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I Forge Iron

Beginner looking to be pointed in the right direction. Tucson, AZ.


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Hello all. I have just begun to delve into casting and blacksmithing. There is a profound amount of information on the subject. It can be quite a chore to dive into the bulk of It, much less find the right corner to begin at. I am currently looking for a book to buy that would explain the basics of metal casting, the absolute need to know necessities. I would also like to find another book that would expand upon these basics, not necessarily hardcore technical jargon, but something that would grant me deeper insight into casting and metallurgy.
Any suggestions?

Now, along with learning the basics of casting and keeping myself alive, I would like to begin tinkering with and ultimately building my own furnace. Since I'm a novice, I am going to start small, casting jewelry, small figures, etc. I have been looking at "coffee can" furnaces. Is this considered a legitimate concept? If so, where would I look to find detailed instructions on proper construction and maintenance of one? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long, rambling post.

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Start by taking some time and reading all of the posts on here on casting.  Spend some time on the internet typing in questions on the search engines.  There is a wealth of information out there.  Just read, read, and read more.  Casting has many safety considerations.  Be careful before you try anything.  Once wrong move and you will have a lifetime of regret, or worse.  There are other forums just devoted to casting.  Search them out and read what they have to offer.

 

There is a big difference between casting and blacksmithing.

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@NJanvilman

I understand the difference between casting and blacksmithing. And I am very aware of the safety risks involved in both. I do not plan to start casting without a firm understanding of the entire process. All I'm looking for is a few book recommendations and a heads up on the "coffee can" style of furnace.

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Most people start with lead, then pewter, then zinc alloys, then aluminum, and finally copper alloys, brass and bronze. 

The Gingery series is a pretty direct path, should be some available on the net somewhere. 

Even a book on slip casting pottery will give much useful info. Another author to look for is Steve Chastain. His books are extremely complete and leave NOTHING to the imagination (no guesswork). 

 

Joining a forum is imperative; I never would have mastered certain aspects without guidance of the Artmetal site, which used to have a public forum. 

There are others now, with many experienced members. 

 

Casting metal is for the focused consientious mind. It is a long hard and expensive learning curve. Some classes at a local art college could save you countless hours of trial and error, but it can also be learned from books and good coaching.  

 

I wish I had taken some (or a) class, the school of hard knocks was far more expensive for me in the long run. 

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The coffee can furnace works fine, the backyardmetalcasting version isn't bad, but an actual coffee can is a bit small. Three to five gallon range works a lot better for a shell, but consider that if you plan on using propane, that as the chamber gets larger, it takes a lot more to heat it, especially if you end up using furnace cement or homemade stuff as refractory. Of the safety concerns, all I'll go at is the usual avoid zinc, wear ppe, and get a real crucible.

 

My current one is in a cut up 10 gallon bucket. Lump charcoal works dandy with forced air, (if you have a closed crucible) but I'd reccomend taking it easy on the air, especially if you're new at it. Better to take twice as long to come up to pouring temps than to break a crucible or overheat things. Also, it burns through charcoal in a hurry, lot faster than a forge.

 

Thanks for the tip on the Naval Foundry Manual, Jammer! I'll be checking that out!

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@NobodySpecial

For my skill level, I think Its smart to start out small. I'll probably use two pineapple cans, one for the base and a section of the other for the lid. After I'm comfortable with my skill level, I would really like to emulate a furnace built by Colin Peck. He used a beer keg, and It turned out beautifully.

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