Talk:Vote For Casting Equipment

There is a call for new machines, but what is the size of each of these machines, and does the area have enough space for those machines? I would like to see the vote sponsor discuss this in detail with the area host, so there is a full understanding of where these machines will go and what will happen to the flow of people in that area? Are we going to need to climb over stuff? In general, this will be a future question I ask on all machine-request votes, as space at PS:! is at a premium. --Bioguy (talk) 13:28, 5 August 2014 (UTC)

The "table" is a tabletop model. The injector is probably about 18 inches tall and will fit on a pallet rack shelf. Eric built a makeshift shield for the centrifugal caster. It's big, but is already out of the way on the top of the North shelves. Eric can tell us whether he thinks the centrifugal caster is crummy enough to be replaced. It looked horrifying when he was using it. There won't be anything to trip over if the proposal is limited to small scale wax and investment casting of one or a few small pieces — everything is used on a benchtop.

The proposal doesn't include crucibles, tongs, perhaps 2 torches for soldering/brazing and casting, and a wide arbor buffer. I'm sure I'm missing something. The lab furnace is not the correct tool for melts. Most jewelry work is done with a torch and crucibles. Serviceable crucibles aren't terribly expensive, but they're consumables and need to be kept on top of. Tongs are cheap. Torches would be another few hundred bucks. A MAPP gas torch with a fine nozzle is suitable for soldering. They'd at least need a new nozzle for Mike Skilton's oxy/acetylene torch for most melting. They'd want a small propane torch for precious metals. A slow buffer would be ~$250. The lab furnace is not the correct tool. Most jewelry work is done by melting the metal in a crucible with a torch. Skilton has lent us a premixed acetylene torch that would work for most purposes; it needs a new nozzle.

If we're going to get flasks for casting, we might as well get a larger furnace and green sand for sand casting. That might even require a little bench. It would require a little sandbox and some fire bricks. Tom is the correct person to discuss this with, as slinging hot metal around is in his wheelhouse. Jason (talk) 14:49, 5 August 2014 (UTC)