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Thread: Casting your own tailpiece

  1. #1
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
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    Default Casting your own tailpiece

    I would like to venture into casting a tailpiece. Has anyone here done this? Where did you get your gear from? Thanks!
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  2. #2
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    That’s adventurous.

    From my time in the foundry I can say it’s dangerous and requires many skills including:
    Woodworking to make the casting container
    Core making to cast a mostly completed shape, dependent on your design of course, and leaving a riser for filling and air escape
    Skill in melting metal

    Good dust handling from the core cleanup

    You’ll have some grinding/ machining when the part has cooled.

    If you have experience with hot metal, like blacksmithing, you’ll be a leg up. I have no idea where you’d buy supplies.

    On the bright side, people have cast metal for centuries. Good luck, be safe.
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    The subject comes up every few years. One that you might want to look at is here. You can also pick through these.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  4. #4

    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    Assuming that you intend setting up with a forge, etc., which is a great deal of work for one or a few items, the pages of Home Shop Machinist (magazine) are one resource, but there are many other sources for information. Supplies are also easy to source online.
    However, since a tailpiece is a thin and delicate structure supporting concentrated forces (string ends), a casting has to be very high quality with few defects, and that’s where you’re in for a learning curve. You will also have a choice of metals, aluminum being the cheapest and easiest, but hard to keep dross-free.
    If, instead, I misunderstand, and you just want to make a pattern and take it to a foundry, that’s a more likely project. People who make their own metal jewelry do this all the time, so you’d research in that direction.
    Either way, you’re going to have to learn the rules of pattern-making, which are not simple for anything other than very simple shapes.
    Another resource, providing that they’re open for business is the community center or high school shop, often equipped with some knowledgeable people who might even push you toward 3-D printing a pattern!

  5. #5
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    Thanks guys I will dig in deeper. I spent some time in a steel mill, QC. Never cast my own though. I will be setting up a forge at some point but my desire falls into making a tailpiece design similar to my favorite heavy one that is no longer available. And maybe having a bit of fun in the process.
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

  6. #6
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    There are plenty of commercial jewelry casting services that will do multiple small parts for less than $150. For small batches or one off items, that would be the way to go.

    BUT....if it is more of a factor of wanting to learn to cast and setup a process in your own shop, that is a different conversation. I certainly don't need a 100 year old 2500 lb patternmaker's lathe for the 2-3 pieces I turn each month, but I enjoy it and like having that machine in the shop, even though it makes no sense to other people. It takes up a lot less space and $$$ than a middle age crisis sports car......
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  7. #7

    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    BUT....if it is more of a factor of wanting to learn to cast and setup a process in your own shop, that is a different conversation. I certainly don't need a 100 year old 2500 lb patternmaker's lathe for the 2-3 pieces I turn each month, but I enjoy it and like having that machine in the shop, even though it makes no sense to other people. It takes up a lot less space and $$$ than a middle age crisis sports car......
    Any kind of lathe is as hypnotically calming as a cat, IMHO. And besides, any lathe much under a ton is just too flimsy.
    Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Feb-01-2021 at 1:51pm. Reason: fixed quote syntax

  8. The following members say thank you to Richard500 for this post:


  9. #8
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    I do believe I'm past any midlife crisis, but my life was already filled with fast cars and motorcycles before I ever go to my mid-life. I dabble in knife making and this is the next step for me and Damascus. I haven't tried that yet either. I wish I had a lathe and or mill! You all know what it's like too many projects and not enough time or money in some cases. Thanks for the advice, everyone! Mr COndino is correct though this isn't a money-making endeavour just something I would like to learn.
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

  10. #9
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard500 View Post
    Any kind of lathe is as hypnotically calming as a cat, IMHO. And besides, any lathe much under a ton is just too flimsy.
    Well...... I'm allergic to cats, so there is nothing calming about them, but I agree with you about turning on the lathe. It is very relaxing and also nice to complete a project in a short time.

    Turning on the old Oliver lathe outside corporate headquarters, PBR for scale purposes only; please don't drink and turn:
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    That looks like that could get a little "jittery" out there on edge, sticking on that tool rest. That's quite the cantilever. Mine are 1" diameter for that, but even so...

  12. #11
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    The one shown was 1" diameter; it broke about five minutes after the photo was taken. I had a new one custom made from some local guys that is about twice as much mass and "beef" as this one. More important is to only take off a light to moderate cut. With a lathe this size, it can lift me completely off the ground if it catches!

    Apologies for the thread derail; back to castingzzzz......
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  13. #12
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    No worries I love lathes. As for cats I just got adopted by my 6th stray. They find me, usually very sick or injured but I fix them up and they stay.
    Nice casts by the way.
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

  14. #13
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    Brian Dean of Labraid.CA casts his own. In the past he's offered to do it for others. He may be able to help you upskill.

    Jamie
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  15. #14
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    I did think about hiring it out but haven't decided yet. Thanks!
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

  16. #15
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    Find yourself a jewelry maker who does casting. Could be fun project. I assume you are not going to mass produce these?
    Jim

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  17. #16
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
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    Default Re: Casting your own tailpiece

    I just want to make a few for my own use and learn something about casting. Where it would go from there is unknown I just haven’t thought about it.
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

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