| Metal Casting provides the hobbyist with a great | | | | metals you plan to use are chief among the |
| way to create personalized parts and pieces that | | | | considerations. Many casters will use a torch that |
| may otherwise be unattainable or far too | | | | uses propane gas as it provides enough pressure |
| expensive. Casting is an ancient art that is still is | | | | and heat to melt most metals. If the hobbyist |
| use to this day by major industries to artists to | | | | plans to use natural gas like the kind that is |
| those with backyard foundries. This skill is a | | | | provide in households they may find that the |
| valuable one that promises to provide the | | | | pressure is just not enough and the desired |
| hobbyist with a rewarding past time. Most | | | | temperatures will not be reached. The same is |
| hobbyists begin their casting careers with a | | | | true for Butane. While natural gas and Butane can |
| modest sized furnace to fit their most basic | | | | be used, propane seems to yield the best results. |
| needs. Within a few months, the hobbyist might | | | | Oxyacetylene torches are a favorite with many |
| find that the furnace has grown and that they | | | | casters especially for casting iron. |
| are casting at every chance that comes along. | | | | Price is yet another consideration. While it may be |
| Don't worry, this is completely natural. | | | | possible to rig a casting furnace it is not always |
| To say that metal casting is addictive is an | | | | advisable. Torches can range in price from $40 to |
| understatement. Metal casting provides a way for | | | | several hundreds of dollars depending upon the |
| an idea to materialize through molten metal. This | | | | size, the use, and accessories. |
| is perhaps one of the greatest parts of the entire | | | | Many jewelers are able to use small independent |
| metal casting process like seeing what was once | | | | casting torches but when dealing with metal |
| just sketches solidify from liquid iron, or whatever | | | | casting in furnaces you will need to use a torch |
| metal is used. All the metal caster needs is an | | | | that can be mounted and used in such a fashion. |
| idea and red hot liquid metal. | | | | Many think that just because you need a furnace |
| The furnace is the pride and joy for the metal | | | | torch you are going to need a large furnace. This |
| caster. Most will construct their own furnace | | | | is simply not true. A small furnace and furnace |
| tweaking the design here and there to better suit | | | | torch can produce enough heat to melt aluminum, |
| their needs. Many home foundries are based on | | | | iron, and a number of other metals. One of the |
| home made furnaces and if constructed correctly | | | | furnaces functions is to help the flame reach |
| can prove to be highly effective. The crucial part | | | | optimum temperature and in the case of |
| of the furnace is the furnace torch. The torch | | | | Reverberatory Furnaces, a furnace torch is an |
| brings the heat, incredibly high heat, and without it | | | | absolute requirement. |
| that chunk of metal would just sit in the crucible | | | | Casting torches can be found in some hobby |
| and never see life as something new and exciting. | | | | shops and in hardware stores. Several online |
| Except as a paper weight; a very ugly paper | | | | shops also sell torches for the hobby metal |
| weight. | | | | caster. When buying a torch hobbyist should shop |
| When searching for an appropriate casting torch | | | | around in order to find the best deal. Always use |
| the hobbyist will need to take several things into | | | | caution when dealing with a furnace torch. |
| consideration. The size of the furnace, and what | | | | |