Metal Casting- An Enjoyable And Rewarding Craft

Casting is the process of making solid objects by pouring molten material into a predetermined shaped mould and allowing it to cool

. Other than metal, casting is also applied to shape alloys, glass and plastics.Metal mcasting is used to prepare various things and is in use for a long time. In ancient times, gold and copper were used to fabricate items by the process of metal casting followed by bronze and iron. Now alloys of zinc and other metals are also used to make necessary items that are lightweight and sophisticated.

Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth century changed the roue of history. Metal casting played a pivotal role in shaping the furnaces used to melt metals at high temperatures and moulds used to make new items. Creating machinery for mass production of goods was possible by metal casting leading to economic resurgence. In recent times metal castings has become popular as resources are more affordable and communities share ideas, information and projects.

Individuals are fascinated to metal casting as a hobby to give design to artistic creativity or use in the industrial level to develop efficiency and cut costs. Knowledge of equipments clubbed with creativity is essential. Metal casting as a procedure helps in restoration projects, make hard to find pieces for models and even common replacement objects for household items. With time to spare and creativeness to impart you can do anything with metal casting. Metal casting requires proper awareness and caution as it involves working with molten metal melted at extremely high temperature.

The traditional method of metal casting is sand casting. A hollow mould of the item to be produced is given shape in a mixture of damp sand and clay. Molten metal is poured and cooled. After it solidifies the sand mould is broken to release the casting. Nowadays, permanent metal moulds known as dies are used for metal casting and they are particularly useful to produce mass production items. In this procedure, the molten metal is injected under pressure into the cooled dies. The continuous casting is used to shape bars and slabs, in a water cooled mould.

Artists and sculptors use the method of hollow casting or lost wax casting to create sculptures and give shape to creative ideas. Hollow casting reduces the weight of the sculpture. In lost wax, casting the form of the sculpture is made of wax and coated in clay and plaster with a minute hole at the bottom. Then heat is applied to harden the clay and plaster while the wax melts and is released through the hole at the bottom. Then molten metal is packed into the mould and after cooling the clay and plaster is cut away to reveal the sculpture. Practicing metal casting is easy and is a fascinating craft.

by: Jamie Hanson

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