Metal Casting Zone

Hello all,

I saw a cast bell the other day at a place where I was doing some work. It was small...about 9 inches...23 cm...or so. I was very surprised how thick it was. Probably over 1 cm.

The bell pattern that I show on my web site, I made using the sweep method. I finally made a casting from the pattern last week. Here is a link to the site: CLICK HERE

Julian was asking about detail with sand casting...I have seen people get details from a quarter they used as a pattern.Link:CLICK HERE

drescher3 wrote:
Hello all,

I saw a cast bell the other day at a place where I was doing some work. It was small...about 9 inches...23 cm...or so. I was very surprised how thick it was. Probably over 1 cm.

The bell pattern that I show on my web site, I made using the sweep method. I finally made a casting from the pattern last week. Here is a link to the site: CLICK HERE

Julian was asking about detail with sand casting...I have seen people get details from a quarter they used as a pattern.Link:CLICK HERE

The Pictures on your page don't work (at least not with my pc)
N the link about the detailed object seems to be dead

The Thickness of a bell's profile can vary,especially smaller bells are thick walled(called a heavy rip/profile)to have a strong sound,so they may not drown when chanting with other bells along.

Which sand do you use for casting??

@xlchainsaw :when will you post/send the pictures about your measuring equipment??
Maybe I'm gonna have a chance to measure out that old bell ,for the cast I can't get her.Would be a loss if that bell is sold to a collector ,you won't ever see her again*sigh*
Could be an object for sand casting replica ,but the bell is heavy&big and I have no idea how the crown could be copied.

Regards,Julian

I don't know what happened to that link. Try this one: www.foundry.ray-vin.com/k-bond/k-bond.htm

copy and paste.

You may need to change your browser security settings to see pictures on my site?...Or put my site on your allowed sites list.


I use k-bond sand...it's like petro bond. Regular green sand has been good for centuries too!

Dave D

drescher3 wrote:
I don't know what happened to that link. Try this one: www.foundry.ray-vin.com/k-bond/k-bond.htm

copy and paste.

You may need to change your browser security settings to see pictures on my site?...Or put my site on your allowed sites list.


I use k-bond sand...it's like petro bond. Regular green sand has been good for centuries too!

Dave D

The link works now ,thanks
Sadly the Pictures on your page do still not work ,I tried to check if it's a browser/security error*sigh*
I'm looking for a small bell as casting pattern +I want to learn the way to construct bell profiles, it's difficult but if you learned it you're gonna have a way more possibilities to produce them.
Sadly none of the bell casters here will give you any aid in it,they are too afraid you could run them over if you start your own foundry.

That K-Bond recipe sounds interesting ,will see if I can give it a try here,could ceramics stand the hot temperatures?(the Russian bell foundries are doing it).

havent had a chance for pics of measuring gear.if its urgent you may have to improvise! maybe make up a big set of wooden dividers and use a ruler or tape to measure the bell. how precise your measurements will be will depend on you regardless of the tools employed.

I'm not sure that I have learned how to make bells in the "correct way". I have been surprised how well they ring though. I mean, even Chinese bells which are more like a cylinder even ring.

Dave d
metalshop.homestead.com

Dave,I'm not sure if there's any "correct" or "Incorrect" way of learning this,I'm trying to get traineeship for art castings but it's really hard to get a free place for it.
But there's definately nothing wrong about learning it in hobby version I guess,as long as it is an enjoyment for yourself.
Looking at the old masters of bell casting I can mention they had good knowledge of casting arts + experience in making constructions ,and the profiles of bells were mainly developed by "trial and error"method and ,after recieving a satisfacting sound ,further developed.

And for me it's amazing to see how many ways are possible to construct a profile for the strike note you want to hear (I know at least 15 different bell sizes that make the same note all in all &every bell got an unique sound).

Each object with a circle shape can ring ,that occurs with tubular bells or windchimes as well

@xlchainsaw : any adress for the wooden dividers?
Gonna search for a place to buy the other tools as well.

xlchainsaw wrote:
i get it now .you want to take measurements of a bell! no problems. you will need a set of internal and external micrometres. let me know if you need a pic and i will show you mine. you can pick them up fairly cheaply on ebay for a fraction of what they were when new. it will however depend on how big your bell is. finally the pics.



i think the tool in the middle will be of interest to you as its a internal micrometre! it measures up to 8 inches internally.

Go raibh maith agat (Thank you very much)

Do you got links or buying tips for that tools ??
Those in the middle n those on top left +lower left I haven't seen b4 yet.

Regards,Julian

some of them are over fifty years old as an old fitter and turner gave them to me as they are in "inches" rather than metric . i was taught inches at school before our country converted to metric so i can work with them! check ebay .... search for dividers,calipers,micrometres, for an english brand "moore and wright" is good and a usa one "starret" .