Author Topic: Casting Bench (Read 2548 times)

Swampman · « **on:** May 27, 2012, 09:17:03 AM »

I built this bench today. The wood was recycled lumber and the nails came from the trash...completely free.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2012, 10:30:31 AM »

Free is GOOD , I realy like the little lip on the front to keep things from rolling off on to the floor , the mat is also a nice touch , concret floors tend to work on the back when standing for any lenght of time .

All in all = well done .

stimpy

Spanky · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2012, 01:00:58 PM »

Nice little bench Swampy. Good job.

Spanky

Jason F · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2012, 05:59:06 PM »

My bench, with casters to move around garage when not in use

Swampman · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2012, 10:50:22 PM »

Very nice!

Land_Owner · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2012, 12:21:27 PM »

Where did you find the ladle Swampy? I have been pouring the melt from 100# pot to 3# ingot moulds by suspending the pot above the fire with a split-chain then tipping the pot toward the moulds. Dipping I am told would be significantly safer. I have been seeking a dipper.

streak · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2012, 04:45:02 PM »

Good job Swampy! And as usual good photo!

Swampman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2012, 04:54:30 PM »

I see ladels all the time at antique stores and flea markets.

Jason F · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2012, 10:50:56 PM »

I got a long handled ladle like that one on ebay for 20 buck's

Reverend Recoil · « **Reply #9 on:** June 05, 2012, 03:25:18 AM »

That is a very good casting bench. Is it bolted to the wall? I would hate for something like that to tip over with a pot of molten lead. Be safe.

muznut 54 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2012, 05:55:14 AM »

How come so narrow limited wood maybe?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #11 on:** June 05, 2012, 06:03:22 AM »

Nice bench , mine is the tail gate of my truch and a plumbing lead pot .

its free and it works .............

Swampman · « **Reply #12 on:** June 05, 2012, 07:24:54 AM »

It is attached to the wall. I have to be able to get my car door open so it has to be narrow. Narrow also prevents clutter.

Hank08 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2012, 11:32:51 AM »

Quote from: Land_Owner on June 01, 2012, 12:21:27 PM

Dipping I am told would be significantly safer. I have been seeking a dipper.

I also use a large pot when making ingots (85 lbs) and i have 2 dippers just like the one you see there but I've found a better one. One of those blue enamal dippers, about that same size but hold a little more lead. Made for kitchen use. Can be found in camping sections of stores like Walmarts or any large hardware store. They make spoons, forks, plates, cups, of the same stuff, I also have a very large spoon of the same blue enamal with a few holes bored thru it to remove any foreign material in my large pot. Couple of bucks will get you one of each.
H08

Jason F · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2013, 11:57:26 AM »

Had to build a new table. All my stuff outgrew the last on.

LaDano · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2013, 12:50:22 PM »

Clean and simple and best if all, free. I got to build one now. I'm wanting to get started casting anyway. What swamp are u from? I'm on da bayou in La.

Swampman · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2013, 01:22:36 PM »

I live right on the edge of some wetlands in NW FL. Elgin AFB and the Blackwater State Forest are the areas we hunt and both contain swamps.

LaDano · « **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2013, 02:21:50 PM »

About 15yrs ago my wife and I would run to south of Pensacola every other weekend. Gulf Breeze, one of the best Mardi Gras over there.

Swampman · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2013, 02:23:59 PM »

We are about 25 miles east of Gulf Breeze.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2013, 12:55:46 AM »

let me give you one small bit of advice from someone thats lost alot of $ due to a fire with his casting equiptment. Take the top of your bench and install ceramic tiles. there eaiser to clean then a wood top and wont catch on fire no matter how stupid you are.

LaDano · « **Reply #20 on:** January 03, 2013, 06:46:22 AM »

That's a good idea, I have SS sheet I can cover the bench with. I'm loading in my garage. I built a drag bike in it a few years ago and almost burnt my house down. Now I have 4 fire extinguishers in there.

yukondog · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2013, 03:25:08 AM »

Free is always good, I like the old wooden box. + 1 on the fire extinguishers I have 1 in ea. shop.I like the idea of ceramic tiles, wouldent transfer heat to the wood, right now I just use a large cookie sheet that has a lip of about 3/4".

Hairy Chest · « **Reply #22 on:** January 06, 2013, 01:37:55 PM »

I don't see anything permanent like a bench for casting. I like portable. Like a sheet of 3/4" plywood on 2 stands. Put the pot on, plug it in. Don't forget the water bucket.

Jason F · « **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2013, 01:48:37 PM »

I got casters on mine to move it around garage. In the summer i use it outside.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #24 on:** January 07, 2013, 12:03:07 AM »

the sheet of steel would work too. As a matter of fact it was my first thought. Started looking around the house for some and found that i had a few extra partial boxes of ceramic tiles left from doing both my bathrooms. Its held up real well for about 4 years now. Another thing nice about ceramic or steel is its much easier to clean then a wood top. Get melted bullet lube on wood and its about there for the duration. With ceramic or steel just take your propane torch heat it up and wipe it off.

Quote from: LaDano on January 03, 2013, 06:46:22 AM

That's a good idea, I have SS sheet I can cover the bench with. I'm loading in my garage. I built a drag bike in it a few years ago and almost burnt my house down. Now I have 4 fire extinguishers in there.

Swampman · « **Reply #25 on:** January 07, 2013, 12:42:07 AM »

I did see some pics on another forum where a fellow used ceramic tile on top. When they got hot, they shattered and dumped hot lead all over the place. Just sayin'

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #26 on:** January 08, 2013, 01:34:19 AM »

. there used in front of many a wood stoves and fireplaces to prevent fires. ive had a whole pot of lead leak out due to a stuck open dump valve and never had a problem with anything cracking. I also like i said take my propane torch all the time and melt off spilled bullet lube without a problem. I cant see how you could possible get tiles that hot unless you actually had a fire right on top of them and in that case id rather have cracked tiles then another loading room burnt to the ground.

Flash · « **Reply #27 on:** January 08, 2013, 08:11:16 AM »

Ceramic tiles take tremendous heat to crack and they'll break from impact before they will from heat. If backer board is used instead of wood, there is no chance of them breaking from heat.

Swampman · « **Reply #28 on:** January 08, 2013, 08:50:30 AM »

Well, they did and dumped hot lead all over the place.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #29 on:** January 08, 2013, 09:11:02 AM »

I think you will find tile will react to heat depending on how it is installed . If it can't expand it almost has to break . If there is a base of cement under it that will also burst and break the tiles if heated enough. I would also think it would take alot of heat . I know spilling hot lead on tiles won't cause it to break unless they are wet ( not just the surface but saturated ) as I have seen that happen spilling on dry tiles with not harm .