Cast Iron Museum.. sort of.

Projects other than metal casting.
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Jammer
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Cast Iron Museum.. sort of.

Post by Jammer »

It's not really a museum. It's my neighbors Man Cave and foundry collection. I'm not sure how this end of his house doesn't collapse from the weight. He has a lot more Iron all through his house and garage.
He has a long background in Iron Foundries, 40+ years at several foundries in Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. He has collected Patterns, tools, flasks and finished pieces. I tried to buy a pattern or two but he won't let loose on them. We talked a lot about chemistry. temps and casting methods. He is a wealth of information.
Walls lined with special casting skillets and lined above with matchplates.
Attachments
Most of these skillets are special castings for companies or some event
Most of these skillets are special castings for companies or some event
These are Matchplate patterns from Martin Stove & Range.
These are Matchplate patterns from Martin Stove & Range.
Little skillets that say Martin on the bottom. You can see little handles at the end for the lids.
Little skillets that say Martin on the bottom. You can see little handles at the end for the lids.
IMG_0024.JPG
Single patterns made with lead. Large griddle and two 5" skillets. Note the Logo is different on each skillet.
Single patterns made with lead. Large griddle and two 5" skillets. Note the Logo is different on each skillet.
Aluminum Patterns for Mazola Corn Oil.
Aluminum Patterns for Mazola Corn Oil.
Molding bench with a lot of tools.
Molding bench with a lot of tools.
A rack of just plain stuff mostly. But, some of these are over 100 years old.
A rack of just plain stuff mostly. But, some of these are over 100 years old.
quando omni flunkus moritati 8-)
F.C.
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Re: Cast Iron Museum.. sort of.

Post by F.C. »

WOW!!! What an AMAZING collection!! I recently come across some cast iron collectibles, i.e., cookie molds that are cool I'd love to have. They wanted over 60 bucks per mold. I've waited, now, for a couple months during which time it was revealed the place is closing and up for sale... it's a small antique'ish store that sells clothes, home furnishings, etc. all of which is dated. I'm going to head back and visit again soon with an offer of 25 bucks per mold (cash) and see if I can acquire them. I'll use them as patterns to cast duplicates in Aluminum, have them powdercoated with Teflon and offer them at craft fairs for sale at 30 bucks each.
mite5255
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Re: Cast Iron Museum.. sort of.

Post by mite5255 »

Bloody hell!!! that sure must be a strong wall.... I sure would love to come across some of those patterns
When life gets tough, remember: You were the strongest sperm :)
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Harry
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Re: Cast Iron Museum.. sort of.

Post by Harry »

Thinking the same here Mike, that looks like a lot of fun for a guy with a furnace ;-)
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints the sinners are much more fun...
Muller
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Jammer
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Re: Cast Iron Museum.. sort of.

Post by Jammer »

With all those patterns, I thought he would let loose of one or two but no way. :( Someone had asked about lid handles a while back, if you look at the pattern for the small skillet in the snap flask, you can see the handles for the lids on the side. He said they would cast them with the skillets and put them in a bin. Then, when the cast the lids, they would stick a handle in the pattern, ram it up and cast the handle into the lid. Now, Lodge has the handle right in the mold, after the sand is rammed there's a hydraulic piston that rotates the handle out of the sand just before it opens to remove the pattern. All automatic.

Lodge Chemistry for fluidity and less casting defects.
Carbon 3.60 - 3.70%
Si 1.90 - 2.00% Si and Mn would need to be added.
Mn .73 - .79% Most of it would burn out in the melt if any O2 is present.
Phos .20 - .25% Over .26 tends to cause defects and pits in the iron
Sulfur .07 - .09% Probably already in the Iron or at least .04 to .05%

May need to start a thread on Chemistry to include this and how to make or choose better alloys for casting.
quando omni flunkus moritati 8-)
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