2023/08/24 – Brass Castings & Mold Making Magic Spotted at House4Hack
Hello there, awesome makers! It’s that time of the week again where we chat about our most recent House4Hack meetup. This past Tuesday, our inventive duo – Graham and Password2 – decided to play with some fire… figuratively, of course. The adventurous pair ventured into molding and casting brass, which was nothing short of thrilling. I mean, who doesn’t like a good dose of metal work combined with some keen-eyed chemistry, eh?
CO2 from vinegar and baking soda is fed into sample molds
The contraption set up by the dynamic duo had a simple but clever base – sodium silicate mixed with fine sand. For the uninitiated, sodium silicate is a funny little compound that, when exposed to substances like CO2, turns hard, forming a solid mold. So, in comes the CO2, generated from a concoction of baking soda and vinegar, and voila, the molds start forming. Simple science? Nah, brilliant genius in action, that’s what it is!
First sample mold – the sand is a bit rough for fine details, but good enough for a first cast
And let’s not forget the sand! Now in this experiment, we went with a bit of a bumpy ride, opting for coarser sand. The details were a little rough, but as a first foray, the mold was rather impressive. But don’t worry, we do have our resolution to upsize those details! Next stop, finer sand for streamlined accuracy, and some 3D printed positives to boot!
With a sneaky peak into our upcoming adventures, House4Hack never quite slows down, does it? But wait, hop back onto our Tuesday-train because our story isn’t over yet, folks!
Our forge, busy melting brass
With the molds all set and readied, we turned our minds and our hands to the brass casting, using our star attraction for the evening – our very own forge. Bursting into life, the forge turned to its hot work, busy melting brass for the casting. It’s a little mesmerizing to behold and really goes to show the lengths and depths our makers are willing to dive into, all in the spirit of creation and exploration.
Molten brass being casted
And dive we did! The molten brass spilled into the set molds, the bright liquid metal imitating a star captured in our hands. Moments like these put a grin on our faces, casting more than just brass, but casting memories and experiences that are simply unforgettable.
Picture of the casted plug
The casting cooled, the molds slowly cracked open, and there it was – our very own casted plug. Worthy of applause, and more importantly, deserving of every bit of invaluable lessons and experience it brought to us in the process.
You know, it’s moments like these which leave me filled with amazement. Watching these incredible people work together, learning from one another, adapting their techniques, and figuring out solutions which make the House feel like a home. A home for the curious, the brave, and the bold. The ones not afraid to get their hands a little sandy, a little singed, but always ready to push boundaries and create.
Next meet, I hear whispers of keychain casting in the plans. Stay tuned for more exciting innovations and remember, our Tuesday meetups are for all – the professionals, the beginners, and the in-betweeners! Until then, happy forging, happy casting, happy creating! Keep those neurons firing, and let the ideas keep transpiring. See you at the next House4Hack meetup!
Hello there, awesome makers! It’s that time of the week again where we chat about our most recent House4Hack meetup. This past Tuesday, our inventive duo – Graham and Password2 – decided to play with some fire… figuratively, of course. The adventurous pair ventured into molding and casting brass, which was nothing short of thrilling.…