As you progress through life, there are just so many things to learn along the way, but of course, each and every one of us has a different interest, some people tend to specialise in very narrow fields of interest, and there’s nothing wrong with that, if that’s what you love to do.
In work places across the globe, people are told to “Up Skill” and if you don’t up-skill then your work-life progression might slowly grind to a halt, just like the conga-line of traffic that people have to put up with on congested city free-ways.
Could The Same Be Said About A Particular Hobby?
Is your hobby just a passing interest? Or something that you just dabble in here, and there, but you want to take it a lot further?
Maybe you like to work on your hobby through the week (If you have time) but most people are weekend hobby warriors, and that’s probably the best time to become involved in your favourite pastime.
Over the past couple of months, there seems to have been an re-awakening and renewed interest in back yard metal casting, we have had many inquiries and orders from across the globe, amazing really, because we have not promoted the MHF site much lately, but people are still finding our web site, and they enjoy, and like what they see.
People are keen to become involved in practical hands on hobbies, there seems to be a great desire from many people to learn how to build and create things.
To create something from scratch from your unique ideas and practical skills is one of life’s most rewarding and personal achievements.
Sure, we can all buy things that we take a liking to, but the ready made off the shelf item quickly loses its shine, compared to something that you have created and made by your self.
It is strange where your hobby journey takes you, I cant recall how it all happened, but we now supply (Periodically) small automotive castings to niche businesses across the globe. Every now and again, I click and visit their respective web sites, and notice the products we supply on display, That gives a pretty cool feeling, one of accomplishment, and of course the rewards. But to be honest, it doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago since the very first and extremely basic foray into metal casting began.
In the beginning, I had no idea where the metal casting hobby might lead to, the hobby was just a challenge to see art of foundry could be mastered. But I can tell you, its been a heck of a journey, and yes, quite a bit of up-skill work was done in the process.
But thinking about you right now, perhaps you have also built/achieved something special with your particular skills and abilities, feel proud, give your self a pat on the back if you have.
The parts that we cast are produced with the very same foundry gear, and prepared with the same methods and processes that are explained and outlined in our metal casting books.
They are worth getting hold of to read and learn if you are looking for down to earth practical “How To” info.
Keep reading, the video is just below.
I hope the anti fun police never get the chance to stop people enjoying being involved in a fulfilling and practical hobby such as Metal Casting, or backyard metal casting, whatever you wish to call it.
Yesterday, (Saturday-Aussie Time) was a cold winters day, the kind of day to light up the foundry to do some metal casting work, so, we got things set up, then rammed up some sand flask/moulds using some loose patterns, and a mounted pattern board, IE, patterns which are permanently mounted to a board, mounted patterns make it so much easier when it comes to ram up a mould. The patterns are permanently mounted with the in-gates and runners, the only things you need to include during the ram up are the risers and a pouring sprue, special spots are made for them so that they self support while loading the green sand into the flask, and remember with mounted patterns they stay put, they wont move around and become separated from the runners and in-gates… easy peasy.
So while we were involved in this little Saturday afternoon project, we decided to shoot a series of very short videos, (Smart phones are great for making vids) which, when all joined together, provide a glimpse into the foundry process, but we did miss out the fluxing and the degas process, (Apologies). I had to ask my good wife to video the actual pouring of the melt, so we’ve put all of the little segments together to produce a short video, a glimpse of metal casting if you like.
If you’ve never tried your hand at metal casting, this video will give you an insight of what its all about, and even if you’re an old hand at the game, you’ll probably watch it, I know I would, because that’s just the curiosity side of the hobby, watching to see how others do it. There’s no need to reply or comment, just take it all in, and think about it.
The equipment you’ll note in the video was all DIY built back in the mid 1980’s, and its still going strong. After completing a casting session, the gear is cleaned, tidied up and packed away until the next time a metal casting session is planned.
It could be a week or two, or maybe a month or so before the foundry is used again, but that’s OK, once you have the whole system down pat, you don’t forget the “How To”, and this hobby is a bit like learning to ride a pushbike, its a life time skill, once you learn, you don’t forget, its a keeper.
Now for the video, enjoy a glimpse into Back Yard Foundry work.
Hope you enjoyed the short video – When your foundry is part of your workshop set up, it definitely completes what you can, and cant do with metal.
You can learn more Here
And also over There