RyanMark Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 I'm assuming that the fluid these guys are pouring bronze into cannot be water:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClnOO0kVoEU It's shown again in this video, which puts things into context a bit:http://youtu.be/rHE0j_3sNcQ What is the stuff boiling inside the cast iron molds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmHorus Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 probably boiling water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 It is easy to see from the video that the water is boiling with great vigor and after viewing the casting process of another manufacturer is looks to be a common practice amongst cymbal makers. In one shop it showed little bombs of molten bronze flying out of the "skillets". It is nice, or not so nice, to see some men who are not terrible afraid of their work but still respectful of it's danger. The only thing that really bothered me was the lack of facial protection and the seemingly very young workers in one of the videos. Well and I suppose they could have had better foot ware too, OK, and more protection from the heat, like a good set of leathers. These men sure seemed to know their trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanMark Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 So, do you think the plank which they place the skillets on is heated? I would think that water would not continue to boil otherwise, and I figured a violent explosion would occur if it were indeed just water. But yeah, I see the stuff flying out. I guess if the liquid was an oil, it would be smoking a bunch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fciron Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I worked with some visiting Japanese smiths for a week once and they also cast ingots into water after mixing up some special alloys. Steam explosions happen in molds because the steam is trapped inside the mold under the molten metal. This is not the case pouring metal into a pot of water where the steam is free to boil off. I believe casting a water ingot is supposed to protect it from gases that could cause porosity, but there were some language issues so I'm not always clear on the issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 i bet the way they drill holes would really impress OSHA..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I think I saw at least one "safety hoodie"? B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainely,Bob Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 No open toed shoes though. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 So, do you think the plank which they place the skillets on is heated? I would think that water would not continue to boil otherwise, and I figured a violent explosion would occur if it were indeed just water. But yeah, I see the stuff flying out. I guess if the liquid was an oil, it would be smoking a bunch... They preheated the skillets, which look quite thick, against the melting fire by standing them around the crucibles. The water could boil for quite some time from the heat of the iron. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanMark Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 Thanks, everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 In the one video the "plank" looked like wood and in another one it looked like I don't know what, maybe stone, but I think the skillets were cast iron coated with graphite to keep the metal from sticking. Fun videos to watch and see others pouring metal half a world away and sure not doing it in a manner I would and living to see another day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Furrer Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 This water casting is common for Japanese copper work...as copper has a great affinity for oxygen it is one of the only "primitive" ways to get a good clean ingot: Ric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Thanks for posting that, now I know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanMark Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share Posted August 3, 2011 Then, must H20 be less reactive to copper than hydrogen and oxygen on their own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I doubt molten metal is hot enough to split the hydrogen-oxygen-hydrogen bond. Water is put together rather tight. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanMark Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share Posted August 3, 2011 right, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkhan Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 I have done the "don't try this at home" several times (carefully). Attached is a picture of what happens when you pour about 2 pounds of molten aluminum into about 20 gallons of water (slag tub). The net result is a loss of about five gallons of water. I have made a bunch of these with left over melts when I am done pouring. My favorite aluminum source is used gas grills. They recast real well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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