When the SHTF back yard metal casting (http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/) could come in handy.

Thanks, good site. I put it in favorites for later study. Have you done any casting? I've been planning to set up a small foundry for years. Maybe soon, this will be helpful.



When the SHTF back yard metal casting (http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/) could come in handy.

No momus I haven't but i've recently have become intrigued with do-it-yourself projects. So much to try such limited time, space and money to do it. I was trying to build up enough self esteem to tackle a two story storage shed but the wife is quitting work. I'm now on a strict budget until it looks like things will pan out. Maybe I'll be able to try come spring. *fingers crossed*

An old hotrodder friend of mine had a foundry, watched him cast an engine block out of a homemade mold. Took alot of time to make the mold, but the pour was quick.

Green-sand cast, I suppose.
I've done quite a bit of lost-wax casting. Not so much that it's not still fun to be involved in it. The roar of the furnace and the amazing red-hot honey look of the liquid bronze is a kick. Not to mention cracking off the investment to reveal a new bronze casting, while cracking a celebratory beer as well.
Having a foundry means hard work. You tend to want it to pay for itself. An artist with one risks becoming a foundryman. Not that there's anything wrong....

An old hotrodder friend of mine had a foundry, watched him cast an engine block out of a homemade mold. Took alot of time to make the mold, but the pour was quick.

Yup, green sand.

Never thought he could pull it off, but he did. Truely amazing that a man with a little brick shop can make an engine block like a large million dollar+ foundry in old Detroit.

Yup, green sand.

Never thought he could pull it off, but he did. Truely amazing that a man with a little brick shop can make an engine block like a large million dollar+ foundry in old Detroit.That's amazing. Did he make an original mold or was it a Big 3 copy? How many did he make from the mold?

You don't need any special burners. Use wööd or coal and a fan for feeding air to the fire to reach a desired temperature

Our high school metal shop teacher regularly poured iron from a home-made cupola in the parking lot. Lots of different skills and science come into play. Probably why I worked in a hand-pour foundry for awhile. Iron so hot it is thinner than water. Poured into a mold to harden. Comes out so hard you need metal tools to work it. The whole process is fascinating, if you even get a chance to watch.
Our shop teacher's idea of a field trip was for us to work in the labor pool of a nearby foundry for a day.
You walk out of the foundry at the end of the day, you KNOW you're a man.

That's amazing. Did he make an original mold or was it a Big 3 copy? How many did he make from the mold?


It was a straight 6 cylinder for a british sports car that was very expensive to find NOS. I dont know how many he made from the mold, but it was hinged and everything so he could have made a bunch if he wanted.