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