Casting metals????

[jttheclockman]

Has anyone ever casted metals such as brass, aluminum, and or copper??? Looking to do some experimental castings and was wondering if anyone has attempted this already and could give some do's and don'ts to look out for??? I wanted to try a couple different things. One being taking brass or aluminum filings and adding these to a mixture of resin. The second thing is to to take a metal shape and then add a layer of casting resin on top of or in a drilled out hole or holes.

I have the ability to use either poly resin or Alumilite so what would you recomend??? Other question is will the resins adhere well to the metals or will they pull away when cured???? This procedure will not be taking an acrlyic blank and gluing it to metal, rather it will be casting right onto the metals. Thanks for the replys and if you have any photos for examples would really be sweet too.

 

[ed4copies]

Nope, haven't tried that.

Good luck!!

 

[DozerMite]

I have done shavings and dust from alum. , brass and copper with PR. The biggest problem is it wants to sink to the bottom. So if you use pressure, it will probably end up at the bottom since it can't be mixed to keep it suspended. I'll see if I have a pic of one.

 

[workinforwood]

I know that Eugene used to do the copper or brass steel wool. You pull and stretch it out some and then cast it, looks great. Casting a sheet of metal..I'm sure you probably can if you want to. Be sure and scratch it up good.

 

[nava1uni]

If you cast thin layers and let them dry before you cast another on top of it you could have a blank with metal throughout. You would just have to be patient and willing to take more then a few hours for it to be completed.

 

[Druid]

Alumilite will adhere to metal, I found that out by mistake. I think Cindy has a good point, you might want to try a layered approach.

 

[nava1uni]

The layers won't show when the blank is turned

 

[jttheclockman]

Thanks for the replys. I think I will try a few things and report back with my findings over the next couple weeks.

 

[artme]

Buy yourself a furnace and cast some real metal!:biggrin::biggrin::tongue:

 

[wolftat]

I use metal powder in blanks all the time without it sinking, I just add it to the Alumilite late and get it right into the mold. The PR takes longer to gel so the metal has more time to sink.

 

[DozerMite]

Powder is different than shavings. I didn't have a problem with the dust as it is small enough to stay suspended just like the pigments. The shavings though are heavier and tend to stick together. I was able to keep them suspended for the few minutes it takes the PR to gel since I don't use a PP.

 

[wood-of-1kind]

Has anyone ever casted metals such as brass, aluminum, and or copper??? Thanks for the replys and if you have any photos for examples would really be sweet too.

OK, JT since you asked so nicely, here's a PR and aluminium casting that I'm working on.

 

[jttheclockman]

OK, JT since you asked so nicely, here's a PR and aluminium casting that I'm working on.

I am guessing I am looking on a pen blank. What kind of resin are you using??? It does look like it adhered to the aluminum with no problems, is that correct??? Thanks for the photos.

 

[Dai Sensei]

I tried casting some brass powder in resin, but when I turned it, it turned out like brass speckled green resin - ie the brass exposed was like brass, but the powder left under the surface stayed the colour of the powder . See the top and bottom filler pieces on the pen on the right. I used the same powder but with thin CA (fill with powder then drizzle on CA) to form the ring in between the pines cones on the first and third pens (copper on the second) that worked Ok.

 

[wood-of-1kind]

I am guessing I am looking on a pen blank. What kind of resin are you using??? It does look like it adhered to the aluminum with no problems, is that correct???

Silmar 41 = PR The aluminum bonded to the PR fairly well, but I would suggest that you 'rough' up your metal of choice w/ sandpaper prior to casting. Make sure that your metal strip(s) is not too thick since the resistance may be too great when turning the combo (PR & metal). A little trial and error to work out the kinks. It's still a fairly new approach for me so that I really won't know what works and what does not. Live and learn I guess. Good luck with this.