Site-Wide Activity

Yes, nowadays you can find many used lathe/mill machines cheaply like these conventional machines.

I will suggest a few tools and you can look into them.

1. Standard drill press. These are good for drilling holes and you can also notch by drilling you piece at angles carefully.

2. You can find Combo Lathe/Mill machines for fairly cheap. These will be great for drilling and shaping precisely.

3. Belt sanders are great for shaping and…[Read more]

Hello,

I just finished a casting course at my Community College and learned how to cast bronze using the lost wax method. This is a very simple process and fun. The following steps are how to achieve a lost wax casting with bronze.

1. Create a mold in the shape of the item you wish to cast using clay then coating it with plaster.
2. Cut the…[Read more]

Hello Ian,

Tongs are pretty simple to make and I would say they are one of the most important tools in the shop. Here is a link to a simple drawing on how to make them: and if you like, I will make a video and post it in the video archive. Once you get the hang of it, you can make any size tongs.

You can find leg vise on eBay as well. Maybe…[Read more]

I found an article on the internet regarding how to sand cast 3D Printed Objects. Here are the simple steps:

1. 3D print plastic model.
2. Make a sand mold with your 3D print (Basic flat surface)
3. Casting complicated 3D prints (bake method)
– Fill empty two part mold 1/3 full of sand. (make sure flat or bottom of piece is facing up)
– Place the…[Read more]