Foundry Project Page 27

I do not trust putting my crucible on the floor, as it could damage the cement or worse, it could cause a stone under the cement, to explode. That would be very bad ...especially if I was in the garage when it happened. I therefore, place the crucible on a small bed of sand, so that it can cool off safely. I am going to go eat now :) ...Tomorrow I plan on making actual casts. I am going to try the lost foam process as it sounds very easy and takes far less preparation. If I get some good casts I will be on top of the world! If not, I will at least learn what I was doing wrong.

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9/21/2002 - Tonight I did not take any pictures. I did plan on doing some casts but decided instead to just melt some more scrap down for a 3rd night of ingot mania. I have some really beautiful and clean scrap so it makes melting it a pure pleasure. I also have decided to put the crucible back in the furnace when I am done melting. This will help to retain heat and let the furnace cool down slower than when it is empty. I brick up the tuyere and top hole, so that it cools for a very long time over-night. This should help to avoid cracking ...I hope.

I now have about 22 ingots and still some more scrap for tomorrow, if I decide to do some casts. I have also decided that I will in fact go ahead and make the "Sand Box" that Dave Gingery's books speak of. I will need to do too many things that green sand casting can not be ignored. Foam will be a nice advantage, but I do not think it is wise to try everything in the lost foam process. Especially when you need several of 1 item.

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9/22/2002 - I went to work on the rest of my foundry. I now have 2 flasks (cope + drag), and a makeshift sandbox that I made out of my saw-horses and the big black mixing tub that I used last week. I will make a more permanent box for the sand in a few days. I played a bit with the sand tonight and even rammed up a little to see how it worked. I decided it was too late to melt anything, so instead I made my first part for my lathe project. :) I will of course document that project as it progresses along. -Stay tuned!