Techno
02-22-2004, 04:48 PM
Which actually has several meanings.
Anyway. I finally, finally, finally managed to mold some wax patterns of my bezels. I've done so many I have no idea of the count. Even cast them from a casting plasic, which also broke, out of desperation.
Turns out the rubber molds don't need the hard shells on them. Thats what was breaking the wax- when I removed the shells.
So I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
To make a long post short, I finaly can begin casting this stuff. Also need to recast the pin cleats. Cast the bow lights, Steering wheel, wheel bezel, fuel tank fitting, peristaltic pump for the oil, seat sliders. A few more I'm sure to be forgetting.
Only the bezels and wheel are done with wax.
Once you get rolling you find a whole lotta things.
The aluminum cost me zilch. 2 friends and a few bags of pistons. 2 lawn mower engines and one cycle engine.
To do aluminum casting.
You need a can. It can be from a coffee can to a garbage can. Inside this you form a liner from sand and fireclay(you get that from a pottery store).
Some more sand and bentonite, which speedy dry or kitty litter will do. Some frames for the sand boxy deals. A few patterns. A Crucible which is a peice of pipe with a bottom. Or a soup can.
The furnace is fueled from charcoal with a blower- hair dryer. Or propane like your grills tank without a blower.
Common sense to be dealing with a metal in liquid form.
The way you cast the aluminum can be done in sand, lost wax with plaster of paris, Lost foam in a can of loose sand. A few more but these about cover it.
Best part is there is an enormous amount of info on the web. http://members.lycos.co.uk/technostv/hpbimg/p%20cleat.jpg Shiny http://members.lycos.co.uk/technostv/hpbimg/crucible%20flame.jpg
Anyway. I finally, finally, finally managed to mold some wax patterns of my bezels. I've done so many I have no idea of the count. Even cast them from a casting plasic, which also broke, out of desperation.
Turns out the rubber molds don't need the hard shells on them. Thats what was breaking the wax- when I removed the shells.
So I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
To make a long post short, I finaly can begin casting this stuff. Also need to recast the pin cleats. Cast the bow lights, Steering wheel, wheel bezel, fuel tank fitting, peristaltic pump for the oil, seat sliders. A few more I'm sure to be forgetting.
Only the bezels and wheel are done with wax.
Once you get rolling you find a whole lotta things.
The aluminum cost me zilch. 2 friends and a few bags of pistons. 2 lawn mower engines and one cycle engine.
To do aluminum casting.
You need a can. It can be from a coffee can to a garbage can. Inside this you form a liner from sand and fireclay(you get that from a pottery store).
Some more sand and bentonite, which speedy dry or kitty litter will do. Some frames for the sand boxy deals. A few patterns. A Crucible which is a peice of pipe with a bottom. Or a soup can.
The furnace is fueled from charcoal with a blower- hair dryer. Or propane like your grills tank without a blower.
Common sense to be dealing with a metal in liquid form.
The way you cast the aluminum can be done in sand, lost wax with plaster of paris, Lost foam in a can of loose sand. A few more but these about cover it.
Best part is there is an enormous amount of info on the web. http://members.lycos.co.uk/technostv/hpbimg/p%20cleat.jpg Shiny http://members.lycos.co.uk/technostv/hpbimg/crucible%20flame.jpg