Casting partner/mentor needed

[Chuck in E. TN]

 Anyone casting Aluminum within a 1 or 2 hour drive of Kingsport, TN? I would be willing to provide pigged aluminum and patterns for someone to help me cast parts.
I have a complete set of Gingery Shaper patterns (already have a Gingery Shaper).  I want to make a dividing head, and a steady rest for my mini lathe.
I have melted aluminum before, and assisted in casting a few parts. There is no one close to me that casts metal. My former partner/mentor moved to Texas. I do not have safety equipment, furnace or crucible, and would not be comfortable casting on my own yet.
Chuck

[MetalCaster]

Chuck-

I can do it.
Will the patterns fit in a USPS flat-rate box?

I am on the other side of the state, but aluminum is easy to cast, and I have quite a bit of it.

Aluminum machines best if you heat treat it for a while.

[Chuck in E. TN]

Thanks, Metalcaster. I really want to be a part of the casting process to learn and get the confidence to try it on my own. I may take you up on a couple of parts for projects I have in mind when I get the patterns made.
Chuck

[MetalCaster]

Ok, sounds good.

I will post a thread about a furnace and crucible I made for melting aluminum.

Aluminum is easy, just don't breathe the fumes.

[Meldonmech]

Hi Metalcaster,

                       I am interested in the point you made regarding heat treating aluminium castings to improve machinability. Could you post details of the treatment you use?

                                                              Cheers  David

[awemawson]

Heat treating won't work with pure aluminium, it needs to be an alloy (as most is). Google 'solution treatment' and you will get interesting pages like this one:

http://www.mlevel3.com/BCIT/heat%20treat.htm

[NeoTech]

Anon on alloyavenue has made a substantial post about heat treating aluminium to a T4 and T6 hardness.


edit: i found the link post, i have read it several times, i find it really interesting.

Sorry for crossposting to another forum, but i think its relevant..
http://www.alloyavenue.com/vb/showthread.php?6548-6061-Temper-and-Machinability&highlight=6061-T6