OP
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
A little long overdue update. For some reason I've been busy. Something to do with Spring, I think.
I took down the winter bird feeders and put up hummingbird feeders, per my wife's instructions. I built these feeders several years ago, from eastern red cedar (aromatic cedar) which is rot resistant. We had some big logs and cut them 1/4" thick for siding.
The birds like them because there are no obstructions to hide predators from their view. The dowels fit loose in the holes, with a piece of copper wire bent in an "S" to hold them from falling out. That lets them collapse part way and avoids breakage when they fall. They've probably got twenty seasons on them, and have blown down a handful of times, but all are still serviceable.
Not a very good picture, but this is a coyote about 100 yards from the barn.
I missed.
Who wants to see some casting?
I thought so, but here it is anyway.
Hammer half buried in sand, orange blind riser to feed shrinkage, turquoise riser to take initial flow surge, runner in sand below, gate going to blind riser, and I'm holding up the sprue. Pretty small stuff but works great.
My finger is in approximately the same location after finishing the mold, cutting the pouring basin, and installing a foam plug.
The pour
Post pour
Demolded, I forgot to turn it the same way
And the bottom side. I forgot to put a ramp in to let the metal to the bottom of the pattern gently. We'll see if that affects porosity.
Stay tuned, the excitement never ends!
I took down the winter bird feeders and put up hummingbird feeders, per my wife's instructions. I built these feeders several years ago, from eastern red cedar (aromatic cedar) which is rot resistant. We had some big logs and cut them 1/4" thick for siding.
The birds like them because there are no obstructions to hide predators from their view. The dowels fit loose in the holes, with a piece of copper wire bent in an "S" to hold them from falling out. That lets them collapse part way and avoids breakage when they fall. They've probably got twenty seasons on them, and have blown down a handful of times, but all are still serviceable.
Not a very good picture, but this is a coyote about 100 yards from the barn.
I missed.
Who wants to see some casting?
I thought so, but here it is anyway.
Hammer half buried in sand, orange blind riser to feed shrinkage, turquoise riser to take initial flow surge, runner in sand below, gate going to blind riser, and I'm holding up the sprue. Pretty small stuff but works great.
My finger is in approximately the same location after finishing the mold, cutting the pouring basin, and installing a foam plug.
The pour
Post pour
Demolded, I forgot to turn it the same way
And the bottom side. I forgot to put a ramp in to let the metal to the bottom of the pattern gently. We'll see if that affects porosity.
Stay tuned, the excitement never ends!
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Happy birthday Andy! Many more years to you sir!
