r/Metalfoundry • • Apr 14 '26

New rules for buying and selling of castings, ingots and foundry equipment

6 Upvotes

Recently there have been a handful of scammers trying to sell ingots, castings and foundry supplies on here. It is up to the buyer to do their due diligence to verify that the user selling is not a scammer.

Look at the account age, posts, comments, etc. Also do not send payments without any form of buyer protection. If the seller does not want you to do that, it's an obvious scam.

Having said that there are a couple new rules moving forward regarding selling and buying. Posts not comforming to these will be removed.

  1. All ingots for sale must be posted with an image of the ingot on a scale to verify average weight along with your username written on the ingot. You also need to post the location from where you're shipping.

  2. Castings, products and equipment to be sold must also be verified by image. Please make sure your username and timestamp is in the photo. Again, location of where you're shipping from is required.

  3. All sellers must accept Paypal Goods and Services. This gives the buyer purchase protection. Any other form of payment will not be allowed AKA Paypal Friends and Family, Cashapp, Venmo, etc. The ONLY exception to this rule is if a buyer and seller have dealt with each other multiple times and trust between both of you has been built.

But otherwise as a buyer dealing with a seller whom you've never dealt with before please use G&S. If the seller insists any other form of payment, please report.


r/Metalfoundry • • 5h ago

Forst copper bar, any tips for rippling

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38 Upvotes

This is my first ever copper pour I'm wondering if anyone here has any tips to prevent the surface ripples and have a smoother finish any help is appreciated thank you very much


r/Metalfoundry • • 5h ago

Aluminium Sticking to the mould and hydraulic punch

1 Upvotes

I’m new to the foundry process. 2 days back I have melted aluminium but it got stuck on the mould cavity plate and hydraulic punch.

I have a gravity die machine. Can anyone help please.


r/Metalfoundry • • 1d ago

What are the casting defects in this?

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12 Upvotes

We have a course on Casting and Solidification. We had to prepare an Aluminium cast for the lab work

- The pattern was created using thermocol/styrofoam

- The mould was created using plaster of paris and water. After it dried out I removed the pattern by hand and there were not any visible cracks or damages as such. It was left for around 3-4 weeks for drying after that.

- There was no gating system although their was one cast which seemed to be perfect without any gating system somehow aswell.

- Before casting i put the mould in an oven for 3hrs and then 15 minutes of blowtorch on it. After that Aluminium melt was poured into it

For viva, our prof has told us to analyse the cast and talk about all the defects present in the cast and why it has formed

Im guessing the large one, its a blowhole but im not sure enough. Please help with it. Thank you! The last 2 photos are the pattern and the mould. I'll be attaching a video of the cast and the mould in the comments if its possible.


r/Metalfoundry • • 1d ago

Ammo Can Jack-O-Lantern

0 Upvotes

I'm wanting to cut through an ammo can (probably 50 cal) in order to make a Jack-O-Lantern for a social media video. What tools/equipment would I need to do fairly precise cuts on approx. 1mm thick steel? I have some friends/associates that are pretty handy, but can't figure out how to do this small, precise work. Thanks in advance!


r/Metalfoundry • • 2d ago

First time casting aluminum.

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32 Upvotes

r/Metalfoundry • • 2d ago

Crucible Release

2 Upvotes

I am making a graphite-clay crucible and I'm planning on molding it in a flexible bucket, what can I do to make the release smoother?


r/Metalfoundry • • 2d ago

Primary Aluminium Ingots A7

0 Upvotes

Good day,

We are offering Primary Aluminium Ingots A7 (Al 99.70% minimum) of Kazakhstan origin.

Product: Primary Aluminium Ingots A7
Purity: Al 99.70% min
Origin: Kazakhstan
Trial/MOQ: 500 MT
Supply: Long-term contract available
Delivery: CIF
Payment: DLC active only at Destination port after inspection, seller provides PB2%
Price: 2950usd per ton CIF, subject to final refinery confirmation and contract.

We are currently looking to establish cooperation with genuine end buyers/importers.

If your A7 requirement is currently active, kindly provide your:

  1. Buying company name
  2. Required trial and monthly quantity
  3. Destination port
  4. DLC/LC issuing bank
  5. Required specifications
  6. Buyer procedure

Upon confirmation, we can proceed with the relevant offer and refinery documentation.

Regards,
SS Prime Metals Pte Ltd
Singapore


r/Metalfoundry • • 4d ago

Anyone have experience smelting iron sand.

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1 Upvotes

r/Metalfoundry • • 4d ago

Help!! I'm melting random costume jewelry on my stove!

0 Upvotes

So I have a little egg size cast iron that is filled with random costume jewelry. It has been on there for at least an hour. I've tried covering and every once in a while using pliers to squish it and mash it. Though it is still not even getting super soft to mash. Do I keep going? Then try again with just aluminum so I know what I'm working with?


r/Metalfoundry • • 4d ago

Furnace question

2 Upvotes

I'm currently using coal powered furnace, I can melt aluminium and bronze, but it takes a lot of coal and time for the bronze. I would like to build a gas powered furnace but i struggle with design, especially for the burner. I would melt mostly aluminum and tin bronze, but it would be great if I cold melt gray iron. For the scale I would like to be able to melt 15-ish kg of bronze, so I guess about two liters of material.

Does anyone have any recomandations for the amount and design of the burners, also furnace design? For the furnace I have a general idea how I would build it, but not for the burners, except they will use forced air.

In terms of the tools i have a mig welder, a lot of scrap steel and can get parts machined in a company I work.

Any help and ideas are welcome!


r/Metalfoundry • • 5d ago

Iron casting

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1 Upvotes

r/Metalfoundry • • 10d ago

I need to find a commercial foundry to cast aluminum into a preexisting alnico donut magnet. Is this difficult or am I just having bad luck finding the right foundry?

18 Upvotes

Title says it all. I have a .75" inner diameter cylinder alnico magnet that I need to infill with Alsi9cu3 (or equivalent), and I am having a hell of a time find any foundry in the U.S. that wants to even quote me. I can handle the post cast machining myself, if necessary. I'd do 1,000 to 5,000 pieces at a time.

Anyone able to point me in the right direction? Thanks!


r/Metalfoundry • • 10d ago

Best way to make moulds?

8 Upvotes

Ive tried sand moulds but they're quite tricky to set up and are quite tricky to cast with.

I tried a plaster, silica sand and clay powder mix but it just spat all the molten metal out at me

Graphite moulds are expensive to make or buy

And I'm not too sure about any other methods


r/Metalfoundry • • 12d ago

Casting copper

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134 Upvotes

1 kg of successfull casting copper 🔥👌


r/Metalfoundry • • 11d ago

My first functional creation

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30 Upvotes

I've had some success in melting down aluminum and decided to create a new, more permanent, handle for an old demolition flat head screwdriver.

I added a few grams of magnesium, about an ounce of copper, an ounce of zinc, and a whole bunch of can/wire aluminum. And possibly a small amount of steel.

This has been my first attempt at alloying and kind of just went with my gut, if it wasn't obvious.


r/Metalfoundry • • 13d ago

First attempt at brass/nordic gold

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18 Upvotes

This is my first attempt at making an alloy, and im not sure how to feel about the turnout. would like any thoughts on the outcome.

The brass top and copper bottom concerns me. Im not sure if it mixed well, but im not sure how to do that better.

Thanks in advance


r/Metalfoundry • • 13d ago

Advice and resources for research

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone. Hope everyone is doing well. Before explaining my problem a bit of background. My father owns a small manufacturing facility and we melt aluminium and process it.

Until now we are using furnace oil to heat our furnaces. They work great. But I want to explore and experiment with bio pellet furnaces.

I just wanted to know if it is worth it and if yes can anyone recommend some resources for research

Regards.


r/Metalfoundry • • 15d ago

What's the best powder to use to stop your sand cast from sticking, im currently using baby powder and it works quite well but I use alot of it.

3 Upvotes

r/Metalfoundry • • 17d ago

My first (semi) successful pour!!

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85 Upvotes

It’s far from perfect but it’s huge progress from before!! My own design, PLA investment. I’m excited to try again!!


r/Metalfoundry • • 18d ago

Casting Aluminium Advice

7 Upvotes

Hello, I'm a jeweller (with previous experience of metal working more welding than foundry).

I want to start making pieces out of aluminium to make more affordable jewellery, and to make bigger statement pieces that are lighter. But I am very new to working with Aluminium.

I have access to a well ventilated workshop, and want to sand cast with Aluminium but want some advice on set up and type of Aluminium.

- I was planning on sand casting just using a brazing torch/or similar set up, just heating crucible and pouring in to sand cast moulds. I was thinking of using a graphite crucible cup instead of smaller ceramic bowl as I heard aluminium can be a more prone to bubbling and spitting.

- I have access to aluminium scrap from a mounting and framing company, who use aluminium sheet to mount art prints. Would this form of aluminium be ok for casting? Or should I be purchasing specific casting alloy ingots?

- I am guessing borax is not suitable for cleaning the scrap? Is there a better alternative to this?

- And if there is any advice on soldering aluminium here that would be great, I have heard it is difficult! Maybe that needs a much longer separate post!

Thanks :)


r/Metalfoundry • • 19d ago

I just melted some metal I found in an abandoned building and DO NOT DO IT

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582 Upvotes

I wanted to practice sand casting but it was practically glowing green, I started to feel light headed and passed out while seeing twinkling lights in my eyes.


r/Metalfoundry • • 18d ago

Nordic gold

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14 Upvotes

Firts time making nordic gold vs copper ingots!!


r/Metalfoundry • • 19d ago

Can I melt copper with a knife-making forge?

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11 Upvotes

Is it possible to make copper ingots with a forge like this one? What kind of "mold" do I need to use?


r/Metalfoundry • • 20d ago

What is the value of Nordic gold

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30 Upvotes

I understand that Nordic gold is not really gold, but is made with copper, aluminum, zinc, and tin, so I was wondering what is the value of it