building bronze

[kyle juedes]

Who know what temp brass melts at? I've heard 1630 from Metal suppliers online, but then have heard 1750-1800 from various casting websites. I think i could hit 1630 in my forge, but probably not the latter.

Will Alum and brass melt together? can you make alum-brass bronze? If it doesn't melt together, just out of curiosity, i you swirl it will you get a damascusy pattern in the final result?

Thanks,
KJ

[chipwit]

Kyle-
I just got this off the first site I got with google: "The melting points of these alloys vary from 1680F to 1850F or so".
On the brass and aluminum, I'm sure it would work, and I'd bet that there are alum. bronzes with zinc, which equals brass + alum. When I made bronze and alum bronze, I didn't stir and it seemed to be pretty well mixed, but stirring is probably a good idea.

[kyle juedes]

Here's the results:



I cast the ring for my freind, a guard and a pin for a knife.

Thank you all for your help.

KJ

[hammerdownnow]

What metals did you use, and what were the ratios? In the pic it looks like three different mixes.

[kyle juedes]

yea. The metals are all the same ratios (probably aout 1 to 6), but the longer i kept in in the forge the darker the color got (I only had time to pour one shape at a time, the pin bieing the last). I'd suspect that more and more zinz burned off, so i got a highher and higher Cu to Al ratio. Even with the color change, i'm very happy that it worked at all. oh and i used brass and aluminum.
KJ

[hammerdownnow]

I like the coppery color the best. I think I will try it with alum and copper. Thanks for the update. Cool little foundry.