I would like to introduce myself to the group: Gary Martin from Portland Oregon. I have been a woodcarver and woodworker for over 40 years, a former public school industrial arts teacher, and a patternmaker for over 30 years.  Some of you will recognize me from Martin Model & Pattern, a supplier of model engine, flywheel and machine tool casting kits.  I make a living building industrial patterns, then use my avocation as a hobby to build interesting things for others in the hobby.  One of the most unique activities is also teaching patternmaking the "old school" way through the adult education program at Portland Community College.  I am probably the only one in the USA doing this and have since 2002 on a continuous basis.  In the future I would love to travel throughout the country giving patternmaking and casting seminars to like minded craftsmen.  I have a specialty in building patterns for antique cars and machinery, steam locomotives and related equipment. I enjoy helping others keeping the good old cast iron running forever.

Yes, I actually helped start GEARS and have been a vendor every year there. I welcome visitors who would like to see a pattern shop and my castings. Just give me a "heads up" when you are going to be in the area.
I was a shop foreman at the recently closed TechShop where we had a wonderful facility large enough for teaching classes in wood and metal working including a foundry. I have had to move back to my home based shop so do not have the foundry set up at this time. You are welcome to visit my woodworking (Wed) and patternmaking (Thurs)classes evenings 6-9 pm at Wilson High School also. We are close to finishing patterns as a class project for a patternmakers vice. We will offer ductile iron castings for sale to those who would love to machine their own.

Hi Gary:

Welcome to PIM. We have much in common. We are both college level industrial arts teachers, we both do foundry and machining more as a passion than as a hobby and we both sound like we are getting on in age.

I was most interested in your statement about a casting seminar. My friend Garret and I just completed our third furnace. We built two crucible furnaces (one for each of us) to cast parts with which we have fired up but not yet used. We built the third which we call a breakdown furnace which accepts a whole car wheel and will drip out the bottom into an ingot mold for use in the crucible furnaces. We would truly enjoy an experienced person to be there to help us not set anybody on fire or blow anything up the first go around. If you are interested in being a voice of reason and helping avoid a tragedy, I could put together a group of interested people for a casting party at my house in Tacoma. I am certain my students and Garret and even our host Tyler would be there.

So whadya say?

Barry Young

Mr. Y9ung,

     Where's your sense of adventure???? 2 cardinal rules for blowing things up… #1. the eyebrows WILL grow back… :)   #2. Perform any demolition experimentation when SWMBO is out shopping so the firemen can put out the flames, roll up their hoses, and leave before she gets home… :):)  'Naw, nohing burned, Dear, I just put down a little weed killer :):):)'

     – Don     'Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional'