| Australian grassroots motor racing grew up with | | | | casting your own metal parts, then you'd be |
| the home built special. Many examples of these | | | | amazed at the many different things that can be |
| historic cars are still in existence today. Some | | | | made, especially if you have a well-equipped |
| were built as circuit racers, but many were built | | | | machine shop. It is possible to make those hard |
| for the ever-popular hill climb events held at the | | | | to get parts right in your own home foundry |
| various climbs scattered around Australia.To build | | | | workshop... for a very low cost.The foundry |
| a competitive home built racecar today requires | | | | process is basically carried out by producing a |
| many skills. | | | | pattern, |
| Most importantly the racecar enthusiast | | | | which is normally made from timber, but |
| constructor will need to have | | | | patterns can also be made |
| hands on knowledge of metal fabrication skills, i.e., | | | | from many other materials, one particular |
| knowing how to | | | | compound that can be |
| weld or braze metal, or machining skills may also | | | | used to reproduce broken parts to make a new |
| be required to operate | | | | pattern is RTV silicone.Once a pattern is produced, |
| lathes and milling machines to produce many of | | | | it is imbedded into the foundry sand to make a |
| the special one off | | | | cavity, green sand is a common type of foundry |
| parts. Just as in the early days of Australian | | | | sand, but there are many other types of easy to |
| motor racing, today's constructor needs to be | | | | use sand moulding mediums. After the sand is |
| extremely resourceful.If the budget is tight, the | | | | rammed around the pattern, or the silicate sand |
| home race-car builder can use many avenues | | | | has set, the pattern is carefully removed from |
| to keep the construction costs down to an | | | | the sand mould, and the mould is closed and |
| acceptable level, being multi | | | | made ready for the pour..A simple gas fired |
| skilled will allow the home fabricator to construct | | | | furnace can be constructed to melt the metal |
| all manner of things | | | | which |
| instead of resorting to expensive of the shelf | | | | is then poured into the sand mould to create the |
| custom made parts.Many people are unaware | | | | casting. Once the |
| that metal casting techniques can be used in the | | | | casting has cooled, it is removed from the sand |
| home workshop to cast lightweight aluminium | | | | mould, cleaned and |
| parts. Metal casting is not that difficult to do, and | | | | prepared for the machining & finishing operations. |
| in the last couple of years there has been a | | | | Quite often, the complete operation; from pattern |
| worldwide resurgence of home metal casting, i.e., | | | | to finished casting can be achieved |
| people have been busy setting up a simple home | | | | in just a few days, and that is the great |
| workshop foundry to cast special metal parts that | | | | advantage of being in full control of the whole |
| would otherwise be quite expensive if sourced | | | | operation, you can manufacture and finish |
| professionally.Basically all you really need is to build | | | | everything in house, while reducing the overall |
| some simple foundry equipment, | | | | cost to an absolute minimum.Once you are |
| and learn & practice the basic skills, and before | | | | familiar with the basic foundry techniques, and you |
| long you will soon be | | | | understand the techniques involved, you will be |
| creating some amazing things in metal with your | | | | able to create many |
| own mini foundry.A basic understanding of | | | | things in metal that you would otherwise not |
| foundry knowledge and self - built equipment | | | | thought possible.To learn more about metal |
| is the key to your metal casting success.Proven | | | | casting visit our web site, you can download a |
| foundry methods and techniques are employed | | | | free ebook on setting up a small back shed |
| by model | | | | foundry for metal casting, |
| engineers, home mechanics, car & motorbike | | | | visit: written by Col Croucher. Australia. This |
| restorers etc, to create | | | | article can be reproduced as long as full credit is |
| high quality cast parts that would be otherwise | | | | given to the author and the web link remains |
| unobtainable. If you have never contemplated | | | | within the article. |