Mike asks,

> Rob, great posts. A couple of questions to you or other knowledgeable folks:
> 
> (1) Can you recommend a book describing the process? I doubt I will
> cast but it sure sounds interesting.
> 
> (2) If you wouldn't mind, can you tell us the approximate costs for the
> casting. General estimates would be find. Just curious what these
> things costs.
> 
> Mike. 
> 
Warning, I have not done this, but I have seen it done. From here it 
looks like a slight tuck while sliding down the smithing cliff, you
have been duely warned!

1. A book that I don't own yet but that keeps coming up is by Tom McCreight.
If his general metalworking/jewelry book is any sample it ought to be 
good. Some obvious title like Casting. 

2. It all depends, mostly on what kind of scrounger you are. I saw a 
casting demo at my first Pennsic, 2 people could carry all the stuff.
One DYI variation on a propane forge with the funny white insulating 
lining stuff, running off a 20# tank, a small (couple quart) crucible,
(see recent suggestions on the list or go buy one), a mold made out of 
3' of T&G flooring, some special sand, baby powder for parting compound,
and some dead plumbing parts to make bronze (I think they added some 
extra tin from don't know what). A couple old butter knives to carve
the sprues in the sand and a block of wood to tamp the sand down, and
a reworked slipjoint pliers to handle the crucible.

The smith I met at the same event pointed out that you don't need the 
fancy heater, you can easily heat the crucible on a blacksmith's forge..
So if you have a forge and blower all you need are a crucible and it's
tongs, and the rest can be made from scrap. I warned you it's slippery
here!

For one guy's story, check out:

http://reality.sgi.com/employees/kurts_engr/foundry.page.html

I found it through the Electrik Anvil someone posted a while back.

Esther eoh@k...