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Post by MsAli on Feb 21, 2023 15:17:39 GMT -5
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 21, 2023 16:29:04 GMT -5
Got the casting mold done. I'm thinking it maybe should have been thicker tube but that's what I had so we'll see how it works. Going to need a stand to hold it up to pour the molten metal in but that's a project for later 😁 The whole thing is a tad over 9" long  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Feb 21, 2023 16:36:25 GMT -5
What did you use to cut the walls out of the tube?
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 21, 2023 16:49:22 GMT -5
khara I cut the whole thing with a cutting wheel on an angle grinder.
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 21, 2023 17:07:13 GMT -5
The whole thing is a tad over 9" long  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Feb 21, 2023 17:10:18 GMT -5
Ok cool, that’s what I was thinking. I often think it’d be really handy to have a fully outfitted metal shop but some of this stuff can be done with pretty basic tools. 👍
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 21, 2023 23:51:56 GMT -5
I used to do this in metals class in high school but on a much larger scale. Was pretty fun.
I’ll always remember when me and my friend got the bright idea to throw more than just aluminum in the crucible before the teacher gave his demonstration that first day. As everyone was walking into class, our desk was right next to where the crucible was heating up molting aluminum. We had some plastic screwdriver handles we made the week prior, so we threw those in the crucible and watched in amazement as a green tornado swirled and went up the exhaust shoot. We threw 3 or 4 of those suckers in there along with a few other things that weren’t supposed to be in there. Anyways… I’ll never forget holding my laughter back as the teacher poured the cast. My buddy and I Damn near pissing our pants as he says huh… weird.. this batch is really goopy. Then when he pulled the cast apart after it cooled to reveal a bubbly goopy cast of odd debris and the cast not filling out completely.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 22, 2023 7:13:07 GMT -5
realrockhound that brings back memories from shop class in Jr high! We made screwdrivers and also did casting on a small scale, carving the mold from wood.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 22, 2023 7:30:35 GMT -5
I used to do this in metals class in high school but on a much larger scale. Was pretty fun. I’ll always remember when me and my friend got the bright idea to throw more than just aluminum in the crucible before the teacher gave his demonstration that first day. As everyone was walking into class, our desk was right next to where the crucible was heating up molting aluminum. We had some plastic screwdriver handles we made the week prior, so we threw those in the crucible and watched in amazement as a green tornado swirled and went up the exhaust shoot. We threw 3 or 4 of those suckers in there along with a few other things that weren’t supposed to be in there. Anyways… I’ll never forget holding my laughter back as the teacher poured the cast. My buddy and I Damn near pissing our pants as he says huh… weird.. this batch is really goopy. Then when he pulled the cast apart after it cooled to reveal a bubbly goopy cast of odd debris and the cast not filling out completely. LOL! Now I know what kind of kid grows up to be a real rock hound. LOL! Just couldn't contain you in a classroom.  |
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 22, 2023 7:43:11 GMT -5
So last night MsAli and I went out into the shop again after supper. I decided to take a step back from casting flowers and try something a bit less intricate. We've got a bag of acorns from the yard so I thought that would be a perfect candidate. Some nice details in the mold but not too much  Came out really nice  Well except the fact that I didn't melt enough silver. You can see in the mold where it didn't fill completely   We did try copper first for the acorn and had difficulty melting it so went to silver. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 22, 2023 7:45:11 GMT -5
So last night MsAli and I went out into the shop again after supper. I decided to take a step back from casting flowers and try something a bit less intricate. We've got a bag of acorns from the yard so I thought that would be a perfect candidate. Some nice details in the mold but not too much Came out really nice Well except the fact that I didn't melt enough silver. You can see in the mold where it didn't fill completely We did try copper first for the acorn and had difficulty melting it so went to silver. That came out really nice.  |
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 22, 2023 7:53:43 GMT -5
Thank you rockjunquie. The acorn is heavy! We'll either remelt it for something else or another option would be to cut it in half and hollow it out. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 22, 2023 8:01:09 GMT -5
Thank you rockjunquie . The acorn is heavy! We'll either remelt it for something else or another option would be to cut it in half and hollow it out. When I saw the (unfilled) back side- I was like- no one will ever see if it is in jewelry. I can see it being useful sawed in half and hollowed out. |
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Post by 1dave on Feb 22, 2023 8:20:53 GMT -5
Brains? Who needs them? The Scarecrow got along fine! ![https://images.fun.com/products/64142/1-2/mens-wizard-of-oz-scarecrow-costume.jpg]() Molten silver hates the cold! As am electrician I had to do "Lead Wiping." www.powerandcables.com/lead-wiping-cables/The least cold draft and the lead would crystalize, creating a path for the insulating oil to leak out. |
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 22, 2023 8:40:12 GMT -5
Tell me about it, 1dave. We were trying to cast some very thin leaves and it just wasn't working |
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Post by MsAli on Feb 22, 2023 9:02:51 GMT -5
Trial and error. Each attempt is a lesson.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 22, 2023 12:36:41 GMT -5
realrockhound that brings back memories from shop class in Jr high! We made screwdrivers and also did casting on a small scale, carving the mold from wood. Well… just don’t throw any screwdrivers or other various debris in there and you should be good to go 😂 |
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Post by MsAli on Feb 27, 2023 20:08:45 GMT -5
Tonights success! Unfortunately I don't have the right blad to cut it out, but I'm super happy with this one  |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 27, 2023 20:15:03 GMT -5
That looks perfect! Congrats!  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 27, 2023 20:29:39 GMT -5
Yay! Good job! |
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