Vince Gingery's Foundry

This is the new foundry set up. The small building on the right houses the molding bench and accessories while the corrugated metal shelter on the left side of the building protects the gas fired crucible furnace from the weather.

It's been really nice having the foundry separated from the workshop I no longer have to worry about foundry dust settling on the lathe bed or in the hard drive of the computer. And for obvious reason I feel much safer with the furnace located outside.

Here, we see the inside of the main building. On the lower shelf of the molding bench we see flasks and bottom boards. Molding tools and other supplies are located on the shelf behind the bench.

The furnace shelter closed up.Not only does it hold a crucible furnace, there's probably enough extra room to stash an accordion, a banjo, and your mother-in-law!

The furnace shelter as it opens up.

The furnace is ready to fire up to melt aluminum, roast possum, fumigate underwear, burn ransom notes, singe pin feathers off your bird, and who knows what else.

The gas fired crucible furnace and an old castiron muffin mold in which to pour left over molten metal to form ingots.

If you look closely you will notice that the furnace sits over a hole in the concrete floor that has been filled with sand for safety. Should a crucible break, the molten metal would drop into the sand rather than onto concrete where there is a very real risk of dangerous spalling. The blower plugs into an outlet mounted on the back wall of the cabinet.

Here's the Head Sand Crab (Vince, who else?) pulling the crucible from the furnace.

For occasional casting, you can do excellent work with a simple charcoal furnace. But once you've decided you'll be pouring castings regularly, you'll want the convenience of the gas fired crucible furnace. Although aluminum melts at a relatively low temperature Vince should be wearing more protective gear than he is.

Pouring molten aluminum into sand molds.

Making flasks and foundry tools is easy. You'll learn the basics in Dave Gingery's Charcoal Foundry. Once you've poured a number of castings you'll find many other useful books in the Lindsay catalog.