Hey, Al

My preference for zinc came from my need to compromise away from iron and bronze.  After I had decided that casting at high temperature would simply be too much for the neighbors, I hit on the lower temperature bronze.  But then I decided that I still had to 'tone down' the forge and that is when my research brought up zinc.  It gives me the weight that I want in my design, with the added bonus that it is relatively easy to cast -and easy on the wallet.  What remains to be seen is whether my intention to add in some 10-20% aluminum will work, i.e., I need that the Aluminum dissolve in the zinc without a need for me to raise the temperature above zinc's pouring temp.  My understanding -and hope, is that it will. I will also try a zinc melt with added copper -but I am still researching whether copper will adequately dissolve at zinc's pour temperature.  I am also hoping that zinc with added copper will give a better color than zinc with the aluminum.  My clock and camera designs call for brass and bronze, of course.  But I have confined myself to low-melt temps because I am in an apartment in Brooklyn.  So I will just have to see how it goes.  I guess my shop work should be called "balcony casting" instead of "backyard casting," lol.  But when you live in a city such as New York, you just have to "make do."  

Up until a couple years ago, I was all set to retire to an old house in Maine on a nice property.  My shop was all planned out.  But the economy of the last few years wiped out too much of my pension and savings.  And when my youngest told me how much med school was going to cost me, I decided to work my office here in the city another five years or so.  So I will get to Maine only for summer vacations until then.  

Take care, Al.

Alden

Yeah, I wish I could put up a nice furnace and casting area.  I envy you guys living in real houses with yards in which you can do as you please.  Ok, so yesterday I reached an understanding with my landlord: I can melt metal, so long as I am using only charcoal and the Webber she has in the yard.  (Hmmm.  I could add a blower and still technically be in compliance….  But I won't push my luck.  The elderly woman is really scared of all this playing Carnegie. I am sure she is losing sleep already.)   I will cast something for her first, in pewter, to obtain her good graces.  She made me promise to keep a bucket of water nearby in case of emergency. (!)  I then had to explain at length why we really do not want to do that.  Wow, I felt like a real pro as I explained this to her.  Anyway, I feel sure that the large Webber, with the bbq bellows, will do zinc, so I am in business. :)  And there is a sandbox that her kids used years ago.  So it looks like I won't have to do this on the balcony after all.  Now I can start on the molds…      Alden