used up - the metal melted |
| of hobby foundry info is the Internet, it is possible to | | | | & poured, and the castings cooled and removed |
| download info rich "How To" ebooks in just a few | | | | from the sand, the whole process has to be |
| minutes, you can then start reading & learning right | | | | repeated all over again.You will begin to dislike the |
| away. | | | | chore of re-conditioning green sand, until you start to |
| What a huge time saving that is!Once you've | | | | use a small-motorised gyratory riddle. You can learn |
| absorbed the knowledge, you can then start thinking | | | | "How To Build" this wonderful little machine by |
| about equipment. But where do you get the | | | | reading the three-volume hobby foundry ebook called |
| equipment to set up a small hobby foundry? | | | | Metal Casting Made Easy.Re-conditioning green sand |
| Eventually you get to talk to someone who | | | | with the riddle is actually quite a bit of fun and it |
| understands your needs, perhaps it is the local | | | | produces the smoothest, silkiest green sand this side |
| technical college trade teacher, who just so happens | | | | of the Black Stump. (Fictitious place in Australia)You |
| to have been in involved the foundry trade, but now | | | | now have about the most perfect green sand you |
| teaches the subject to industry apprentices.After | | | | can produce, with good moulding sand you have |
| explaining what you intend to do with your hobby, he | | | | everything in your favour. Sand moulding is not really |
| then suggests that you enrol in the six month | | | | a black art, it's about learning what works best for |
| foundry class that's about to start. After considering | | | | you. Sure, there are a few rules to follow, but these |
| the cost, which can be considerable, you decide this | | | | become second nature after you become familiar |
| is a good option, as you no doubt will learn much | | | | with all the steps. Remember to take notes of your |
| from this wise man of the trade.Six months down | | | | successes and failures, note the things that worked |
| the road, you've completed your hobby foundry | | | | best for you, it's just a simple log to write down all |
| course. And now you really want to get stuck into | | | | sorts of notes about your foundry project. |
| this hobby foundry thing. You now know how to go | | | | Hobby foundry work is learnt by doing.Col |
| about building your own equipment and tools, there's | | | | CroucherNeed content? You may use this article at |
| no guesswork, & you won't be groping in the | | | | your website, or in your newsletter. The only |
| dark.But don't stop your learning just because you've | | | | requirement is inclusion of the following |
| completed your basic foundry course, buy some | | | | sentence:Article by Col Croucher of - the definitive |
| more books and learn more about the methods & | | | | source for hobby metal casters of all ages. |