Metal Casting Zone Info Blog

Archive for October, 2009

I was just curious. Does a piece of jewelry cast in sterling silver devalue the piece itself?

People all over the country have different hobbies. Some people collect model trains, some people collect books, baseball cards, movies, music, or bobble heads. One of the most popular hobbies around today is the collection of die cast cars. Die cast cars are popular because not only can the person with the hobby build the model that they have purchased but they can put that model in a glass case and display it at their house or office. They could also construct the model, frame it, and then sell it for a tiny profit.

Many people collect die cast cars as a hobby and enjoy attending model car shows where you can purchase old models and new model kits to work on. The die casting method is the use of metal and plastic. The metal that is used is zamak, which is an alloy of zinc and aluminum. Die cast toys come in scale models of fire trucks, police cars, airplanes, construction equipment, trains, buses, trucks, automobiles, and motorcycles.

These scale models can be assembled by the person purchasing them or can be purchased already assembled and ready for display. The fun part of the hobby is purchasing the kit and then assembling the model when you get home. You can build the car, paint it and then set it out for display. The die cast toy industry began in the 1940s in the United States and has grown in popularity ever since. Some of the most popular cars in the die cast world are Matchbox cars. Matchbox cars are incredibly small models of cars that kids enjoy playing with or collecting on a daily basis. One line of Matchbox cars, the 1-75, was named 1-75 because there are always 75 different vehicles in the line. Each car was packaged in its own box and the box looked like it was small enough to hold matches, hence the name Matchbox cars.

Mattel first introduced the Hot Wheels brand in 1968 because of the complaints that there were no toys for boys being produced by the company. Mattel is also famous for their Barbie doll collection for girls. Die cast cars became so popular that McDonald’s, Sears Roebuck, Kodak, and Texaco asked toy makers to make vehicles with their business name and likeness on them for advertising purposes and to sell to collectors in their popular stores.

Along with collecting die cast cars, manufacturing companies also produce racetracks, toy restaurants and toy filling stations for children to play with while using their model cars. The racetracks have become increasingly realistic over the years, with cars being electronically driven on the tracks by the players as well as being propelled from the starting line in a pin-ball like manner. Aside from the cars and the accessories, companies also provide carry cases for people to put their die cast cars in when traveling. So, if you are going on a family vacation and your son or daughter wants to bring their cars with them, the carry case can hold their cars perfectly.

Okay, I Want to melt metal such as pop cans, aluminum foil, etc.
but I cant build a foundry in my back yard, all i can do is make a really hot fire.
I would like some helpful suggestions.

melted out. Then the metal is poured in to create the ring. It is called the lost wax method. I need to buy the wax rings and don’t know what to call them. I’ve googled everything I can think of, gone to suppliers websites, no where can I find the wax ring to make a mold for the metal. Does anyone know?>

Strange to say but once you have mastered the basics of building a model airplane and have a few spare bits lying around your workshop or garage it becomes very easy to produce your very own design of RC model airplane. Simple Plastic Airplane Design (SPAD) is really cheap and fun alternative to constructing expensive remote controlled model airplanes kits.

The concept of SPAD started in the late 90′s and has evolved into a highly detailed and solid method for building RC model airplanes. While using traditional building materials and techniques can take weeks or months to put an airplane together, applying the SPAD concept can reduce the build time down to days, or even hours.

SPAD materials are widely available and are less expensive than those used in standard balsa model airplane kits. Plans and help for building a SPAD can be found online and are completely free. The best part about flying a SPAD is its survivability when it comes to the inevitable crashes as your enthusiasm gets away from you!

The basic RC model airplane SPAD concept revolves around using inexpensive building materials that can be found at local hardware stores and sign shops – or even picked up for nothing from builders cast-offs. While the materials required for constructing a SPAD vary from one design to another, the basic materials used include; PCV downspout pipe for the fuselage, CoroPlast(corrugated platic) sign material for the wings and controls surfaces, HDPE cutting boards for firewalls and landing gear blocks, and CA (superglue) to hold everything together.

Because of the simplicity involved in putting a SPAD RC model airplane together, even an inexperienced modeler can complete the job in a single weekend. A basic fuselage made from PVC downspout can be made in a matter of minutes, CoroPlast wings and control surfaces in just a few hours, and all the miscellaneous parts to complete the project in just a few hours more. Acquiring the materials needed for a RC model airplane SPAD project may require no more than a trip to the local hardware store and a few phone calls to local sign shops.

Aside from these readily available materials, there are a few other items that you will need; self tapping sheet metal screws, zip ties, a utility knife and a few wood sticks(4mmx27mmx1m Pine lathing/lattice). Other items needed to complete your RC model airplane, such as wheels, landing gear and control arms, will need to be fabricated or purchased from your favorite hobby store.

Plans for building a SPAD RC model airplane are available online, free of charge, from many different sources. SpadToTheBone.com, the original home for the RC model airplane SPAD concept, has plans to suit just about anyone. From the ever popular trainer called the Debonair, to the more sophisticated Coro Edge 540 sport/funfly model. A community has been built around the RC model airplane SPAD concept at SpadWorld.net where model builders from all over the globe help each other learn better and more exciting ways to make SPADs.

One of the greatest benefits to building with the RC model airplane SPAD materials is just how tough they are. Whether you’re trying a new aerobatic maneuver and just can’t seem to pull out of it, or just learning to take off for the first time and cartwheel your airplane down the runway, the chances that your plane will survive are very good. Compared to easily breakable balsa, plastic is a very forgiving material that can survive higher impact speeds without damage – and is easily fixed when broken.

Ease of construction, low cost and survivability all add up to a package that encourages modellers to experiment with design concepts and methods that extend the envelope of their experience and knowledge. Why not give it a go yourself?

This is a home chemistry experiment being done in safe conditions with properly trained individuals. It seems as if thermite eats through just about everything so even if the material does not melt if it gets to hot it could deform the casting. I would prefer answers not containing the word titanium. Unless you can give an example of where you can get titanium and if its within a reasonable price. I would prefer the material to be somewhat easy to shape.

I have alot of scrap silver that I want to melt into casting grain..I have a furnace that I have melted silver in before but I cant seem to get the nice small grains for ease of melting later..I also have some .999 fine that I want to turn into sterling casting grain..Any help would be great
Thanks

Its the car from movie, its called christine the plymouth fury 1958. The company that made it is ERTL Joyride, its a 1:18 die cast metal car, I want the location of it in Jeddah K.S.A, Please help me.

Can someone pleaase tell me about the process of casting of metals, the materials used and anything about moulds?
I would like someone who work in this area to give me a thorough answer.
Thanks,
Zain

I have several pounds of sterling silver and some casts that I want to pour melted silver into to make original jewelry. I’ve searched for equipment to melt the silver but just keep finding suggestions like “using a torch.” I thought maybe there is a pot or kettle melting system that I’ve yet to discover. All your help is so greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!