The Home Machinist!

Looks awesome, but it would look better with cylinders.

Kelly, I have a Johnson heat treat furnace that I got out of a school shop that I might be willing to part with. It is 5" X 8" X 14" deep it runs on any kind of gas. PM me and we can work something out. Dave C

Todd, Big D and ghorn have it correct from my 27 years in the biz. I started a pattern shop 3 years ago, and one of my customers is an aluminum foundry. I was there today, and he told me he keeps the pot temp at 1440 degs. and degases with nitro. 1340 degs is a good pouring temp. He said to get star...

Pipescs, I would not steer you wrong. Over the last 27 years I have worked in 4 pattern shops and 3 foundries. I have had my own shop for the last 3 years, and work with about 7 or 8 foundries. I got on this site to try to help guys like you make beautiful steam engines, and have fun doing it. I don...

Harold, Shrinkage from humidity is very minimal, especially a smaller pattern. A dry piece of lumber should be pretty stable. What material you use to make a pattern out of mostly is determined by the number of molds you you need to make. If I had a customer that needs 10,000 casting I will use maho...

Chris, Also try smalltools.com out of Cleveland. I was there on Tue. and they had 50% off used cutters that you buy, by the pound. They have awesome prices on good quality used tools and tooling. They have new tooling also. Dave C.

Harold, To me if Pipescs makes a pattern out of 1/8" layers, he will be cutting the wheel shape out 8 times if the pattern is one inch thick. As a pattern maker, I would take a 1" piece of wood and cut the wheel shape out once. Then he will have to glue the 8 pieces of wood together trying...

Pipescs, Dont make your patterns in layers. It will take ten times longer for you to finish them, and they will not come out as good. As stated, cast iron has a shrink percentage of 1/8" per foot. I have shrink rules that has that built into them, but you can use a standard rule and just multip...

Highiron,Harlock,Steamin10, and Greg, What I am trying to do is offer train guys a source of castings that you can not find. At this time I do not have the capital to buy an established business and do not have an extensive inventory. What I can offer you right now is the ability for you to give me ...

I am also trying to break into the steam engine business. I am a pattern maker that is trying to put together various casting kits for steam engines and parts. If anyone needs parts or castings, I can make patterns and get castings in any metal. I'm interested in steam engines and enjoy helping othe...

Darren, If you cant find what you are looking for , get me some drawings and I can make you some patterns and get you castings for what you need. Dave C.

My dad told me that in Wales where he grew up,his grandfather and uncle who were pattern makers used old tobaco tins for small nails , screws and bits.