Arnold, David – Milwaukee Makerspace

Iron Casting: Spring Iron Pour

Arnold, David — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 23:36:15 +0000

The Casting Area is running another Iron Pour.

This Event will be open to participants, Members and Non-Members.

Please contact Dave directly if you are a Visiting Artist/Non-member and need studio time to make your own artist mold. All non-members must sign the “Iron Casting Waiver” to participate.

Studio Time is to be scheduled in advance. If you plan on bringing a mold or making a mold all weights must be estimated and metal must be broken by said attendee. If you are unable to break iron due to medical reasons please reach out to Dave.

Resin-bonded sand molds are weighed before they get to the pour floor.

Artist Tile and Doodle Bowl Workshops:

Saturday 03-23-24 @ 12:30-3:30
Sunday 04-07-24 @ 12:30-3:30
Saturday 04-20-24 @ 12:30-3:30

Saturday April 27th
We are planning to have the Safety Meeting at noon. If you plan on participating on the pour floor, show up to the safety meeting and sign the waiver, it’s required. Observation will be available from the north side of the pour floor. Observation will only be accessible from Norwich Ave. The proposed Schedule is the following:

8:00am Pour floor setup (leveling and placing molds)
9:00am Scratch blocks & Doodle Bowls available for sale.

10:30am burn-in (preheat furnace with immersion burner forced air and natural gas)

12:00 safety meeting Immediately after the safety meeting, we go on blast.

*Going on Blast – removing immersion burner and attaching Blower to the furnace and entirely running of forced air and Coke Start charging iron/coke as it settles

1:00pm Should have first tap, Tapping every 13 minutes.

4:00pm Drop bottom when all molds are filled – brief clean up.

Sunday, April 28th

10:00am Clean-up and devesting molds:

Clean-up is required if you have an artist mold on the pour floor. All Artist Tiles/Doodle Bowls will be out on display for pickup. No additional payment is required for these items. For Artist Molds, gating and pour cups may be cut off and thrown in the iron pile.

Please weigh your castings and provide payment in the donation bin or via Wild Aprocot bit.ly/3wKtOcS Please Refer to the rates section for pricing https://wiki.milwaukeemakerspace.org/areas/casting/rates

Contact Dave for more information at dave@davidmarnold.com or via cell phone 4142150499

Iron Casting: January Iron Pour

Arnold, David — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:24:45 +0000

This last Saturday, January 13th we fired up the Cupola Furnace, R2V2. We had a small attendance due to the weather and were just a little bit delayed due to the roads. We had just enough molds on the pour floor. No one got injured and the metal was hot. This time I laid the bed of the furnace a little bit differently than last time with less sand and moved the slag hole higher. We were able to tap larger amounts than last time. The ladles were quite full, estimating a little over 100lb taps. The trough was extended which allowed the ladle to catch a little bit easier. The bottom didn’t drop as nice as the previous pour. We put a little bit too much greensand and not enough loose sand in the bottom. 500lbs of iron was broken by last Thursday. We only tapped the furnace three times. All of the molds had success. maybe one or two had some flashing or a missing part but the detail we were able to get was really good. We had sections that were cast with less than 1/8″ thick. If you missed the iron pour and wish you could have seen it, keep an eye out for the next one being promoted in April. Thanks again for all the members who made this possible.

Iron Casting: Radiators

Arnold, David — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:11:34 +0000

Thank you everyone who helped out today hauling two loads of radiators to the space for iron casting. A total of 7 tons of iron. Feel free to come by Wednesdays at 5pm at Norwich to learn more about getting involved.

The next Artist Tile & Doodle Bowl Workshop is Devember 17th at 12:30pm, contact Dave Arnold for more information on upcoming

Iron Casting: Workshop for Members and Guests of Members

Arnold, David — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:37:42 +0000

Sunday July 16th @ 2pm. please RSVP by emailing Dave at dave@davidmarnold.com or texting at 414-215-0449

“Workshops are for Scratch Blocks and Doodle Bowls. These are premade molds that you just scratch your design in.

This includes the cost of metal and prices are below.

Artist Tiles – $7
5″ Artist Tiles – $15

*Doodle Bowls – $45

*You must complete one Artist Tile Mold before purchasing a doodle bowl.”

Casting Area Wiki

Iron Casting: Workshop

Arnold, David — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 04:17:28 +0000

Sunday June 11th @ 2pm. please RSVP by emailing Dave at dave@davidmarnold.com or texting at 414-215-0449

“Workshops are for Scratch Blocks and Doodle Bowls. These are premade molds that you just scratch your design in.

This includes the cost of metal and prices are below.

3″ Artist Tiles – $7
5″ Artist Tiles – $15

*Doodle Bowls – $45

*You must complete one Artist Tile Mold before purchasing a doodle bowl.”

Casting Area Wiki

Casting Area Update

Arnold, David — Sat, 06 May 2023 21:11:14 +0000

Many of you my not know, but the casting area has been diligently meeting every Wednesday at 5pm for almost 2 years now. Some weeks we haven’t been able to get together but for the most part it has been a consistent schedule. Aluminum casting has always been a thing we have done, even back at Lenox. Since moving over the equipment we have expanded our ability to cast other Non-Ferrous metals such as Copper, Brass and Bronze. We have also expanded our capabilities to do Ceramic Shell, and Sodium Silicate Resin Bonded molds. Iron Casting has always been a goal to do when looking for the new building. We can finally say that we are ready to start up our Cupola Furnace who goes by R2V2.

The only requirement is we need to have molds made and iron broken. Until we have molds that equate to an estimated total of 500 lbs of metal, we will not be able light up the furnace.

Meet us on Wednesdays at 5pm to get signed off on mold making processes and getting signed off to use the crucible furnace. Bring a pattern to get cast or if you just want to check out the area come on by. No appointments are needed. We need your help to make molds. Premade artist tile molds are available for sale with the cost of metal included.

In addition, if you happen to see a cast iron tub, sink, or radiators on the side of the road please contact Dave to collect it. The more cast iron donations we can get the better.

Casting Area Wiki