Metal Casting Zone

Hello..

I am new here and have a few questions regarding sand casting... First of all i plan on building a propane furnace to cast with.. Much like the cowboy furnace.. Except mine will be constructed from a 30# propane tank..

My main question is regarding my design i want make cast from... I want to cast this in one piece with a hollow interior.. But I've been told i will need to make a plug in order to cast the hollow section... I am building a 1/4 scale R/C car and designed a custom sheet metal type rear end for it i want to make in cast form as well... I'm thinking if i do need to make a plug for it i could just remove the face plate on it and it would work.. But then i would need to alter the face plate and the interior of the rear end to allow it to be mounted to the rear end housing... I will also cast the third member...

Here are a few shots of the rear end... Still under construction!!
More views of it on my site.. www.quarterscaleprostreetberetta.com/

Any ideas guys..
Thanks in advance

Stoney

I think you are refering to a Core. Placing a core in the sand mold, cast metal around it and then bust out the core, leaving a hollow center. A punkin!
You may want to look at the lost foam section. If you can carve the part out of foam in 2 parts and then cast them and join them together it may be easier. Allow some extra for shrinkage and machining. It depends on your experience. I've never tried a core but I love lost foam.

Welcome to the forum, I love your website.
I didn't know there were 1/4 scale racers. That's a whole market you can cast for.
I've made a couple contacts with some local antique tractor and gas engine guys.

Wow 1/4 scale. That sounds really cool. I also cast a vote for lost foam but my knowledge of making working pieces is none.

Thanks for the input guys.. Yeah i suppose it would be called a core.. I am very familiar with composites and it's referred to as a plug... Same thing!

I would really prefer not to have to make a foam pattern to do this... I would think i could just remove the face plate on the rear end and line the bottom of the box with green sand then press the rear end half way down into the sand,, Then flip it over and do the same for the front of it... Then separate the haves and remove my rear end then joint the flask top/bottom back together. And be good to go to pour... Does this sound logical to you guys?

!/4 scale cars have been around for many years... there are many that cost thousands of dollars as well... The engine I'm building will cost me around 10 grand to complete.. It's a 1/3 scale Blown V8.. www.nvbackflow.com/engines/

This site covers the legends of 1/4 scale... www.quarterscalelegends.com/bb/index.php
My build is also on this site.. It's in the projects in progress section listed as'' Project '' ProStreet Beretta

I'm a rookie so please fill me in on this guys..

Thanks

welcome to the forum. how thick is the casing ??? with sand casting the finish is rough and will need sanding and grinding .will this pose a problem???

The housing & brackets are 1/8'' thick.. I plan on machining these, Housing / Axle tube / Etc... I assume i will need to thread them as well!

I got an old keg from an old friend I'm going to build the furnace from... I've heard the keg furnace is the way to go.. It should be plenty big enough for what i need to pour..

Another shot

an excellent start. if you can work with stainless steel you wont find a better base start to your furnace. 1/8 thick ??????????? this doesnt pose a problem for me nowadays but when i was starting .......nothing but heart ache. hopefully i can help reduce your failures. one secret is the aluminium itself!!! but first lets get the furnace built. please post pics and updates and there is no hurry...in your own time.

I think I would cast the housing without the ladder bar brackets, then bolt them on later. It would be much to pull the pattern from the sand this way.
But first things first have to get that furnace built

Thanks for the feedback guys! Well i haven't had much free time to work on the furnace... However! I have been looking around for a nice burner that would work for my application... Here are a few links of a few i ran across.. Any suggestions?
www.foundry101.com/search.htm
www.abymc.com/Articles/Submitted/PropaneBurner.html
www.zoellerforge.com/zburner.html

I though about building one myself but taking in all the needed materials to build one i think it would cost as much as buying one... I mean i could build the burner for around $25.00 or soo.. But the proper regulator would run around $30.00 Which comes out to about the same price as if i would just buy one that's good to go................

As for the 4-link brackets go... There are more brackets on this rear end than them.

There is::

4-Link brackets
Wheelie bar brackets
Torsion bar brackets
Shock brackets
Caliper mount brackets..