Recent content by lee webster

Hi all, Well, what an eventful few days since my last posting about trying to find suppliers of materials to make a foundry. I discovered that pottery suppliers usually stock most of the materials I needed, but I couldn’t find a supplier in Cornwall. A web search turned up many potters, but...

Thanks Wesley, Just the reply I was hoping for! I now realize that I should really have called it a foundry. I blame my confusion on late nights and youtube videos about casting metal and making a foundry. Lee

I call them 'Thermalite'. I lived in Hemel Hempstead where a version called 'Hemelite' was made. I now live in Cornwall and would like to build a small forge to melt aluminium. I can buy the correct block for doing this, but I would either have to send for them or collect them, 120 miles away in...

Hi John, I recently installed the student version of Solidworks on a second hand (used) computer with the following spec. Dell desktop computer with Intel i7 4th gen chip, 16gb ddr3 ram (2 sticks) Gtx 750TI 4gb graphics card 2tb hard drive (far too big!) running Windows 7 64 bit. I bought a...

I seem to have missed a conversation about an interesting subject. De-gassing aluminium. Some do it, some don't. I have watched dozens of video's concerning the ( I had to pause for a mo, my 3D printer has just been delivered) casting process, and de-gassing. None of the video's of de-gassing...

Hi Doc, I used to make wooden toys too, here's one I built earlier. Lee

Hi TSutrina, Those video's certainly gave me something to think about. I thought I would use lost pla and investment plaster, but I think it could be better to use 3D printed parts to produce the sand moulds for casting metal, either iron or aluminium. Thanks agian. I had a look at your lathe...

Thanks TSutrina, that's the sort of information I need. I'll watch the videos on youtube now. I have heard of grabCAD, I'll have a look. Lee

Idiot, you didn't tell them about the dimensions of the block. Width 44.666mm Length 79.666mm Height 40.333mm

Hi all, I hope to be starting my 1/3rd scale model of a 1930 Austin Seven engine soon...... Step 1. I am now fairly proficient at using the cad programme FreeCAD. It has annoyed the socks off me on dozens of occasions, but I couldn't stop using it even though I have a new copy of Solidworks, I...

I like the idea of bronze valve cages, I will look into that. With what I have learned so far I think I will put cast iron to one side for a while. Aluminium looks to be an easier metal to melt, and I can make a one piece mold using a 3D printer and investment plaster. It is a shame to loose the...

Hi all, My name is Lee and I live in Illogan, Cornwall in the UK. I have decided that I need a new hobby. My old hobby was Austin Seven vintage cars. I have three. 2 1930 based A7 specials and a 1932 A7 saloon. I will be selling them sometime and will attempt to make a working model of a 1930 A7...