Mold construction question!!

[Mike Casey]

Funny thing is that the sand castings cost me more then the investment castings. So another words, the skellenger center section is cheaper to cast then the PBS!!!

[stoneyberk]

I have seen a few quickchange rearends in nostalgia dragsters... Bun never in a door car...

Well guys i've been doing alot of research on various types of casting process and have come to the conclusion that i may attempt to try the green sand casting form...Rather than needing a middle man.. '' Foundry '' I will attempt to build my own foundry... I've seen many types that may work quite well for this application.. I'm not set on what type i may go with yet but i thought i would post a few shots of some home built foundry's..

I'm willing to bet i can purchase all the needed material and build this for around $400.00 I would assume a small water heater would run around $150.00 or so... Or perhaps the propane type set-up??

Sand Casting Video;;
http://www.metalcastingzone.com/sand-ca ... nd-casting
Interesting Metal Casting Site;;
http://www.metalcastingzone.com/

[stoneyberk]

More

[Mike Casey]

you may want to think twice about that. John foster tried this and it sucked. The cost for cast parts really is not that much if you go to a foundry. You would spend less then what you stated on a hand full of them.

[stoneyberk]

Moulding Bench

[stoneyberk]

I'll look into the foundry prices first mike... Perhaps john fosters set up wasn't built correctly... I've seen many nice looking casting done this way...

Take a look... You will need to join to view the pics..

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/castinghobby/

[Mike Casey]

John bought all the right stuff but he was trying to do investment casting and thats a pretty tricky method to try to do at home. I am sure it can be done, but its not as easy as getting it right the first time. I think its like starting a new hobby. If you got the time and interest, then definately worth doing.

[stoneyberk]

yeah i suppose the investment casting would be more complicated... trust me mike... I will do many test runs on this well before i actually attempt to cast my rear end... As i mentioned before.. I think the only issue i will have is the 4-link bracket location... So what I'm thinking is.. Once i pour a few of them i will grind the brackets off one casting and cast it as it is.. No brackets... Then i will mend them brackets back together then cast them,,, Then i can just place the plain rear end in the sand,, Then the cast brackets any where i want then... I mean i don't know if anyone would purchase a cast rear end from me or not.. But it's a piece of mind knowing i can cast it with the brackets in the correct location to line up with there chassis/frame rails.. I could do this with any of the needed brackets...

I also have a rear end from a lawn boy self-propelled mower i may cast...

Well after a ton of research i have made my mind up on the type of system I'm going to purchase.. It's refereed to as a Cowboy Furnace... It runs by a means of propane.. It runs $380.00 Then i will purchase a Large Steel Crucible that holds up to..15 LBS of aluminum,, @ $65.00 So I'm well within my means of around $500.00 to start... I will then purchase more PetroBond Sand / Parting Dust / Aluminum / Etc... I will build a few flask as well...

I'm going to give this system a shot,, If I'm not happy with the results i will then contact a few foundrys..