Metal Casting Zone

Howdy everyone
I am as new as you can get to home casting. I have worked as a die cast machine operator (alluminum)But the world of pour yer own is new.
I am currently working on making some patterns for molds,gonna try em out with some resin casting to see how they come out, before graduating to metal(brass). still gotta build my stuff for heating metal anyway.

Anyway, my idea for the present is to make guitar bridge pins (you know the little round thingies that hold guitar strings on acoustic guitars). I have found that brass bridge pins really enhance the sound. Most guitars come with plastic or wooden pins and i have only found one site where i can order them, so i'm gonna make em myself. So if any of you experienced guys or gals have any ideas as to what mold materials would be best for casting the brass ones when i get that far, please speak up. Any help or suggestions will be much appreciated.

cast brass?

hummmm,

never tried it myself.

the good news is that they sound like small pieces.

sorry i am not much help with this one.

george

Yes the test pieces are quite small.

Overall Height = 36.5mm
Pin Length = 23mm tapered

I plan on using the test resin casts to come up with some sort of reusable mold for the brass cast.
I am thinking maybe I can cast something that takes more heat, like maybe iron, to make a two sided reusable mold, since brass will melt at much lower temps. I'm hoping the iron mold would hold up for awhile, but we'll see. Building a furnice that can handle that heat might take some doing.

I forsee a lot of trial and error

I'll be interested in hearing how you solve this dilemma...sorry not much help myself

Wow, I hope it goes well for you!!!

Where did you run a die casting machine?
Hot chamber or cold chamber?
What materials did you cast?

Picker,

You are going to need one HECK of a furnace to melt iron...
You would be better off finding a local foundry that would be willing to pour you a iron blank and have the pins CNC cut in the iron blank and then use it for your reusable mold to pour the brass into.
From the sound of the small parts you are wanting to cast you will likely need a iron mold that will hold the heat so you don't have a problem with misruns.
I would bet the pins you are referring to are probably cut in a CNC lathe though. It would be much faster and less clean up then castings and polishing. Unless you just have time...

Picker,
You have a couple of snaps of the part you need. Would help the thinkong process.
Marv

Its been a while since I touched a guitar.You could do most of the work on a cnc lathe but isn't part of it flat or even recessed where you grip it to turn and tune string. If you can do an "investment" casting you would have a hell of a thing. If you need some help in cutting the mold, let me know.
I will have my cnc mill up and running this weekend after I replace the VFD I blew up.

I will have the cnc lathe going in a couple of months and the casting furnace is on the drawing board. Yes I sleep sometimes.

I would even be willing to try to make the whole thing out of brass for you, I would just need a drawing or picture or something.