xlchainsaw
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meccano artillery wheel reproduction.ive managed to find a way of casting this wheel in aluminium ! once they are cleaned up and painted i think they will look the part. what do you think????
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steamyman
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look good to me. 
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johnreid
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You are really getting good at this.
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xlchainsaw
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| johnreid wrote: | | You are really getting good at this. |
i dont know about good! its very hit and miss! according to new info ive read this wheel is too fine to cast in aluminium!!! its a good job they didnt tell me before i tried!!im just trying everything at the moment to see what happens 
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Manxman
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Oh, where to start. I've put this in another thread but are these wheels going to be available to buy. They are great and someone like me always feels good with a few spare wheels ready for a new mobile.
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tmuir
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Have you tried different sources of aluminium?
I've heard that the aluminium in cans isn't the best for casting.
I wonder if different grades of aluminium would work better with things like that thin wheel.
But for an object that isn't meant to be able to cast with ali you've done a pretty good job.
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xlchainsaw
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| tmuir wrote: | Have you tried different sources of aluminium?
I've heard that the aluminium in cans isn't the best for casting.
I wonder if different grades of aluminium would work better with things like that thin wheel.
But for an object that isn't meant to be able to cast with ali you've done a pretty good job. |
so far ive melted a sewing machine  and lizs old ladder plus hundreds of cans(pots and pans are next  ) ive kept the metal apart from one another. i havent noticed any difference to date.
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tmuir
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That's interesting to note as on the casting forum a few people swear that 'coke cans' are crap for casting.
I know you get higher loss of ali with them than something more meaty and if you can get 5cents a can to recycle you get more money for the can than the ali but I'm glad to hear they cast the same.
How about machining, any difference there?
Maybe the people that say cans are no good have never tried it or tried to cast rfom the first melt of the ali rather than making ingots first.
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Wallace
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| tmuir wrote: | Have you tried different sources of aluminium?
I've heard that the aluminium in cans isn't the best for casting.
I wonder if different grades of aluminium would work better with things like that thin wheel.
But for an object that isn't meant to be able to cast with ali you've done a pretty good job. |
Funny you mention that Tony. There is a fundraiser in our town for a special wheelchair for a disable child.
Part of it is collecting the tabs off the top of cans. It's tabs only as that is the only pure aluminium part. First I have heard of it though
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tmuir
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| Wallace wrote: |
Funny you mention that Tony. There is a fundraiser in our town for a special wheelchair for a disable child.
Part of it is collecting the tabs off the top of cans. It's tabs only as that is the only pure aluminium part. First I have heard of it though |
Do a search on the internet on ali can tabs and you will find heaps of storied about fund raisers on the tabs but so far none that can actually prove they get anything from the tabs or more to the point where they go when they send them off. 
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Wallace
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Re: meccano artillery wheel reproduction. | xlchainsaw wrote: | ive managed to find a way of casting this wheel in aluminium ! once they are cleaned up and painted i think they will look the part. what do you think????
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Forgot to add, I think they look fantastic.
A job well done 
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Les
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I think once you have machined and painted it you will not be able to tell the difference.
A job well done. 
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xlchainsaw
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| tmuir wrote: | That's interesting to note as on the casting forum a few people swear that 'coke cans' are crap for casting.
I know you get higher loss of ali with them than something more meaty and if you can get 5cents a can to recycle you get more money for the can than the ali but I'm glad to hear they cast the same.
How about machining, any difference there?
Maybe the people that say cans are no good have never tried it or tried to cast rfom the first melt of the ali rather than making ingots first. |
ihave produced about 6kgs from cans! the problem with cans is the crap that comes to the top! i skim this off ! on a 700gr melt this can be 20 mm on top. also i get sand in it from my sprues when i remelt.,this also just skims off! when the aluminium gets hot enough it cleanses itself and all the imperities float to the top! also as you pour the crud tends to stay on top ending up in the bottom of the pot! i just bang the pot upside down and it falls out!now this is something that if i was using a graphite crucible i would not be able to do. i use a steel pot so it doesnt worry me. using a fragile crucible that you have paid$150 for......cans are out!
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