Monday, March 17, 2014

Center for Woodenboats casting class

In contrast to the modern day materials including carbon fiber and delrin and the magical bonding elixirs like two-part epoxy, it's nice to get our hands the ancient arts and methods including wood nails, frame lashing and perhaps the most awesome, bronze casting.  

A small crowd gathers on a winter's day around the glow of the furnace

On several occasions James McMullen has set up to cast special nameplates for the boats we have built, custom hardware, oar locks, pintles, etc.  The Marine Skills Center has been hosted for one such demonstration, and James has most recently rounded up many of his Sail and Oar posse for casting sessions with particular attention given to those who need pieces that are hard to find in the retail setting, such as gudgeons for a double-ender.



On the weekend of March 22 and 23, James will be teaching a casting class at The Center For Woodenboat-Cama Beach.  This class is sold out, refer to the link provided below for information on future classes.

Your basic small foundry furnace set-up

Wooden "flasks", ready for pouring.  



A pattern for a sounding lead, being made up into a flask.


skimming off the dross. . .
The graphite crucible in the center glowing with molten bronze
That crucible is actually dark gray-black at room temperature.
Not currently at room temperature.


Breaking the part loose from the sand.
The metal is still so hot that the sand bursts into flames again when exposed to fresh oxygen
The used flasks--the charred parts are where the molten metal contacted the sand.

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