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View Full Version : I set up my casting station in my shop.



Bazoo
03-09-2018, 12:32 AM
I have given it a lot of thought, and read some here about setting up a casting station inside. I was casting on the covered porch.

I set up in front of the window in my wood shop. I put a box fan in the window, and set up temporarily on a piece plywood on top of a 55 gallon drum. The fan is 6 or 8 inches above the top of my work surface. I have a nice exhaust fan, but I wanted to see how well the box fan would work. I didnt make any sort of hood, but figured if I need it, i could have make shifted one out of cardboard. When fluxing, If I turn my fan on high I get no smell in the building. When casting I put it on low, and it very easily controlled the smell.

The best part of the being indoors instead of out, is that you can control the flow of vent air. No more fumes coming back at me at the notions of the wind. And, also not being in the wind keeps the mould at a more consistent temperature, and me too! I have a wood stove in the building that helps with that.

I wanted to share my experience so that others might benefit.

~Bazoo

Yodogsandman
03-09-2018, 12:50 AM
Way to go!

Thin Man
03-09-2018, 09:13 AM
My man-cave has enough room to allow me to build a 16 foot long work bench with shelves both above and below the table surface. This was a pre-planned "build" when we designed and built our home. All casting materials (furnace, molds, lead ingots, sizing dies and top punches, etc.) reside below the work surface until needed. I keep 2 lube-sizers bolted to the table directly above this storage location. One sizer is heated, the other is not. When I start a molding session I scoop out whatever is needed and position it on the bench top. Large windows on both ends of this room provide ventilation, this assisted by a box fan I stack in one window frame. The room is off the garage and semi-climate controlled and always dry. Looks like your plan and mine are parallel. This arrangement has worked out very well for me during the 27 years we have lived here.

jdfoxinc
03-09-2018, 10:09 AM
I have been casting indoors with moderate ventilation for over 30 years. Never had an above normal serum blood level.

copdills
03-09-2018, 10:41 AM
sound like you are good to go , keep it up and show us some cast boolits

LeroyvdH
03-09-2018, 01:44 PM
Sounds like a nice setup. I'm in the process of building one myself..

dondiego
03-09-2018, 02:53 PM
I'd like to see a pic of your setup.

Bazoo
03-09-2018, 07:17 PM
I will see about a pic for yall, But i warn, it aint pretty.

lightman
03-09-2018, 08:02 PM
I agree, that sounds like a nice set up. A box fan in a window should provide all the ventilation that you need for casting.

Bazoo
03-09-2018, 11:35 PM
I set my pot on a riser I had handy, so that I can stand comfortably.

https://i.imgur.com/bn9t2aK.jpg

Bazoo
03-09-2018, 11:37 PM
This is what I made the first go round. From the mould I got off the PIF section from Bruce Drake. Thank you again .
https://i.imgur.com/u28N9xy.jpg

bruce drake
03-11-2018, 08:09 PM
Awesome! Keep it up! Glad you got good use out of the mold already!

Bruce

Bama
03-17-2018, 05:57 PM
Nice setup

Bazoo
03-17-2018, 08:13 PM
Thanks Bama. It aint nearly fancy by any means. I keep it simple so I can move it easily as needed. I put my pot and all my gear, less the moulds, in a cat litter bucket for easy storage and transport. I keep another with ingots. I might cut open the drum front, and affix shelves to the inside, ingots on bottom for stability, and use the cut out for a door. May even put castors on it so It'll move easy enough.