I have often found it handy to have the capability to produce a small number of one of type casting for a variety of projects. This is usually done at someone's home "foundry".
I am curious if any of the museums that are represented by members of this forum have set up or have considered setting up their own small foundry for this purpose.

Thanks,
Steve Piwowarski

I believe many of the "TechShop" type places have a foundry for aluminum or brass.

The Little Beaver Historical Society in Darlington, PA has a demonstration foundry at their museum and tomorrow we will be conducting a foundry workshop. I have a couple of bronze bearings to make so I'm going to take some scrap bearing bronze with me and a couple of foam blocks and make the castings. We can probably make up to 30 lb. castings down there.

I also have a small portable cupola that I set up from time to time, mainly for demonstrations but I can make iron castings, even ductile iron if I throw some magferrosilicon in the ladle. That is good for up to 100 lb. or so castings. Lately there has been talk of Little Beaver adding on to their foundry and putting in a cupola. If so I'll do all my castings down there.

We have another cupola at Carrie furnaces that we use for demonstrations only during the summer.

Foundry work is old hat for me. I worked at three different foundries ranging from a tiny hole in the wall to one that made castings up to 140 tons and required bottle cars to bring in the iron.

Metalcasting is not difficult and is a good capability to have, especially now that jobbing foundries seem to be getting scarce.

Not a problem if you shop around a right foundry! Look for a pattern maker. That is the talent.? Check out http://www.lindsaybks.com/t about books on founding and pattern making. It is not that hard.?

The SPCRR owns patterns (both historic and newly made), but sends them out for casting... One, a switch stand is 300 lbs, many are 50 lbs + so beyond most backyard foundries.

Members have been involved in preserving the Kight Foundry in Sutter Creek... a many times still born project.

Randy

Cattail Foundry in Penn. is highly reccomended. They do a lot of work for antique tractor and engine collectors.

Over the past few years I have dived into pattern making. I do not cast myself. I have a friend who operates the Odd Duck Foundry in Orrington, ME. who takes care of the molten metal part of the process. I always love the hands-on foundry lessons when I visit.

Odd Duck Foundry also cast parts for live steam railroaders. very economical services and pleasant owner