| Any practical home handyman can melt metal in | | | | Green sand is the most efficient, low cost way |
| the backyard hobbyfoundry, all you need is a | | | | for the backyardmetal caster to make moulds for |
| simple, well-designed melting furnace. A low cost | | | | metal casting. Green sand doesrequire |
| melting furnace can be built form scrap metal and | | | | maintenance and looking after to get the best |
| a few bits and pieces | | | | results, but itwill last for many years for hobby |
| If you're just beginning your backyard metal | | | | use and can be used over and overagain. |
| casting journey, you will have questions to ask | | | | Another easy to use backyard moulding system |
| and if you follow the right advice, your learning | | | | to use is the silicate,sand & Co2 Gas system. |
| time will be greatly reduced. The furnace is the | | | | This really is an easy system for the |
| most important piece ofequipment for your | | | | backyardworker to use; it is frequently used in |
| hobby foundry set up. To avoid any frustration | | | | trade schools and colleges for foundry practice |
| &disappointment make sure you build it right | | | | instructions because of its ease of use, small |
| the first time. | | | | batches of moulding sand can be quickly made up. |
| You may have to spend a few dollars to buy high | | | | However there is one thing that can be |
| temperature resistantrefractory, which is used to | | | | detrimental to using the Co2system and that is of |
| line the furnace walls with, plus a few | | | | excess moisture is in the sand, moisture levels |
| brassconnectors for the gas feed line, if you are | | | | above 0.5% will give poor moulding results. There |
| handy with a welder you willalso be able to make | | | | is also a rental cost of the Co2 gas bottles, plus |
| your own gas burner. And if you have metal | | | | the purchase of gas cylinder regulators required |
| working skills, making many of your own tools | | | | for correct gassing of the sand moulds. |
| and equipment to use in your hobby foundry will | | | | With the right kind of knowledge and know how |
| be a snap. | | | | the backyardmetal caster will soon begin to see |
| Once you have a furnace built, you will need to | | | | some great results, many beginners are quite |
| gather some sand so that you can pour the | | | | amazed at what they can achieve once they |
| molten metal into. One of the most common | | | | have learnt the right way to go about backyard |
| moulding mediums used is green sand, this has | | | | metal casting. |
| long been one of the all time favourites because | | | | Backyard metal casting can be a lot of fun, but |
| of its ease of use and predictable results. Green | | | | you also need to be aware that injuries can easily |
| sand will also sit and keep moist for weeks in a | | | | happen if you are not careful, this is a serious |
| plastic garbage bin waiting the next moulding | | | | engineering hobby, and you will be dealing with hot |
| session. | | | | metals. |