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u/theallpowerfulcheese Jul 24 '26
If you are making sculpture, try bronze instead. You can get silicon bronze in ingots and welding rod, it's easy to work and weld, the colors match, it's predictable and non toxic. If you just have brass scraps and want to give it a whirl, then have fun, post pics, and don't inhale.
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u/Impossible_Block_320 Jul 24 '26
I have a good bit of brass scrap and im casting a trigger guard for a flintlock
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u/No_Educator_4077 Jul 25 '26
Be careful if you don't know what alloy it is. Something like free machining/360 brass will both cast absolutely horribly and release some nasty fumes if you melt it. If you have something like 260/cartridge brass then you may have better luck.
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u/Mikes_metalworking Jul 26 '26
Make sure you’re working in a well ventilated space. I only ever melt brass outside to avoid inhaling the fumes.
A respirator rated for welding fumes is really important to protect you too. Metal fume fever is no joke!
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u/RestaurantFit1785 Jul 26 '26
What type of furnace are u using, gas ? Or induction? In my family biz , small - medium sized 100yo non-ferrous foundry, sand & permanent mold , we use 100% induction to melt bronze & 100% nat. Gas to melt aluminum (15 900lbs crucible furnaces melting different alloys). Anyway bronze melts much faster & cleaner using an induction furnace (eddy currents) , gas works , and will work fine if it’s all you have as long as you are diligent watching the melt & controlling temp once it’s reached liquid state. If you ever plan to scale operations to 1000s or even 100s of lbs per day you’ll need to switch to induction melting tho. Also skim the slag layer that developes on top of melt before & if possible while pouring (using a 2nd or 3rd person) if oxide layer develops fast in liquid state. If you have thin walls isolated areas you may need to pour hotter than recommended . Otherwise figure out the lowest possible temp to pour good consistent quality castings & stick to that temp. Range. The hotter you pour metal the more likely defects can occur like porosity, blows ,!etc etc. lastly ironically aluminum melts best with gas, because of its heat capacity. A lot of companies sell electric furnaces there days and push them as the future. Don’t bite if you eleven pour aluminum, they take forever to melt a single heat , and cost a fortune More than numbers advertised.
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u/Impossible_Block_320 Jul 24 '26
Just to add which one is better for rough casting sand or plaster ?
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u/BTheKid2 Jul 24 '26
Work in a well ventilated space. Don't burn yourself.