The Charcoal Foundry (Build Your Own Metal Working Shop from Scrap, Vol. 1)

I connected with this book on a very personal level. The fundamental thoughts leading to this series were like they came from me. I have many creations and enjoy building needed furniture and tools from treasure. Although I have fundamental welding skills and advanced woodworking skills, the journey to learn and develop new skills in this field is so new that my wife is undergoing it with me. I am so glad to have found this series to have a guide from someone who shares my passion as an inventor/builder.

The book provides a minimal body of knowledge. A reader could go forth and create a foundry after reading this book. The author writes plainly and succeeds in communicating the basic idea. I liked the author's attention to safety.While I cannot recommend a better alternative, this book left me wanting much more. I would have liked to see alternative furnace designs. I would have liked more detailed information on sands and fire clays. I would have liked rudimentary information on digging and preparing sand and clay from the earth, or an explanation of why to avoid this. I would have liked more information about crucible fabrication. I would have liked more information about skimming dross, and the tool for the job. I would have liked advice about the long-term contamination of green sand by parting flour, or reassurance that it is not an issue in practice.I liked the project at the end of the book, where the author shows how to cast a ball crank handle.The book and its jacket imply that a foundry can be built "dirt cheap". Dirt is actually somewhat expensive in agricultural, industrial, or laboratory grades. The hardware stores and home improvement warehouses in my area seem to sell sand and clay that might be adequate, but is not commendable for foundry service, on account of being too coarse, or of dubious purity.Looking at the tongs and assortment of tools shown in the book, I wonder if I should be thinking about setting up a charcoal smithy, too?I recommend this book as a good introduction. I doubt other books provide as good an introduction. But after reading this book, you may want much more. I've already purchased two more books on the subject. Plan and budget accordingly.

Imagine if you will, building a lathe from aluminum you scrapped over this last year. Even if you do not want a lathe or a mill or a dozen other projects, the experience of your own foundry, the pride of I did this myself, and with aluminum pop cans to boot : ) A little charcoal a little elbow grease and a new subject has been mastered, or at least played with. The projects you would build will cost from zero to however much you want, depending on your scavenging skills and determination. For instance I brought home a few goodies from the land fill : ) Keep your eyes pealed and instead of doing this project in a few weeks, make it a few years, and you'll save money and enjoy a new hobby. Recycle Recycle Recycle : ) But respect the heat!!!

I first saw this book in the 80s, from Lindsey Publishing. I've always wanted to read it. Now that I have, I want to read the rest of the series and I want to build the machines!

In the spirit of affordability and self-sufficiency, the author takes the reader through the beginning steps of basic metal foundry work, including how to construct your own flask, and furnace, with helpful tips for beginners. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and couldn't put it down. I am looking forward to putting these instructions into practice! I am also excited about getting the other books in this series.

Okay for minimal hobby projects--melting small amounts of aluminum but this is not much use if you want to build what I would call a real foundry. I mean they have made huge castings of bronze and noble metals since the Greeks and Romans using charcoal. The author also seems too timid on lost wax which has been done in holes in the ground over charcoal for thousands of years. This is the book you want if you don't have a clue and are just goofing around making sand cast toys. Anything beyond that and its a waste of money and time.

No, it isn't a complete textbook reference for setting up and running a state of the art foundry. But it is much more interesting to read, and that keeps me from getting bored and falling asleep.You will learn enough to be dangerous, and possibly productive. If you want to try this stuff, follow another reviewer's advice and do more research first. You could honestly follow this book blindly and get by. There are some assumptions, some are explained in the preface, but not everything. Hot liquid metal is seriously dangerous stuff if you are careless.I like understanding and being able to build anything, so this is the sort of information I seek out. Other books in the series, maybe yes maybe no. I'd rather not spend the time building a lathe that I can just buy for less than the equivalent time working. But learning how it works and how to build a good one is the point here, and Mr Gingery has my thanks for writing the series.Stay safe and have fun.

What can you say? Gingerly knows how to plunge into a how-to topic and explain it. His designs may not always be the very best, but they will unquestionably get you started and teach you the basics. If you are a hands-on learner who would rather DO than "talk about," then you can't do better than this.

Breve, claro y conciso para principiantes

Bricolage américain avancé, pas toujours facile à reproduire de nos jours

Sehr ausführlich , hilfreiche Skizzen im ganzen Buchaber man wird auch mit guten Englischkenntnissen ein paar mal das Wörterbuch benötigen

Great book and series.

The book that is the basis of any online build a foundry video. Covers the basics of Health and safety to. Your pouring molten metal at 600-900c this is not a game it isn't rocket science either. I did this pre 'O' level this covers the details of how to mix your own green sand, which is very useful as I don't know of a foundry within 50 miles of me now. Pottery and kiln suppliers are more likely to have what you need these day to do this. It assumes you have the ability to knock up your own molding boxes with out telling you how (wooden boards and nails) if you can't do that this is probably not for you. It is worth noting that this is an American writing and a quart pot is 32 Fluid Oz not 40 or about a liter and substitute stainless steel for cast iron, and coffee tins aren't what they used to be a steel paint tin might do instead