Make your own metal moulding boxes Part 6

[@Preso58]

Not too shabby indeed! Love your vintage drill press too.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Mark, The little drill press was my fathers - it is older than I am.... Martin

[@Preso58]

@@olfoundryman8418 I have a miniature that's very similar. It is a sensitive drill attachment designed by George Thomas. It has the motor mounted at the same level as the base and a belt drive around two jockey pulleys. Only two speeds though. It's nice to see old machines still being used. Regards, Mark

[@smallcnclathes]

Mark Presling you should see the 3 ton monster Cincinnati mill he has hiding in a corner. Not as old perhaps but certainly a vintage piece.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Mark, It was made by "Advance" here in Melbourne (Huh, those were the days - we actually made things!) Mine has a #1 taper and is indeed just a 2 speed -sounds like the same unit.... Martin

[@pedroulloarodriguez4920]

You are a great professional masters of teachers. His ability to explain and his determination to do things in the best possible way is impressive. It has been an honor to have met him, even if it was through KZbin. I hope that after all this time since your last video you are well. I want to thank you for all that you have taught us. A warm greeting from Spain I hope you understand my english Thank you again 🙏🙂

[@olfoundryman8418]

Pedro, I can understand your English perfectly well and its a lot better than my Spanish 😊. Thank you for your nice comment and greetings back to you form a very severely locked down (Covid) Melbourne Australia. If I have managed to impart some useful knowledge to you I am well pleased.... Martin

[@networkcrasher]

Stopping by to wish you good health, Martin. Hope you're seeing some sort of recovery. Every time I see a casting video on youtube I think of you and how they're doing it wrong :-)

[@olfoundryman8418]

Network, Thank you for thinking of me. Well, I am not getting any worse at least! 😊 There may in fact be some instrumental improvement - may! Yes, when watching YT I sometimes end up screaming at the monitor -"No No don't do it like that!" (or less polite words to that effect 😊) It can be very frustrating seeing people muck up what I am not well enough to do. Some people just do not care - all they are after is views and subs, others just do not know, and some I can no longer watch as they think they know it all but they don't, and these people wil never change. Be happy in the fact that you have gained enough knowledge to know who does and who does not know.... Martin

[@networkcrasher]

@@olfoundryman8418 cheers Martin. Any improvement is just that, improvement. Glad to see your spirits are up and your wits are still shining strong. Stay safe mate

[@ericmann8347]

Martin - Just want to express my gratitude and appreciation for your foundry skills and willingness to spend so much of your precious time making video's to share those skills with us. I find you're responsiveness to comments incredibly helpful ... from those replies many of my questions have been answered ... like you you use calcium carbonate powder for your parting agent, why you use Ferrux NF (by Foseco) exothermic, the addition of wood/corn flour to your greensand, etc. And I've learned a ton about sprue size, pouring basins, facing and green sand, pouring rate, etc. You're work is first rate! Hope you're health is improving and thank you so much for all your effort making really informative/helpful video's!

[@olfoundryman8418]

Eric, Thank you very much for your wonderful comment - it is very much appreciated. Not many Youtbers get much in the way of physical return for their efforts, but the receipt of a comment such as yours makes all the effort worth while - Thank you. My health remains much the same but there is some hope ( I hope!).. Martin

[@jcco1973]

"It's molding box, not an aerospace part" :-)))) Watching those episodes three days in a row! Sparkling, inspiring, funny and absolutely useful!!! Thank you so much, Sir!

[@olfoundryman8418]

Andrey, Well, even a pedantic idiot like me has to get a bit realistic at times! 😊. I am just sorry that I am not yet well enough to finish this series I feel rather bad about that - but one day with luck I will get there... Martin PS You have to have a bit of a laugh every now and then - life is pretty dull if you don't.

[@jcco1973]

@@olfoundryman8418 of course I will :-)

[@michaelhannah5376]

I hope Martin will be back st the crucible soon. His wisdom and video skills are very much missed

[@olfoundryman8418]

Michael, Believe me I miss being back at wielding the crucible. I am trying to get there but --- well, time will tell... Martin

[@GizmosWorkshop]

@@olfoundryman8418 recent fan, you're "the man" I absolutely love your videos :) Hope your health will improve and that you'll be back soon. Your videos have improved my casting skills only with the last couple of weeks by a considerable amount. If your health allows, might I suggest making some voice/photo/drawing only videos to maybe help you feel better? I'm sure there are quite a few subjects you can enlighten us minions of the forge on without needing to even get out of bed :) I'll join all the others on wishing you good health and quick improvements.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Geir, Thank you for your comment. I am glad if anything I have put out there has been of use to you. I have thought of doing a video or two along the lines that you have suggested and indeed I have one planed for sure (I hope 😊) that I will shoot in the next week or two. Generally though there is the problem that most ideas that come to mind require at least some physicality and I am limited to about 30 quite uncomfortable minutes at best. The videos in the moulding box series were done with gritted teeth a little bit at a time ( ah, the wonders of editing 😊) and much as I would like to get back to that series and finish it off I am not currently up to it either physically or mentally - I need to get some medical certainty one way or another - this not knowing for sure and worrying about it takes a heavy toll. Another problem is that ( I think) people much prefer seeing flame and molten metal and action etc rather than a dry talking head going on (boringly) about the finer points of making a good casting, But we will see as then planned video will feature one of my castings now all machined up and presented as an example of what is possible if - unlike many on YT - care is taken all during the process. I will vent a little spleen 🤬at some of those (unnamed) who do not seem to care at all but still put out casting videos... Regards, Martin

[@gregr267]

We are all very anxious to benefit from more of your wisdom. But you certainly should not feel pressured. Even if you never go to all of the work of producing another single video, what you posted already is of HUGE benefit to thousands of people. Thank you.

[@pvtimberfaller]

Sorry to hear that you are in poor health. Please bore everyone with the boring details! That’s the important stuff between books and a good finished job! Thank you for all the effort you have put into sharing your knowledge through your videos.

[@unclebobsbees4899]

Something my grandsons will never know about: working on cylinder heads. 🤯 Love the work and snippets you toss around Martin, always good info for the neophyte.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Uncle, Never know about cylinder heads - lucky them. 😊OH! The blown gaskets, the grease under the finger nails, the skinned knuckles, stripped or rounded nuts, broken studs , cracked blocks, leaky exhausts etc etc - sigh.... Martin

[@getsurreal7203]

I'm gradually progressing on foundry knowledge and acquiring all my equipment. I've learned so much from you. There are so many videos of improper casting technique compared to what you teach. I don't even have my forge yet, but I've stared printing these molds. Can't wait to get the final piece of the puzzle with the pins videos. I hope you are feeling better.

[@olfoundryman8418]

GetSurreal, You are not wrong about all those bad videos out there. They are in fact why I started my channel - in an effort to counteract all the bad information. It is very frustrating that at the moment because of health issues I am unable to put out all the good information that I have in mind. It is particularly frustrating that I have been unable to finish the moulding box series. The last two or three episodes were done with great difficulty and pain because of the health issues. However there is at last some small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and I may be able to return to the series - soon - maybe - I hope - touch wood. Not exactly feeling any better yet but the possibility is now there...Martin

[@EvgeniDemirev]

With great respect and hope to heal faster! I wish you much more health!

[@olfoundryman8418]

Evgeni, Thank you... Martin

[@jjjkjk9006]

Hello sir. A several million times thank you. I learned a lot. i mean really a lot. I pray you get better and keep making these lovely videos.

[@olfoundryman8418]

jj, Thank you for your comment - I am hoping to get back to making videos as I have so many ideas for them - I just need for my health to improve a bit more... Martin

[@mai.berryy]

Thanks for these videos, Since uni is closed because of the pandemic these videos have helped me undersstand metal casting more, so thankyou

[@olfoundryman8418]

Maira. Happy to have helped... Martin

[@brentnorman464]

Martin good to see you back producing videos. Could you please do a final video on the metal molding boxes to show the pin installation.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Brent, I am trying to manage doing exactly this. However my health makes it difficult - I cannot stand upright for more than a minute or two before the pain gets so bad that I have to sit down. It makes shooting the necessary video rather difficult - not impossible mind you and indeed I have recently been able to come up with a method that got around the earlier difficulties I had in getting the pin holes in the correct place. I hope to have another go at this project soon - hang in there...Martin

[@tobhomott]

Great job! I find the alignment pins are always the trickiest part to get right, they have to be just about perfect or they bind up, even with slots at one end. So I am very much looking forward to the next part!

[@olfoundryman8418]

Tobho, You are not wrong about the pins and its an area where many people have a lot of trouble. Trying to have the pins engage in both ears of the non pin box half is a cause of a lot of trouble as it requires tool room tolerances to be able to do this. I will be going into this in the next part (or maybe the part after, it depends on how long the fixed end of the pins takes) - you might be looking forward to it but I am not too sure that I am😊... Martin

[@markfryer9880]

@@olfoundryman8418 Tool room tolerances while working with sand. A recipe for disaster, no doubt about it.

[@wyohman00]

Martin, we all miss your amazing videos and we hope you're doing well.

[@olfoundryman8418]

William, Thank you for your good thoughts. I am still alive and not getting any worse, some current medical stuff may even improve things - we shall see... Martin

[@lancer2204]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thanks for responding Martin, your silence had become concerning. Glad to hear you're doing "OK" and looking forward to your next vlog.

[@cobraCPT]

Thank you very much for sharing your expertise, I was able as an absolute beginner to achieve success with my first pour due to basically copying your methodology. Just finished pinning the 150x200 flask. The only idea I had was to clamp each half assembled to a bench top mill and pilot drill them with a 160mm x 3mm dia bit. Im well pleased with the finished product, thanks once again.

[@olfoundryman8418]

cobra, Well done! Foundry work isn't easy but its a lot easier when done as close to right as manageable. I try to show what I have found to be the right methods. I am sorry that I have not been able to finish the moulding box series as yet. Health issues (still ongoing) forced me to suspend video making mid way through the series, and most unfortunately just as I was about to demonstrate the hardest bit - fitting the pins. I hope to get back to it but it may be a month or two yet! My initial trials drilling the pin holes showed a problem in that the drill tended to run down the slope on the pin ears, meaning that the holes were inaccurately positioned and not vertical. This is a problem with drill presses - they are not very rigid and also drills can flex a lot. Use of a mill and bolting things in place would be a big help and if one has a mill the only smart thing to do. However, I had said that I would show how to do it without using a mill because not everybody has a mill. I have developed a method and now just have to get well enough to demonstrate this and finish the video series off. I always figured that anyone who made any of these boxes would never regret the effort - they are just so much better than wooden ones. Over the years I have made about 40 such boxes (various styles !😊)and I have been glad of them ever since.....Martin

[@cobraCPT]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thanks for the response, I also had that bit walking problem on the drill press, so I figured the mill would have less play and just take it very slow at the beginning. I like the al box a lot, just keep forgetting to use gloves and they do get a lot warmer on the outside than their wood counterparts. Needless to say I keep checking back to see when the sprue design vid is up. :)

[@justmystuff2454]

Hello Olfoundryman; Martin, I hope you are battling along okay. Thank you for all your interesting and informative videos. Best Wishes and Cheers.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Just, Thank you for you good thoughts.... Martin

[@stephanemor4871]

Thanks for the excellent video series ! I watched them all, and can't wait to fire both the 3d printer and the furnace. 👍

[@olfoundryman8418]

Stephane, Hopefully my health will improve enough for me to finish this video series. In the meantime get that printer and furnace out of the cupboard and going... Martin

[@DJVWoodworking]

@@olfoundryman8418 Martin, I just found your videos and they are amazing. Hope you are doing ok.

[@luckygen1001]

Congrats you have a million views for all your videos.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Well, I will be blowed, so I have But - big deal - you have over 6.5 million and our "friend" in the UK has over 75 million. Now to something important:- I have many KG of cast iron scrap that I wish to get rid of. In the main its bits of old dies made from pieces of con-cast iron grade E. I made these dies myself so I know what the iron is. Do you want this material of do I just throw it out?... Martin

[@luckygen1001]

@@olfoundryman8418 Yes I can take that scrap of your hands, will you be home tomorrow afternoon or thursday afternoon?

[@olfoundryman8418]

@@luckygen1001 Yes, I will be home both days - I will put the kettle on :)... Martin

[@luckygen1001]

@@olfoundryman8418 I will be there around 2-3 o'clock this afternoon.

[@peterpeterson7665]

Thanks for this series. I appreciate the effort you go to share your skills and make these videos. I have 3d printed, assembled and painted the 150mm pattern, from your .STL file. Am going to have a go at casting them tomorrow. Cheers.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Peter, Well done - please let us know how you get on.... Martin

[@peterpeterson7665]

@@olfoundryman8418 cheers Martin, Would you mind telling me where you get your foundry supplies from in Australia, I'm based in sydney and am having a hard time finding things locally. Ebay seems the only place and the options are limited. I definately cant find things like the exothermic you use on there. Cheers

[@olfoundryman8418]

Peter, Foseco who make the exothermic (Ferrux NF) have a branch in Padstow NSW. They carry a large range of foundry stuff, fluxes mould coats dye coats etc. You will have to buy in whatever size they sell (the exothermic is in 25 Kg bags as is the coverall 11 flux I get from them. I get my aluminium ingots from Haynes Metals also in Sydney. Crucibles and refractories from Vesuvius same address as Foseco. Be aware that some small suppliers (who will sell small quantities) seem to want to solve the national debt with every sale that "green sand" mob want $7.50 for 1/2 Kg of calcium carbonate parting agent (it's what I use) But I got mine at less than $3.00 per Kg from (I think ) Consolidated Minerals (25 Kg bag). Try to get to know other local hobby foundry types buy in reasonable qtys and split. NOTE some things can NOT be sent via post exothermic is one of these - don't try it nitrate sniffers will catch you out. Talk to local professional (small) foundries best contacted mid morning ask them where they get there stuff from and if in exchange for good old fashioned folding stuff (beer money) they will sell small amounts to you I know people who get their metal this way paying a premium price of $5.00 per Kg. (I pay about $4.00 per kg in 100 kg lots plus freight.) Anything specific that you need just ask I may have a source. Good luck .. Martin

[@peterpeterson7665]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thanks Martin. I will contact foseco and Vesuvius on Monday morning. I have recently found a digital copy of a foseco book on non ferrous casting and from what I've read of it so far it seems quite a wealth of knowledge. Probably well beyond what I'll ever need, but I'm enjoying the read anyway. I've noticed there are a few smaller foundries in the Sydney area so I'll pop in next time in nearby one. A bit of beer money can go a long way sometimes 😂 Thanks

[@donniebrown2896]

Martin, you don't know how relieved I am, haven't seen you comment on perry's channel and knew you were having health problems gave me some serious concerns. I have three channels from OZ I truly love to watch for various reasons. Two are for gaining knowledge and one just for the outrageous humor. Hope you a smooth healing, I'm patient, as proof I'm still subscribed to oil burner and he hasn't posted in more than three years. Hopefully you will heal, the beer flu....who the hell knows, and you'll get to see the little ankle biters soon. Thanks Martin

[@olfoundryman8418]

donnie, Sadly Perry thinks me guilty of some heinous crime against him ( I am not) so I don't watch his channel and and I suspect he not mine - Eh - these things happen! Again sadly, healing seems to be avoiding me - another surgeons appointment tomorrow and no idea what will come of that! Have lots and lots of ideas for videos but currently incapable of acting on any of them - very frustrating. Who is the "outrageous humor" channel, I am in desperate need of some comedy relief and bad casting channels no longer cut it for me - once they were funny now they are just sickening in their butchery of the gentle art of foundry... Martin

[@donniebrown2896]

@@olfoundryman8418 Martin, sorry about perry, but as we say here "it is what it is" Just got notified of your reply. Love y'alls dry straightforward sense of humor. That's the only reason I stick with some channels..have gone back many many times and watched ,"oilburner" he really doesn't like what he calls "safety sissies" and his next door neighbor. From what I've found out he's been around for a long time. Seems to be extremely smart in using waste oil. He is my "go to" for a good chuckle Wishing you well in your struggle, trust me when I say old age ain't that much fun. I'm not that much younger than you and my body is very angry for the way I treated it in my younger days. Be safe and thanks for passing along your knowledge.

[@abhayharsora652]

Hi sir, Happy to see you again.Thanks for another useful video.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Abhay, My pleasure... Martin

[@Cr055v0er]

Just here to say hi and hope you are doing well. You are a true master of your trade.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Clay, Well, I am not getting any worse and there is some hope for improvement on the horizon. Thanks for your comment.... Martin

[@eclecticneophyte2581]

Watching you struggle with which way to turn and tighten the clamps and nuts/bolts...I'm reminded of something I learned as a very young apprentice, in a diesel fuel injection repair shop (in the 1970's). It was the silly little phrase: "Righty-tighty, lefty-losey" At the time, I regarded it highly insulting to one's intelligence. But I must admit...I still recite it even today... As always, loved the video! :)

[@smallcnclathes]

Eclectic Neophyte that has to be a mechanic thing. Never heard it until coming in contact with mechanics socially. Started as a fitter machinist many years ago and I did not hear it back then.

[@markfryer9880]

@@smallcnclathes I heard it first said by Mike from Dirty Jobs. It seems to be more of a US saying, but I could be wrong.

[@eclecticneophyte2581]

@@smallcnclathes You may very well be correct. The owner of the repair shop was an ex-engine man on a coast guard vessel before gaining employment (as a civilian) in the diesel injection repair industry, and later opening his own shop; where he hired yours truly. I don't recall ever hearing the expression outside of those circles...

[@smallcnclathes]

@@markfryer9880 It is well and truly here in Oz, but more automotive than engineering from my experience

[@olfoundryman8418]

Eclectic, Yeah, just blame old age and the fact that for many years I owned a vehicle with LH threads on the off side wheel nuts 😊... Martin

[@ArtorMachine]

Super cool, I learned a lot of metal casting from you. #thumbsup

[@olfoundryman8418]

Idham, Glad to be of help...; Martin

[@johannesmajamaki2626]

Dropping by once more to wish you well! While your youtube success might feel a bit modest in comparison to some, when you think of us as just a crowd of people I think the perspective shifts a little. Few masters of old had this kind of reach, save for the authors of the most successful books. Over 12 thousand subscribed and a good number of us who visit here regularly to exchange greetings, unprompted by (and to an extent defying!) the almighty algorithm.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Johannes, Forgive my late reply and thank you for your comment. Defying the almighty algorithm indeed! And those in my most modest of positions thank all of you for doing it. If it were not for you we would have a very few channels to watch - most of which despite their millions of subs and views offer very little. It is in reality us little people who provide the breadth that keeps YT interesting enough to survive. For thanks we collectively get little in return to reward us! One possible thought re "old masters" though, many I suspect were quite secretive and guarded their expertise closely, sadly this cost the foundry industry (and I am sure others as well) greatly - it still does.... Martin

[@johannesmajamaki2626]

@@olfoundryman8418 absolutely. I think it quite conceivable that the Internet will, over the centuries, prove almost as significant as the printing press. Information can and is now shared in an absolutely staggering scale, much of it "accidentally". Where in the past each word written in a book was deliberately chosen, now we capture each pile of sand tossed atop the mould and each strike of the rammer - recording at least some of those little nuances easily lost through omission. As a young guy I've made a little point of taking some brief videos of the most usual things and places around me. I'm confident that in half a century or so these will be quite the portal through time.

[@wikusdp]

Awesome looking flasks Martin. a Quality casting starts with a quality moulding flask.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Wikus, Yep, so far so good but the hard bit - fitting the pins - is yet to be come and it has me thinking hard on how best to do it. Good flasks sure do help when making castings that's for sure.... Martin

[@steelcappedstrength]

"Dags, ya like dags?" "Dags?" "Yeah dags" "Ohhh dogs" "yeah dags". Sorry when I heard you say dags, I immediately thought of the movie Snatch. I love your videos, thank you so much.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Steel, Do I really have a "southern twang"?😊 Not surprising perhaps as my ancestors arrived in the US in the 1600s. Sadly I have never seen "Snatch".... Martin

[@markfryer9880]

@@olfoundryman8418 Oh Martin, you are such a Mayflower.

[@olfoundryman8418]

@@markfryer9880 Mayflower? No not quite - that was 1620. My lot were female line 1634 male line 1677. But the West family actually founded America in 1607 when under Sir Thomas West the Jamestown colony was set up - sadly not my West line 😰.... Martin

[@roscoepatternworks3471]

Nice series, I finally watch, skimmed, through all of them. Not sure if I'll even post this comment, but if you're reading it, I did. Importantly, this is not a criticism. Just offering a different idea. I have 4 cast aluminum flask sizes. For small parts I use a 5"×7" cope and drag, each is 2 1/4" high. This flask is cast in one piece, using a core for the on inside. The other 3 are, 7×8, 7×10, and 9×10. I have ribs on the outside and 2 grooves inside. Except for the 5×7 flask I made 2" high upsets that will work for all the flasks. In total 4 patterns for the flasks and 3 for the upsets. For specific needs I make wood flasks but I made 2 identical patterns for the pins. Now do I post the comment or not, oh what the heck, post it.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Roscoe, I am glad that you posted and thank you for it. I too have cast small boxes - well one small box - I made it about 45 plus years ago and it is very rough but I did use it from time to time, it is much the same size as your cast in one piece. I have found that a smooth i.e. ribless outside of the box is at times a handy feature as it allows me to guide the box with for example a heavy piece of very thick bar standing on its end on the bench - I have used of such guides around a box for a very high lift and for a close of a double height cope over a high core. The ribs are on the inside form maximum sand holding - I have found that things like groves do no always cut it and drops can occur (with my sand anyway.) My metal box sizes are 6*8, 8*10, 10*12 and 8*12 I have 11 each of the first three and two of the last, heights are 3.5 inch except fort the 6*8 which are a little lower. I have some older cast sides that were not much of a success - used them in this video series though, they were all 4 inches high (Too high) and used the diagonal corners but were ribbed both inside and out - but I pinned them badly. I have perhaps 70 or so individual cast sides plus another 30 or so just 2.5 inches high - never used these much! I have been throwing out all sorts of odds and sods of wooden boxes - I had about 40 or 50 of the blighters but am in "clean up" mode - I hate wooden boxes!.... Martin

[@roscoepatternworks3471]

@@olfoundryman8418 I turn all my wood flasks into patterns and the aluminum angle, used for pins, into castings. At least when I cast a real flask of the same size. I can only melt about 6 lbs of aluminum and 18 lbs of copper alloys. So I'll only have 2 flasks of each size. Once I get that done, the wood flasks go away. Only to be made as the need arises. One way to save wood flasks is to screw 3/4" x 1/8" steel to the strike off surface of the flasks. I don't make enough castings to make that worthwhile. I only make what I need. And I'm too old to work on someone else's projects.🤨

[@olfoundryman8418]

@@roscoepatternworks3471 "And I am too old to work on someone else's projects" Love it just love it - you must have been reading my mail. I have got about 5 years on you and had intended giving up on doing others work at 75 but sadly the slings and arrows of outrageous old age got to me first. - Sigh.😰 Most of my melts were in an AC 25 crucible which when just about dangerously full will hold 11 KG of aluminium - two melts a day for 10 throttle bodies. Later I went to an AC90 and baled out using a well coated steel ladle so all 10 in one melt. I made a pretty meagre living for about 40 years but it kept the wolf (and the bank manager) away. Taken a rather heavy toll on my body though. I have a tame pattern maker at call - well, tame as they get 😊 and he and I played "swapsies" patterns for me castings for him. Unfortunately currently I am unable to do any castings but if I can get the pain under control I hope to get back to it as I have a few projects in mind - quite a few.... Martin

[@roscoepatternworks3471]

@@olfoundryman8418 I've never met a tame patternmaker, I know I've never been one. Especially when engineers get involved. I've had to redesign several poorly designed parts so the designer could get a good casting. But building patterns was always fun and at times challenging. Patternmakers are like mouthy kids that really do know what we're talking about.😄😏 Dave aka Roscoe

[@CraigLYoung]

Thank you Martin, always educational.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Craig, your welcome.... Martin

[@adnanjwad8945]

Well done excellent job

[@olfoundryman8418]

ADNAN, Thank you.... Martin

[@jjjkjk9006]

We have only got one martin and we love him a lot. so please come back we do really miss you.

[@olfoundryman8418]

jj, Thanks for the comment. Desperately trying to make a come back but ill health is slowing me down, Return not certain but soon I hope.... Martin

[@jjjkjk9006]

@@olfoundryman8418 I do hope and pray that you get better dear martin. Do you think is there any thing i can do for you? What about my hands, do you need them? They are no where near as good as yours but they can do some if god wants.

[@bradivy7137]

For doing the holes for the pins without a drillpress. I have done some milling by hand for cutting aluminium about 4 inch by 4 inch area using 1/2 inch 4 flute milling bit in a plunge router. Extreme care must be use when doing it this way lite cuts of. 020" Max when by hand. If you can lock both router and work piece solid it will work find just don't jam the router down it must be feed slowly or you run the risk of jarring the router by digging into to the soft aluminium.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Brad, Man, you live on the edge! 😏 Sounds a bit risky to me. Usual to use only a 2 flute (and even a one flute ) for aluminium milling but have you found the 4 flute necessary for this hand held work? Martin

[@JB-mw5rg]

Thanks again Martin!

[@olfoundryman8418]

Jaap, My pleasure... Martin

[@GrezArifiyan]

amazing casting result, no pore.

[@mohammed7956]

Hi Martin :Thanks you have amazing and new ideas

[@olfoundryman8418]

mohammed, Nothing really new or amazing but thanks for saying so.... Martin

[@cobramartrogers]

Great knowledge allied with natural teaching ability. - thank you for sharing. I may be jumping the gun here but I’m wondering how the modularity can work when you have precise pins and not-so-precise castings with bolts in clearance holes?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Cobram, Yeah, well I am wondering that too.😊 Seriously though, the "not so precise castings" has forced the use clearance holes but the main saving grace is the pin and slot arrangement on the non fixed pin box halves. Without this - i.e. with two holes - the boxes would simply not be usable. The modularity / versatility has worked on older (and cruder) boxes of a similar design. If I can just come up with a relatively easy way of fitting the pins it will work on these boxes too. I hope to solve the pin fitting problem within the next day or two..... Martin

[@danielbandera5070]

Hola Martin, he estado leyendo tus respuestas y siguiendo tu evolución hasta hace un mes, espero que sigas mejorando, haciendo o no videos, eso es lo de menos, lo importante es que te sientas bien, un abrazo Martin.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Carlos, Thank you for your kind words. I hope to get better too but at the moment I seem to be in a bit of a bad patch - with luck it wil pass... Martin

[@thoughtnox]

i totally liked the concept of the modularity, but it somehow got me wondering if it is worth the additional effort at all. Usually you use 2-3 different kinds of boxes, and the amount of variation on the modular ones due to them being about the same height is so little, that i'd end up just using the next larger ones (in all dimensions) instead of fiddling with them. If i'd make some instead of using the professional steel ones or the improvised wood ones, i'd most likely cast them as one piece, or in the worst case two L-shaped pieces that are somewhat easier to mold. On the other hand the internal draft could be an inverted rib to catch the sand, one core insert per lock side... pretty easy to make them as one piece. But it's a nice project for beginners that don't have all the wood-equipment nor welding equipment but a 3d printer and a bit of time on their hands nonetheless. They look fabulous!

[@markfryer9880]

I have the wood equipment and the welding equipment, but no 3D printer.

[@olfoundryman8418]

rocketri, I will come back to you with an appropriate answer but you cover a lot of points so the answer will be a bit long (I think) so it is taking some time to do - stay tuned... Martin

[@thoughtnox]

@@markfryer9880 imo it is possibly faster to cut some wood plates, notch the locks with a router, apply a coat of paint and cast and weld them together instead then, although this project is still a nice project. it is just targeted towards a very specific usecase that does not apply to my personal workflow very well, but educational nonetheless.

[@thoughtnox]

@@olfoundryman8418 i'm always very tuned and curious about your videos. there's not too much quality casting content on youtube yet (yours has been raising the bar ever since, along with a few other video makers), and i know how much effort it takes to even take videos, more even to cut, finish and upload them, i really respect your work, and i hope you didn't take my criticism as an offense. Keep it up! I wish i had the time to record videos of my work, which i do not.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rocketeri, I am sorry for the great delay in writing this reply - I am a bit overwhelmed and under capable at the moment and find it difficult (read, impossible) to keep up. Firstly, absolutely no offence taken! I appreciate all comments and particularly those that provoke thought - they keep me on my toes and keep me learning. You are quite right about the 2 to 3 different boxes. 50 % of my work is done in what I call my 8*10 inch box, 25% in my 6*8 inch, and 20% in my 10* 12 inch. The remaining 5% is spread across 40 or so wooden boxes of all shapes and sizes (the limit being a box that I can lift at least half of when rammed full of sand - it’s a limit forever getting smaller with age 😊. However, my work has been mainly productions of small runs. It is highly repetitive in nature, the same jobs keep coming up. I don’t see this as a situation that would apply to a hobbyist. Thinking back to my early days just about every job was different and often required a different box that I would have to go and make up. If reasonably possible I did just use the “next largest box” but there can be a significant problem with doing this. Take my 8*10 - it has an area of 80 square inches my “next largest box” 10*12 has an area of 120 square inch. That is a 50% increase for just an inch bigger all round - 50% more weight, 50% more sand to ram, 50% more sand to reprocess, 50% increase in effort and time, and of course 50% more sand to have in the first place. If using petrobond as a lot of hobbyists do that’s an expensive 50%. I have about 600Kg of sand in play at any given time with petrobond at $4.00 per Kg (local) that’s $2400.00 a lot of money. Hence I use a natural green sand. Even if our hobbyist has just 100 to 200 Kg to play with its still $400 to $800 worth and I would regard 100 Kg as an absolute minimum if more than a couple of castings are going to be made at any one time. Its not difficult to see why petrobond users scrabble to save every grain. BUT even with green sand it still has to be obtained/made/prepared and although a lot cheaper than petrobond in dollar terms its much the same in effort. So, to me the “next largest box” approach, while useful, has limitations. Personally, and while I know that many professionals do use them I would never use steel boxes - to damn heavy! I have tried casting a box in one piece and Luckygen1001 has done a bit of that. I did contemplate the “L” shaped idea too. However, our brief here was to produce a versatile box - really a collection of box sides that could be assembled in many, many ways to produce a plethora of box shapes, sizes, and configurations. A little job, bolt together 4 off 150 long sides for each of cope and drag, a very long job bolt together 2 off 150 and 4 (or more) off 300 (with intermediate wood spacers and some cross bolts. Etc., etc I am sure you get the idea. We are trying to cover as many eventualities as possible here without the need to make a quick roughie wooden box every time a different job comes up. This is what I used to do and I now have well over 70 boxes with about half of them wooden - in all shapes and sizes - being used for that 5% of the work. I have then stuffed everywhere, up in the rafters and clogging shelves. Of course, I do realize that to get this versatility it would be necessary to make at least 8 of each of the 4 side lengths plus any additional of the two middle sizes. That’s 48 castings - quite an ask and probably not many will do it (pity☹) Although note that I have done 1 run of 64 one of 84 and another of 188. After some thought based on experience, we figured that the 45 degree mitre corner was the only way to achieve the end result we were after and allow box side production with no milling machine or lathe. As a final comment I do realize that most likely any boxes made as the result of this video series will likely stay in whatever configuration they are first assembled in - BUT - the possibility exists to cater for that outlier job with relative ease. I am working on finishing this video series but it is taking a toll - I hope I can get there. Regards, Martin

[@ruperthartop7202]

'Not Too Shabby' at all. Great video thanks

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rupert, My pleasure.... Martin

[@iant1645]

After a few years of using bean cans to get the pressure, and getting very porous castings, I thought I would try a tapered sprue as you suggest. A couple of degrees tapering down to 8mm. I kept the bowl full but the aluminium froze in the sprue. What is the probable cause of this? Pouring from too high? A very good series of videos on the molding boxes. I will have a go at a set once I have resolved this problem.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Ian, Well, that is all a bit disappointing. The most obvious/likely cause is cold metal. Do you know what temp you poured at? How did you measure it? If you are one of those people who judge by eye (many people do) you need to be aware that on a bright day the metal will look cold but on a dull day it will look hot even though the temp on both days is the same. The apparent colour change from silver to red to pink to yellow is very marked near the pouring temps and even slight background light changes can fool you. I consider my thermocouple one of my more indispensable pieces of equipment, and I record the pouring temp of all my aluminium castings (I have a data sheet for every casting for future reference) If you do not have a thermocouple I strongly urge you to get one. However there are other possible causes, What was your metal source - mixed alloys and worse still a mix of cast and wrought aluminium can cause lots of trouble. Fine material (machining swarf, chips, turnings can be very bad as the resulting metal will contain lots of fluidity robbing oxide - I have seen aluminium produced from these materials so thick with oxide that it was like porridge and about as fluid.😱 Another problem is with the shape of the pouring basin I have seen people cut the basin with a spoon and this can make basin like half a sphere, this can interfere with the flow - keep the basin vertically sided. Even worse is the all to common problem of the ridge between the basin and the sprue being too high. This ridge should be NO MORE THAN 5 to 10 mm high from the bottom of the basin - thus if the basin is say, 40 mm deep there should be 30 to 35 mm of metal over the top of the ridge during the pour. People seem to get his the wrong way round and have just 5 to 10 mm of metal over the ridge - won't work like this! As a final point the junction of the sprue and ridge must be well radiused. If it isn't an air trap will occur where the radius should be and this will greatly restrict flow. Go and have a look at my basin and sprue video and see if your basin and sprue conformed to that. I the next video showing sprue calculations (a few weeks away yet) I will show an actual poured basin and sprue so you can compare that to what yours looks like. As a clue if the aluminium froze in the sprue it likely would have been very close to freezing in the ladle/crucible too. What did that look like at the time -were you able to pour the metal out of the crucible and into say, ingots or was it too pasty? As a matter of interest I have occasionally had a sprue partially blocked by sand effectively my 8 mm sprue was a 4 mm sprue - it did not freeze - casting took a long while to pour though😊 8 mm with 2 degrees per side should be OK, 1 degree per side - Eh perhaps not so much - I use 1.4 degrees per side but be aware that there is no universal taper - darn it 😰...Martin PS high sprues are supposed (huh, supposed) to help avoid porosity as allegedly (huh) the extra pressure makes it more difficult for porosity form and gas to come out of solution - well maybe!

[@iant1645]

@@olfoundryman8418 Hello. Thanks very much for not only taking the time to reply, but coming back with so much information. I do have a thermocouple. I stopped heating when the temperature read 730 degrees, but it may have been hotter than this as the temperature reading was still going up. The aluminium I use consists mainly of aluminium extrusions. Half of the material was metal that had been previously melted (old feeders and risers) but no cans or shavings. After the fail, I went on to pour half a dozen ingots into cake tins. Looking at the metal at the end of the sprue - the end looks rounded and 'fluffy' so I guess it did not hit a blockage. I did aim for the 10mm ridge as you have instructed, but measuring the metal left I can see the ridge is much higher at about 20mm so this may be the cause. It was cut with a spoon . I also see that I radiused the wrong side. I put a large radius basin-ridge, but ridge-sprue is quite tight. I will have another look at your basin and sprue video, and try again when the weather gets a bit cooler. Thanks again.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Ian, 730 deg C would be fine - only very thin work would have miss run at this temperature and a round 8 mm sprue definitely should not have. I am not much in favour of using extrusion material. Basically people a lot smarter than the two of us developed alloys for specific uses and end products. Extrusion alloys are very different from casting alloys and whilst they will melt, turn to liquid, and can be cast the results are uncertain as to how well they will fill a mould and how use-able the casting will be. I would recommend sticking to a casting alloys - if you can afford it buy some decent 356 ingot - you will not know yourself! Alternatively get some alloy wheels but be careful not all of them are 356 (BMW wheels for example are not.) Many (but sadly not all) wheels have numbers on the back indicating the alloy used. One problem with small sprues is that they can block with sand very easily - I always look through the sprue to make sure there is no blockage. Can you send a photo of the end of that sprue to [e-mail] I would like to look at it and maybe make a guess at what the problem was. Sounds like your sprue/basin was a little off (just a little)😏 and that sure would not have helped but I am a bit surprised that it would cause the sprue itself to fail to run... Martin

[@TheSilversheeps]

Martin, Looking forward to seeing the pinning video- Joel

[@olfoundryman8418]

TheSilver, So am I! Thus far after 2 to 3 weeks of experimentation we are still having a littler bother getting the pins fitted correctly. I did figure it would be the hardest part of these boxes particularly when we shot ourselves in the foot by saying no lathes or mills would be used. However we thing we may now have the problem licked by using a simple 3D printed jig that is fitted with a standard drill bush ex McMaster Carr. Being printed now will try it when its gets warm enough to get back into my unheated (and insulated) shed. I now have little doubt that the pinning will span 2 videos, fixed pins first then holes and slots second....Got to get cunning with the slots --- Hmm.... Martin

[@jimintaos]

I just came across your videos recently and feel like I have learned more about the how and why of techniques in the last couple of weeks than I had in the previous couple of years of watching and experimenting. Recently I have taken on a casting project that involves casting copper and it has been a challenge-and then some. If you would care to offer any advice I would greatly appreciate your any thoughts you might have. Thank you.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Jim, Casting any pure metal can be a bit of a problem. They solidify with pronounced central pipe shrinkage and this can lead to large cavities going right down through any feeder and into the casting. Also such metals are prone to develop shrinkage -again large holes - at any hot spots, gate / casting junctions being typical. But what exactly is the problem that you are having, I could perhaps be a bit more specific if I knew exactly what was going wrong.... Martin

[@jimintaos]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thank you so much for getting back to me. I hope all is well with you. Your videos have really helped me move along with my own casting. My Dad was right: Always learn from the man who makes his living doing what you want to learn. Anyway-my problem is with the metal freezing before it has finished filling the mold cavity. The pieces I am trying to cast in copper are about 16 inches long and the bottom half is roughly 3/4 of an inch in diameter-no problem there. The fill runs directly into the bottom of the piece and flows to what will be the top of the piece. A little more than half way up the design splits into three pieces about 1/4 of an inch in diameter. In pouring at nearly 2500 F the metal gets about half way up those narrower pieces and freezes. When you look closely at the ends you can see that the outer surface in contact with the sand mold chilled and the core continued briefly before freezing as well. I had tried pouring from the center but pretty much the same thing happened. I am currently working on a refractory plaster mold-50/50 silica flour/hydrocal and plan to bake it and pour into the mold when the mold is at about 400 F. Also using a variation on your tipping mold for this. The variation is that the mold will be at about a 45 degree angle with the pouring basin cast into the mold at the base of the piece I am trying to cast. Again, thanks, and hope you are weathering the covid thing that has plagued us all. Jim

[@olfoundryman8418]

Jim, If I read your reply correctly you have a casting standing 16 inches high the bottom 8 inches of which are 3/4 of an inch in diameter the upper 8 inches of which are tree 1/4 inch diameter sections - sort of a three pronged fork . And you are running the metal to the bottom of the 3/4 inch section. The metal (pure copper) gets about 34 inches up the three 1/4 inch sections and runs out of puff and solidifies. You are pouring the metal at a rather hot 2500 Deg F. (Wow!) Do I have this about right? Pure copper is very fluid but I am not surprised that it is not making it any more than 4 inches up the 1/4 inch sections. These are a bit of an ask. Not surprised the same happened with center pouring as this divides the stream two ways and although the 1/4 bits will benefit from hotter metal the flow rate in them wil be lower - sort of a win and a loss giving you a draw! Considering how metal flows the shape of the 1/4 ends is as I would expect. Some suggestions: Make sure the top of the 1/4 inch sections are vented to the atmosphere. Assuming a sand mould oven dry the mould completely may take 4 hours at 150 to 200 deg c - support mould well while drying. Smoke the mould (whatever its made from) with an acetylene flame, this is said to increase flow distances by about 300% (yes 300%) NOTE, only acetylene works - LPG no good. Re refractory mix, not too sure about silica flour - too fine? The brew I have seen documented is 60% plaster of paris, 25% 50 mesh silica sand, 15% talc, water to a creamy consistency (whatever that means 😏) Drying /curing of these plaster based moulds is an exacting business and very necessary to success. Have a look at the Kerr web site in it they list the sort of bake out cure preheat cycles required including peak temp and mould temp when pouring. If you do not follow something like this your moulds will probably all crack and will give off steam when the copper is poured so ruining the casting. If going to a tilt cast start the mould at 20 degrees UP so the pouring basin is at the low end. In this way the metal wil fill the mould as a wave not as a thin stream. Have the 3/4 inch thick section nearest the pouring basin and have a feeder between the basin and the start of the 3/4 inch thick section. Adjust basin height and size so that when you have the right amount of metal in it the metal is just starting to enter the feeder start tilt the instant basin is full. Not an easy job you are trying to do here - good luck! If I have it wrong send drawing to [e-mail].... Martin

[@jimintaos]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thank you for the extended supply-it gives me much to think about as I plow through this project and its challenges. I tried pouring it in aluminum with the sand mold and it was just fine. The customer's first choice is copper but they have recently indicated that aluminum with a copper finish would make them happy if it gets the job done. Still, I would like to solve the problem. One of the other foundry channels (luckygen) mentions using coal dust in his cast iron work. I am wondering if that might lubricate the mold . It certainly makes for a nice finish on the castings. He recently posted using ground up particle board mixed with his facing sand-equally nice finish. Again, thank you for your time, if you are interested I will let you know how it all comes out-or if I just decided to run away and join the circus.

[@olfoundryman8418]

JIm, I know luckygen quite well, he lives maybe 80 miles away from me and we have enjoyed quite a few cuppas and good conversation. The use of coal dust is unique to the cast iron industry. Under the influence of the heat of the metal the coal out gases and provides a reducing atmosphere in the mould this stops the formation of iron oxide on the metal surface. If it were to form this iron oxide can flux with the silica sand and cause a lot of sticky burn on. Also the gas produces pressure locally in the sand grains and this helps stop the metal penetrating between them. Thus the surface improves. BUT it has to be coal dust, charcoal or graphite will not do as they will not produce gas when heated. Lucky's recent experiment using wood was based on the fact that wood will also out gas when heated. He pointed out that it has to be dry wood as the water in wet would will create all sorts of problems. I think he also pointed out that it should be fine, preferably wood flour in fact. I have suggest to him that he could also try corn flour or even wheat flour as if wood flour works these should too. But I don't see the effect of these substances being of much help with your copper casting. Yes I would be most interested to see how it all turns out and what you do to get it to work - as I am sure you will. Hmm, "run away to join the circus" reminds me of a friendly pattern maker of my acquaintance who said that he was going to do his own casting but he wisely kept taking the medication and the idea went away ..😊.. Martin

[@thomasfischer6548]

I am finish with 2 complete boxes (16 parts) and waiting for your next video!!!!!

[@olfoundryman8418]

Thomas, Sorry about it taking so long - have had back surgery and am in recovery mode - its just going to take time before I can get back to the video series. Currently I am able to do little more that the required rehab physical exercises - no hope of doing more video just yet, soon I hope!... Martin

[@thomasfischer6548]

@@olfoundryman8418 Hi Martin! Oje, I wish you all the best! If you are able to write, you can send me the Instructions, and I can test how it will work with the harded bolts and holes, I know you have something in your mind how it will work! I already finished 4 complete boxes with different dimensions (without the holes and bolts). From this tuesday we will have lockdown in Austria, so I will have enough time to drill, ream, cut and test everything! Best regards Thomas

[@olfoundryman8418]

@@thomasfischer6548 I had what could be best described as a quadruple laminectomy - two in each of two places plus a largish muscle biopsy from left thigh - effectively 3 operations in one and its a slow road back to normality. Send me an email to [e-mail] and I will see what I can do about some instructions to at least begin fitting the pins. Perhaps you can be my "Beta tester". Enjoy lock down - we are just coming out of ours and what a drag it was at over 3 months we have not seen our grandchildren for seemingly ever - they are growing up and we are missing it! 😰All because our useless state government stuffed up the hotel quarantine for returned travelers and the virus got away - 800 plus people died and Melbourne became a ghost city. Grr.🤬.. Martin

[@johnlee7398]

Miss you Martin, hope you are getting better and can return to doing your fantastic videos soon!

[@olfoundryman8418]

John, I hope I am getting better too but the best I can say at the moment is that I do not seem to be getting worse --- I think, I hope 😊... Martin

[@viscash3606]

Another casting 101 class. Please call with a quote regarding my commissioning of those 2 box sizes (bolted and pinned) and the other accessories I've previously mentioned, at your convenience. I'd be happy with the rat tail sides or the other usable rejects! can you weld material to the sand and gas failed sides?

[@thoughtnox]

you can always weld the cast aluminium, especially if the pieces are freshly cast. Cast aluminium of all types seem to warp the least also, thus it is a pleasure to do so. Just use almg5 or alsi wire/welding rod.

[@cra4512]

Just found your videos and they are fantastic. One question though, what chemical do you sprinkle on the risers as an exothermic?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Chuck, The reddish powder I put on the feeders is a commercial exothermic called Ferrux NF it is made by Foseco....Martin

[@cra4512]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thank you so much for the answer. I checked them out, and now understand the process and the need. I also just watched the video on the degassing - lance. Very solid information.

[@chowderming]

Sir, I surely do enjoy your videos! Very excellent indeed. I have done a fair bit of casting, large pours of bronze & aluminum in both resin-set sand and lost wax investment, but it has been a good 25 years. For some time now I have been collecting parts to build a setup at home and just recently began the project last weekend. Pretty informal stuff and looking forward to making things with my son. Our first go was objectively a success, but there is a great deal of room for improving the operation. Would you be willing to communicate a bit privately? I would value any suggestions you may have! Thanks very much, Fred

[@olfoundryman8418]

Fred, Please email me at [e-mail] ....Martin

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

I forgot to put in a comment! I like this. The only thing that I could maybe add is that if the corners are clamped together as a two piece unit under a squared up setting perhaps a squared piece of 18mm sheet and drilled as a unit with a hand drill you might end up with a little more square box. Not that this was all that much put in the first place.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Mark, The problem with just two sides at a time is that they have a draft angle on the top and bottom faces, this makes it difficult to sit the two sides together properly as they tend to try and sit flat on the draft angle. To avoid this I decided to put the 4 sides together at the same time and it does seem to work better this way. The squareness issue is because the 45 degree ends are not exactly 45 degrees. The patterns printed at 45 degrees (within the limits of our ability to measure) but there appears to be slight distortion during casting - probably the solidification contraction causes the 45 sides to "open their legs a little" - by measure and calculation it looks as though the 45 is only 44.5 to 44.8. I could of course set it all up under my CNC mill and turn it into a precision machined thing - exactly 45 corners and exactly square boxes but that is not the brief here, the job is to be - and will be - done without such luxuries as a milling machine. I am currently struggling with fitting the pins and what a battle royal that is turning out to be as I develop a suitable and easily copy-able technique. Current major difficulty is getting the fixed pins square to the box side - problems come from the fact that the pin holes have to be drilled through a sloped surface and the drill tends to run off also the amount of flex in a drill press is unbelievable! Still ever onward we strive.... Martin

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

@@olfoundryman8418 I hear you. Only bit of advice I can think of is putting a block between the drill press table and the base. It helps quite a bit. I actually use a small hydraulic jack and a block. Allows easy adjustments. But a block alone is perfectly fine.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Mark, Great minds think alike! I put a good sized block of Aussie red gum (hard strong heavy) in place yesterday!. It has helped a lot. Also because I have the drill table swung a fair bit to one side I have also clamped another piece of stout wood between the side of the table and the base. Am using stubb drills to minimize drill flex.... Martin

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

@@olfoundryman8418 I have worked with Red Gum wood. Evil stuff from hell that it is. It's tough alright. But most any timber will be more than strong enough on the compression to remove the spring from an average drill press table.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Mark, Evil? Pretty though. Just happen to have it lying around as bits from an old fence - useful 100*150 section 330 long blocks... Martin

[@johannesmajamaki2626]

I've been playing a bunch with a little induction heater I got for blacksmithing, taking the little crucible it came with through its paces. Admittedly 60ml truly is in the ant-league, but the convenience and ease is a thing to behold: turn it on and you've got a melt in a minute or two. Like the microwave meal of the casting world. Tiny molds are also quick to ram :D Have you ever considered scaling down a bit into the "tabletop" realm? Perhaps quite literally arranging things so that there's little if any need to stand up at all, finding tools and rigs to eliminate the aspects your body is disagreeing with. There's a chance it could be one way for you to get back to doing what you love, even if it's a bit different - especially valuable if the medical predicament refuses to clear up in the near future or even at all.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Johannes, "Tabletop" is a realm I am considering but at the moment even that would be difficult, currently my endurance with anything even remotely physical is limited to a few minutes. I have contemplated one of those 1 or 2 Kg electric resistance furnaces plus maybe a dabble into small investment work but I need to get somewhat better first. Thank you for your thoughts and suggestion... Martin

[@scruffy6151]

Box's are looking good. Fumbling around we have all been there. You just happen to have a piece of mable laying about 🤔. Never to old to learn something new.

[@charles1379]

martins videos are always informative. the granite slab was an off cut. you can never have too many off cuts.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Scruffy, Sadly I am finding the fumbling seems to go hand in hand with the CFS - nothing including my hands want to work quite the way they used to. Its actually a piece of granite (sink cut out from kitchen bench) - but marble, a machine table (or some thick MDF) would do just as well ... Martin

[@scruffy6151]

@@olfoundryman8418 i have nerve damage in my right leg and hand also blind in the right eye so stumbing and droping thing's is normal for me😁. We would make a good team. Never get rid of good marble you never know when you will need it.

[@olfoundryman8418]

@@scruffy6151 Sounds like the two of us might just about make up one worker 😊 ... Martin

[@scruffy6151]

@@olfoundryman8418 😄

[@crisislord00]

This is soo informative!! Awesome Video! Hmm about the drill press, can you not just drill a hole in the middle of the stand for the drill press?

[@woodsman2433]

Hi Martin hope your doing ok and not too poorly, all the best

[@olfoundryman8418]

Woodsman, I wish that say that I am doing well but the best I can say at the moment is that things do not seem to be getting worse (I hope 😊) Thank you for your good wishes... Martin

[@woodsman2433]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thanks for letting me know Martin, if its any consolation at all on the 10th of March I had a cavernoma removed from inside my spinal cord so im a bit worse for wear at the moment got to learn to walk again. All the best mate theres always hope.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Woodsman, Ouch! Doesn't exactly sound like you are having fun. At least I can still walk although it is not easy, but if my condition is as expected I will likely loose that ability - nothing yet certain so indeed hope still exists. Good luck with your recovery... Martin

[@woodsman2433]

@@olfoundryman8418 All the best anyway Martin. I would just like to say that your videos have always been the ones I use as a reference , there are some out there that get alot more attention for what ever reason, but I for one realise a true craftsman when I see one. All the best my friend sending you 100% positive thoughts

[@Scodiddly]

It’s deep winter in the Southern Hemisphere, he’s wearing a big puffy coat. And yet it’s still green outside the window. Guess it’s all relative, and I don’t think I’d want summers as hot as Australia anyway. :).

[@olfoundryman8418]

Scodiddly, Our winters aren't deep! 😊 Snow where I live has occurred just once in my life time. (2 inches of wet slush!) Our summers can be a tad warm with a handful of days of 40 C plus but mainly its 25 to 35 deg C. My father a Canadian said that he never wanted to see snow ever again and relished our climate summers and all. I believe New York gets both hotter and colder than we do! And we do not get anywhere near as hot (on average) as Las Vegas. The day concerned was about 14 deg C. Our current cold spell is a run of days of 11 and 12 deg C - positive 😊 .. Martin

[@markfryer9880]

@@olfoundryman8418 It last snowed in Melbourne, Australia in 1986, back when I was an Apprentice Carpenter. Man, it was cold that day! The day before I was 6 stories up with the Polish-German foreman Frank and he points to this black cloud going overhead and he said, See that cloud Son, it has snow in it! Well he was right the next day. Years later in 1999 it turned out that Frank was living in a flat beneath my sister in South Melbourne and he had beaten my father at a game of chess.

[@elsiehair8136]

Hi Olfoundryman, no videos for a while, hope everything is OK at your end. (Love your work, thank you)

[@olfoundryman8418]

Elsie. I am trying to get back to making videos as I have ideas for dozens that I want to do, but currently I have some health problems that make it very difficult to do - nothing terminal just debilitating... Martin

[@danielbandera5070]

@@olfoundryman8418 espero que sigas mejorando Martin, siempre es un placer ver tus videos, pero primero a reponerse, mis mejores deseos para ti y un abrazo desde Argentina....no muy fuerte el abrazo por tu espalda!

[@chandrahasan3225]

Good see your video again 👍

[@olfoundryman8418]

Chandra, Good to publish it glad you liked it... Martin

[@dfross87]

G;day Martin, Just checking that you're still with us. Any change (hopefully an improvement) in your condition?

[@olfoundryman8418]

dfross, Yep, still here. So far no change - various trials, attempts, and tests still going on (they seem never ending!) There is hope yet - maybe. I actually have a video in preparation. I don't do anything in it, its more an opinion talk piece re good and mainly bad foundry technique. I suspect it might be a bit - ahem - controversial as it uses snapshots from other (unnamed) peoples videos as examples of what I consider to be erroneous. It will take a while yet but it wil be interesting to see the response (if any!) Thanks for the thought.... Martin

[@dfross87]

@@olfoundryman8418 Good to hear you're still alive and kicking, Martin. I look forward to the new video, whenever it may arrive. Tell the quacks to hurry up and fix you -- we need you back making active videos!

[@TomChame]

Very nice, thanks.

[@jesseowens2864]

Being up late for on call pays off again! Good day Martin

[@olfoundryman8418]

Jesse, Good day back to you too - its nice to know that some jobs have compensations😊 ... Martin

[@AmalgmousProxy]

Checking in. Hope you are doing well.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Amalgamous, As I said to network - not getting any worse and may - repeat may - be getting ever so slightly better. Some things will never be as they were as I have permanent spinal damage (in my neck) which gives me poor balance and a bit of a tendency for my legs to not do what I want them to do. But I can still walk and occasionally I can get a bit done - trying to make the "occasional" more frequent... Martin

[@woodsman2433]

Thank you for that Martin, my son and I have just about mastered the printer , well my son has I should say. Is there any files available to print similar to yours. I also look forward to the pins as this is the part that worries me the most many thanks

[@smallcnclathes]

If I can help with printing advice please ask, what printer do you have? From another comment the files link may be listed in part 3. When I printed the patterns, I used a brim to help hold them to the bed and adaptive layer height and of course, as small a layer height as I could deal with time wise.

[@woodsman2433]

@@smallcnclathes Thanks for your reply, its all good thanks, started printing yesterday. We have a CR10S

[@smallcnclathes]

Woodsman243 ypu have a bit more room than I do then as I have the CR10 Mini.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Woodsman, Yep, the pins worry me a bit too! Started today with some preliminary experiments..... Martin

[@olfoundryman8418]

Woodsman, Damn Pins! Preliminary experiments were a bust! Now rethinking but have a few possible solutions - some of which classify as "cunning plans" of the non Baldrick kind (I hope) 😊... Martin

[@nuttyprofessor3674]

Hi Martin, love your channel. i have had a lot of success with casting aluminium with a few of your tips and was going to try and cast some cast iron engine cylinders. I haven't cast iron before and am a little daunted by it due to the extreme temp required and was wondering if you have any tips for me. I was thinking of using old car disc brakes, is this a wise choice? do i need any flux? do you have any crucibles i could purchase or recommend somewhere in Melbourne to buy them? keep up the good work Kind regards Neil.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Neil, Ah, Ha! A fellow Aussie! Note that my one experience with cast iron was a failure and it was back in about 1967. The person you should be asking is Luckygen1001 - he lives in the Gippsland area, and has been doing iron for about 30 years. He has lots of videos and I suggest that you watch them. Cast iron is said to be Gods gift to the foundry man - mainly I think because it does not shrink (if you get the composition right) and because it is very fluid. I know that Lucky does use brake discs as feed stock so I guess they are a wise choice. He has spoken of old sewing machines as the best iron out there! Not all furnaces will get hot enough depending on how well built or not they are and not all have suitable refractories in them. Lucky has a video on furnace building for iron melting. It is very hot and very hard on crucibles, furnace linings and foundry men 😊. You cannot use Silicon carbide crucibles for although they last far longer with aluminium and bronze they have an upper temperature limit of about 1350 deg C and you really need better performance than that with iron - so you must use clay graphite crucibles. I don't think lucky uses any flux and if he does its probably just limestone. Note that fluxes of any sort with any melt shorten crucible life. He does use an addition of ferrosilicon and this is important in producing a usable grey iron without chill. Sadly my crucible contact has retired but depending on the size you need I may/might/perhaps/ possibly have one here that I could sell you. After the silly season has subsided by a day or two give me a ring on 7268910 I am in eastern suburbs Happy Christmas..... Martin

[@nuttyprofessor3674]

@@olfoundryman8418 Hi martin, thanks for the reply message. I feel I will be in for a long road of experimentation and failure unless I can obtain some words of wisdom so thanks for your input. I will ring you when the holiday period is over. Kind regards Neil.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Neil, Opps! there should be a "9" in the front of that phone number.... Martin

[@SiliconeSword]

Do you have any suggestions to make aluminum file more easily, or make it clog files less?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Silicone, Aluminium picking up on files is a universal problem. Rubbish junk aluminium is usually worse. But even good quality aluminium like 356 ingot will do it too, but you can improve the situation by T5 heat treating your castings - if made in a heat treatable alloy of course. This will increase the hardness of the aluminium and thus it will be less likely to pick up on a file (or build up on a lathe tool or a drill). Some people put WD40 on the file and this can help but sometimes it just makes the file slip! The old standard trick was to rub the file with chalk (hard welders chalk preferably) this plus frequent cleaning with a file card will help quite a lot.... Martin

[@rupert5390]

I hope our mate is ok he hadn’t posted for six months - wishing olfoundryman the very best

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rupert, Thanks for your best wishes. Truth is I rather need them, currently have some back, balance, strength, and fatigue issues. These make it virtually impossible to make videos as standing for more than a few minutes is quite painful. I am hopeful that things will improve and I can get back to videos as I have so many I want to do... Martin

[@rupert5390]

@@olfoundryman8418 I’m sorry to hear that my friend you posted many high quality instructional videos that educated us all - a speedy full recovery, even though I’m not religious I will say a prayer for you quick journey back to full health - god bless

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rupert, Your good thoughts are much appreciated and I hope they work - thank you.... Martin

[@GiltronTheOne]

I have an idea for a trophy but i can't seem to get it up off the ground for production I was wondering if you were close to Brisbane maybe i could get your help.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Giltron, I am in Melbourne. So any assistance wil have to be remote. Can you send an idea or photos etc of what you are attempting to [e-mail] Martin

[@woodsman2433]

My mistake Martin found the files on Part 3 many thanks again.

[@johnmacdermid3151]

Hi Martin just wondering would you be interested in making a set of 200x250 casting box for me kind regards John P.S I'm hooked on your you tube clips great work

[@olfoundryman8418]

John, I would love to be able to do this as so many people have asked, but sadly the state of my health is such that I dare not even try. Just doing that video series was more than I should have attempted and took forever. As an aside if I were to be able each side would cost at least $20.00 and as there are 8 sides to a box it makes for a rather expensive box! I figured that the only way people would get boxes like these was to make them themselves just as I have done several times over the years In total I have made close to 50 complete boxes. Making them is good casting practice and I commend that approach to you.... Martin

[@johnmacdermid3151]

Hi Martin thanks for finding the time for the reply and wishing you well with your health. Just curious as I mentioned I'd like two 200x250 box's would you be interested in selling two of your used box's kind regards john

[@damonalagich4524]

Martin, do you do small alloy cast jobs? I want to cast up 2 simple shaped brackets for an old beach cat rudder set up. I have made a plug of it out of air drying modelling clay.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Damon, I certainly used to.These days with my health its a bit of a battle but if you live close maybe we can do something - you doing the donkey work me cracking the whip I am in Croydon outer eastern Melbourne. If close enough email me at [e-mail] .... Martin

[@damonalagich4524]

@@olfoundryman8418 It would of been a pleasure. If it wasn't for the lockdown I would fly down there to do it, I am in Brisbane, I used to live in Balmain back in the day. The climate here, kills Sydney but. If your into boating this is the place to be.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Damon, I know of someone in Brissy that may be able to help I will contact him and see if he would like to hear from you - stay tuned.... Martin

[@olfoundryman8418]

Damon, I have heard back from my Brisbane contact and he is happy to look at your job - come to me on [e-mail] and I will give you his email address....Martin

[@damonalagich4524]

@@olfoundryman8418 thanks will save me kitting up for a one off pour. Tell him I have the alloy, I have plenty of 5083 in 4mm sheet- is a marine grade.

[@SiliconeSword]

About how many pounds of aluminum would I need to make one of each size of the sides including the handles?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Silicone, I will weigh the sides that I have made and let you know the result... Martin

[@zerlingr4sh222]

Mr Oldfoundryman, where have you gone? Are you okay? I hope that everything is fine, because your videos were very interesting and useful, and I would like to continue. If anyone knows why he stopped making videos, please write here.

[@olfoundryman8418]

zerling, I have not gone anywhere, I am still here but suffering from some non terminal but debilitating health issues that currently make it very hard (impossible) to make videos. I am trying to get enough improvement to at least allow me to finish the moulding box series of videos and to do some of the many more I have in mind. Unfortunately current Covid restrictions on "elective" surgery mean I am in no mans land waiting waiting waiting - 😰 sigh! In the meantime I am trying to work on some sit down videos but even that is difficult. Thank you for asking.... Martin

[@zerlingr4sh222]

@@olfoundryman8418 I thought that only in Ukraine such a madhouse with medicine because of COVID19. Is it possible to test patients for COVID19, to allocate clean areas for ongoing operations? Is there a way to speed up the queue for a scheduled operation? I'm worried about you... If you need a break for health, then it's better not to overload yourself with the release of the video!

[@olfoundryman8418]

@@zerlingr4sh222 Sadly the madness is world wide! And it seems that the only way it will end - locally at least - is if we vote our current state Government out at the next state election in November, but sadly it looks likely they will get re-elected. So I continue to endure backpain that stops me from standing for more than 30 seconds or so. I am awaiting the implantation of a device (a bit like a pacemaker) that hopefully will reduce the pain to manageable levels. But this is elective surgery so currently banned! Once again thank you for your concern, but do not worry I will be ok- things are what they are and if I never get back to videos than as a friend says it does not matter - "its only KZbin". But I sure hope and would like to get back to it.... Martin

[@AxelP33]

@@olfoundryman8418 I was wondering why no more videos 😭. Take care, and thank you for all you taught us !

[@charliekrauter5176]

Martin, I am so sorry to hear this.As others have already said, we all learn a lot watching you and you are sorely missed.

[@AmalgmousProxy]

Checking in again. Hope you are doing well.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Amalgamous, Thanks for checking in - the realization that others care is a great comfort. I have just had trial pain mitigation surgery (very minor) but sadly it has produced strange results - less pain at night but more through the day. Not what I wanted at all! However its early days and we shall see.... Martin

[@AmalgmousProxy]

@@olfoundryman8418 That's unfortunate. I truly hope things get better for you. I miss your content. But take care of yourself first by all means. Take care.

[@adamnagorski1760]

Hello Martin, very impressed with your work and knowledge! I wonder if you are still active in the casting business? How can I get in touch?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Adam, Sadly I am not currently in the casting business, however I know people who are and if you are fairly local I can put you in touch with them. You can reach me at [e-mail] Martin

[@anonymousgeorge4321]

New subscriber. Mark sent me.

[@olfoundryman8418]

anonymous, Thank you, and bless Mark 😊... Martin

[@jrwoodsy]

Hi Martin, would you be interested in casting a emblem 4 x 6inches for a headstone? I'm near Newcastle Australia.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Woodsy, Sorry for the delay in replying. Have been in hospital. I have done such work but am currently in recovery mode from extensive back surgery so am unable to assist. However I know of a few people who might be able to help if you still need the work done... Martin

[@markfryer9880]

Another great video Martin. How are you doing in the Stage 4 Lockdown? My work has sent our workshop home for the next 6 weeks.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Mark, To be honest I am a bit over it! No contact with the extended family for months now, no Sunday roasts in the HT oven - missing birthday parties and grand-kids growing up, missing visiting friends. Still needs must I guess and at over 70 we do need to be especially vigilant. Hopefully it will all end soon. I hope that you are still getting paid..... Martin

[@markfryer9880]

@@olfoundryman8418 Martin, for the moment work is paying me as per normal. Should that change, I have Annual Leave and Long Service Leave time up my sleeve, so that part is covered. It has still knocked me about though, taken a lot of wind out of my sails.

[@markfryer9880]

@@olfoundryman8418 Martin, as the whole world is discovering, this virus will take anyone and everyone regardless of age or circumstances. It looks like those that survive are in for a very long road to recovery and may never fully recover.

[@markfryer9880]

Martin, how do you go about calculating how much aluminium you will require for each casting box?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Mark, I cheat! I melt more than I need and then weight the castings afterwards 😊 I record this on a Job sheet. Seriously One could calculate the volume of the pattern (in cc) ether by measuring or by water immersion and then add about 75% (plus?) more for the sprue runners gates and feeder then multiply by 2.4 to get the weight in liquid aluminium.... Martin

[@smallcnclathes]

@@olfoundryman8418 or the weight of the casting can be determined from the 3D model when using good CAD software.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Smallcnc, Yeah, if I had good cad software or in fact even some bad stuff and l knew how to use it, Of course if I knew someone who had such stuff who I could con into doing the necessary drawing then that would be different😊.... Martin

[@markfryer9880]

@@olfoundryman8418 Some interesting things to think about then. Of course, once you have done one casting you can record the weight of the entire casting, sprue, gates, runner and risers to get some idea as to future requirements. If you then subtract the casting, you will know how much to allow for the feeding parts when changing to a different casting.

[@simple_fred]

Okay, I’m not an expert, but wouldn’t indexing pins and rivet nuts make this easier?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Dale, Well, when it comes to putting things together I am no expert either which probably explains why I am not sure what you mean here - can you elaborate please. However, if you are suggesting that we hold the boxes together with rivets then is not on as we wish to be able to pull the boxes apart and reassemble in different configurations to suit different casting jobs. I have just Googled rivet nuts and I think I might see what you are on about but again - no - for it would restrict the versatility - this shall be made apparent in the final video of this series (when we get around to it 😊)... Martin

[@iic5298]

just came here to check on you? how are you feeling now?

[@olfoundryman8418]

IIC, Thank you for asking - feeling much the same - no better no worse, treatment is ongoing so still hope for improvement. ... Martin

[@TheCollabCurator]

I can’t find the next part, fitting the pins.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rich, Sorry but there is no part 7. Ill health has bought me to a halt on this project. This is something that I deeply regret. I have had a box sitting under my drill press ready to have the pin holes drilled but I simply cannot stand up long enough to shoot the video - the back pain is just too great. Several attempts at pain mitigation surgery have failed but further attempts may be made. Medication, even including some opiates, is ineffective but other avenues are being investigated here too. I still hope to get on top of this and when I do the first project will be to finish this video series - you are not the first to have asked - I really would like to provide you with a much better answer.... Martin

[@jeffmanges874]

Hello Martin, we miss you.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Jeff, NIce of you to say so. I miss doing the videos too but ill health prevents me doing much at the moment 😰 - working on it and hopefully better days ahead... Martin

[@thefixerofbrokenstuff]

Are you still ginnin around? Ain't heard from you in a bit.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Fixer, Yes, I am still going around and am trying to get back to a few YT things but I am hampered by nasty back pain and debilitating exhaustion. Hope to get at least the pain under control as soon as they allow elective surgery in our hospitals again - all are tied up with Covid response at the moment...... Martin

[@joell439]

👍👍😎👍👍

[@johnlaparte7955]

Hello. Anybody here who might have a backyard foundry in Melbourne? Any hobbyists? Looking to get some casting done.

[@olfoundryman8418]

John, My health makes it hard to offer you much help, but what sort of castings are you wanting and how many of them? Come to me on [e-mail] and maybe we can work something out.... Martin

[@HereForChess]

Do you sell these boxes?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Here, No, I don't sell the boxes. I wish I could but I would have to charge so much to cover my time and expenses that the boxes would be so expensive that nobody would buy them.... Martin

[@CulinaireZaken]

Are you doing allright Martin?

[@olfoundryman8418]

Pieter, No, not as well as i would like! Nothing terminal just debilitating enough to stop me being able to make more videos at the moment. Working on getting better... Martin

[@CulinaireZaken]

@@olfoundryman8418 despite some people think they can't, the videos can wait. Get well soon! Greetings from the Netherlands

[@dfross87]

Ahoy there Martin! Are you still with us?

[@olfoundryman8418]

dfross, Still with you? Ah well, sort of! I have had a bit of a bad run - glass sharp pain in back, thighs, glutes etc almost impossible to stand. After what could best be described as a quadruple laminectomy and 24 days in hospital I am in recovery mode. Well, I hope I am! Its very slow and it will be some time before I get back to things as active as making videos. This is the third spinal surgery I have had and the previous two have taught me to take it slowly. I will get back at it one day (or die in the attempt) just not sure when..Sorry..... Martin

[@dfross87]

@@olfoundryman8418 That's more than fine mate (well, you know what I mean). Your inactivity had me worried that 2020 had managed to sink its teeth into you rather deeper than that. Take all the time you need to recover -- we can't afford to lose you until you've committed ALL your knowledge to video, and answered ALL the questions that arise from those videos!

[@thinge27]

Martin, i hope you are allright......

[@olfoundryman8418]

thingie, Sadly not as good as I would like. Nothing terminal - just debilitating to the point of not being able to do much, hence the long time since the last video. Working on getting better but so far without success - still trying though - thanks for the thought... Martin

[@thinge27]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thanks Martin for your reaction. Sad to hear that you are still not feeling better. Hope you will be in the near future. Keep the faith Martin. Regards from the Netherlands.....keep us informed......We are all with you....

[@olfoundryman8418]

thinge Your thoughts are very much appreciated - thank you... Martin

[@thinge27]

Hi Martin, are you feeling better these days? Regards, Theo

[@rupert5390]

Just checking in a welfare check Mr Foundryman - we all very much hope things are better for you - cheers.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rupert, Welfare is much the same - little improvement but still seeing lots of medical professionals and lost of test going on - so there is still hope (I hope 😏)... Martin

[@rupert5390]

@@olfoundryman8418 our thoughts and prayers and good wishes are with you Martin you have a lot of fans out here.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rupert, Thank you... Martin

[@andydelarue9344]

Long time no see, why not cast as one not four

[@olfoundryman8418]

One not four - yep, fair comment. Indeed, the first metal box I made - nearly 60 years ago - was in fact a one-piece box, it was only about 125 mm square and possibly the worst castings I have ever made, even so I have use it a fair bit over the years. It got a mention in my “moulding box journey” video. Luckygen1001 tends to use cast in one-piece home-made boxes too. I could have done it this way but there were problems. Firstly, to make a 250mm square box would have needed a 350 mm square mould about 125 mm thick. While I could roll a mould this size over, I could not pick it up - just way too heavy. I would therefore have had to have grovelled around on hands and knees on the floor and I hate that! Secondly, to mould the sand retention ridges and the pin lugs would have required the use of several cores with all the problems that entails. Thirdly, I could make the 4 moulds for each of the sides individually way quicker than I could this one big mould - I could do it standing at my bench and I could lift them. Lastly, and this is the main reason, the idea is to mix and match the various box side lengths to suit the job at hand and even to extend them with suitable shaped bits of wood (or whatever) when the need arises. This will become apparent when (if) I manage to finish this video series but this depends on health improvements and in particular the finding of a successful pain management strategy- my back is agony on standing….. Martin

[@MatthewMakesAU]

@@olfoundryman8418 Sorry to hear about your back Martin, glad you're still ticking though!

[@olfoundryman8418]

@@MatthewMakesAU Thanks for your concern, Yes, still ticking - in fact the ticker is about the only bit still working as it once did.😊 .. Martin

[@wikusdp]

Hi there Martin! Hope you are doing ok.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Wikus, Sadly not as well as I would like to. More medical appointments coming up an hopefully they will provide some light at the end of the tunnel.... Martin

[@wikusdp]

@@olfoundryman8418 sorry to hear that mate, hope they can sort you out. My father also struggles with his health he is 78 this year, hard work all his life did not do his health any good. Hope you are better soon!

[@olfoundryman8418]

Wikus, Your father has only 2 years on me! I sometimes think that it would be better to go senile - at least, once it got bad enough, I would not know. Nor would I feel this frustration at not being able to do physically what I wish to do. Foundry work is hard Yakka and perhaps that's what's done for me 😥. Please pass my best wishes on to your father - one old bloke to another😊... Martin

[@wikusdp]

Hi there Martin. Hope you are doing well. How is your health these days? Hope the doctors can help sort you out. We all miss your videos but do understand that your health comes first.

[@rupert5390]

Martin, I’m Melbourne based if you need assistance or any help please reach out on this channel - big fan.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rupert, Email me at [e-mail] I am in Croydon how close are you... Martin

[@rupert5390]

@@olfoundryman8418 dropped you an email martindid you get it?

[@olfoundryman8418]

@@rupert5390 Yes I did - will reply soon am tied up with undoing the festive season who ha etc at the moment, I don't get much done in a day 😥... Martin

[@rupert5390]

@@olfoundryman8418🤙

[@rocky2615]

Great videos. You are a wealth of knowledge. I have a project to make some skillets for wall decorations. I was wondering how would you set up gates and feeders for something like this? I can give you my email address if you'd like.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Rocky, Come to me on [e-mail] ... Martin

[@johannesmajamaki2626]

Clickspring's latest clip (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIaman1urr-Nmrc) from the hand powered drill flywheel casting (kzbin.info/www/bejne/haW6h3RtlJ6Fn80) sure looks to employ awfully familiar ways of working - I sincerely doubt it's entirely a coincidence. The original video has been seen by nearly two million people. That's some reach!

[@olfoundryman8418]

Johannes, Its certainly not a coincidence. I was in contact with Clickspring prior to the making of the original, clearly he saw benefit in adopting at least a version of some of the things we discussed. 2 million views - yep, that's a lot - clickspring is rightly very popular. I sure wish I could get even a tenth of that!... Martin

[@elitearbor]

You have, directly and indirectly, assisted a great many of us in our endeavors! Even if you never upload another video, be secure in the fact you've helped to preserve many tricks and tips of your trade, and passed them along to new generations. I know I have told you this before, but once again: my sincere thanks.

[@AmalgmousProxy]

A lack of a recent post is concerning to me. You ok???

[@olfoundryman8418]

Amalgamous, Thank you for inquiring. Am I ok? - Well sadly, no! I recently had yet another round of back surgery hopefully so I could stand up for more than a few minutes without being in agony and maybe even walk properly. Getting this far in this video series was a real trial of will over pain. Some of the pain has eased a little but I can still do almost nothing - very frustrating! On top of this I am constantly tired and have absolutely no energy. I have more medical stuff to go through in the next month or two, which may or may not involve yet more surgery - but it is unknown if the outcome will be any better. I would love to be able to finish this video series and I have big plans re that and about dozens of other videos. All plans on hold. What is so frustrating is that I see other YT videos done by people who have little idea of how to make a casting. Basically they butcher the art which offends me to the point of feeling quite ill - I have had to stop watching them. But they have the health and strength to peddle their awful methods and I am powerless to counteract their bad influence in any way - Grr! Maybe tomorrow will be better.... Martin

[@AmalgmousProxy]

@@olfoundryman8418 Thanks for the update Martin. Back surgery is the worst, I honestly feel for you and I hope you feel better soon. Funny you should mention YT casting butchery, I was watching a hack make a YT video and that was what made me think of you and your channel. Had to watch a few of your videos to wash my eyes out. I truly hope for your speedy recovery. Cheers.

[@olfoundryman8418]

Amalgamous, "Wash my eyes out" Well put - I love it! 😍.... Martin

[@thomasfischer6548]

We are using the boxes without alignment system. Plese see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmG9dpZjn7F9o7s on 05:30min.

[@gaspernagode4562]

I hope you are ok and alive

[@olfoundryman8418]

Gasper, Thanks for thinking of me. I am alive, but OK - eh not so much. Nothing terminal (as far as I know) 😊 but enough to stop me from being able to do more videos at the moment. Its a horrid situation for me as I have so many videos in mind to do.... Martin