Brass is a great metal to cast with as it can provide some really great looking results. Many believe that brass, an alloy of zinc and copper, has been around since our prehistoric ancestors. You will find brass today is a lot of musical instruments including trumpets and of course the penny's in your pocket are made of brass.
The low melting point makes brass a really great material for metal casting since even the smaller home grown furnaces can be used. By adding and subtracting alloys from bronze one can successfully make hard or soft bronzes. Aluminum and tin are sometimes added to bronze to create a layer that is not corrosive and very durable. People using these types of foundries at home will find that you don't have to be a scientist to find casting material as scrap will work just fine. Locating scrap pieces of brass should be sufficient enough for whatever project you have in mind. Due to brass' gleam and yellow shine, many artists will use the alloy for sculptures, jewelry, and other decorative items. Other metal casters may choose to use brass for general hardware needs or vintage car restoration, and of course, whatever else they may choose.
Generally there are three casting methods that prove to be suitable for Brass Casting . Its good that casters of metal branch out and try to cast with other alloys and other techniques.
Metal Casting casting is usually associated with bronze casting but can also be used for brass and for really any other metal. By using a wax model and covering it with a ceramic shell, artisans are able to inject the molten alloy which replaces the wax. When you start to chip away the shell, you will see that the brass piece is revealed. Lost wax casting is used when a high attention to detail is needed. Artists or metal casters looking to create decorative brass pieces or sculptures will find that the lost wax casting technique will meet their needs far better than other techniques and methods.
Die casting is yet another method used for Metal Casting . Die casting is normally used in commercial foundries since the initial start up cost is undesirable for the smaller home foundries. By using a reusable mold created from steel, the caster will be able to create scores of identical products. Die casting with brass should be used if the caster or artists is planning to make multiples of one product and can find a viable market for those pieces.
Sand casting is probably the oldest type of casting and is still a popular method especially for small foundries. The brass is poured into sand molds and can create a unique look which may be preferred for the artisans. Sand casting tends to be the most economically sensible for small foundries and if the casting does not have to be incredibly attractive then this method is preferable for many.
Whichever casting method is used for casting the brass really depends on the individual. Many find that casting brass to be fun and easy since it does melt rather easily. Brass casting is one of the best alloys to start casting with if you have little to no budget as it does not require a large furnace for this alloy to melt. Many have even been able to melt brass in small ceramic pots using charcoal!
Some ideas of what to make with brass include candle holders, plumbing fixtures, and even musical instruments
Metal Casting ZOne is a new community website all about Home and DIY Metal Casting. Come by today and join the site for free and you get a free Metal Casting Basics EBook just for signing up! Come by MetalCastingZone.Com Today for your free Ebook on Metal Casting.
No comments:
Post a Comment