'49 Caddy Tail Light & Signal Buckets

Discussion in 'Lost foam casting' started by Al2O3, Feb 18, 2019.

  1. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Many of us have other hobby interests and are members of other forums. I became acquainted with one of our newer members by way of a custom car build project of a 1949 Cadillac with modern Cadillac drivetrain and amenities.

    http://allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=14068

    He’s been at it since the Summer of 2015.

    Here’s where he is heading.

    6 Caddy Rendition.jpg

    Jack has employed many different fabrication disciplines in the course of the build and one special need was castings for taillight and turn signal housings. Since this was going to require one each of six different castings, I suggested he consider lost foam. Jack made these patterns, and I must say, as his first attempt at working foam I was quite impressed as they are complicated geometry. Must have been a lot of hand carving and sanding. Since it clearly took some effort to produce the patterns, I figured I’d better not blow them up in failure.

    Here are the patterns as supplied by Jack.

    7 TL Bucket.jpg 8 TS Housing and Frame.JPG

    Here they are prepped.

    9 Prepped and Packed.jpg 10 Gate.JPG 11 Mudded TL.JPG

    Happy to report the first round of casting the turn signal buckets and lense frames was successful.

    12.JPG 13.JPG 14.JPG

    I have one of the two tail light buckets prepped but have had a weather interruption. Will try to get those cast this weekend.

    Best,
    Kelly
     
  2. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    awesome project!!
    you make it look too damn easy! :D
     
  3. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Thanks David. Here's hoping you feel the same way after the tail light buckets are poured........feels like when the kicker is lining one up and the announcer says, he hasn't missed one from this distance all season. ;)

    Best,
    Kelly
     
  4. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Lol, no pressure. No pressure...
     
  5. crazybillybob

    crazybillybob Silver Banner Member

    I'm glad he went the foam route with you! Because the wax route and coming to see me would not have turned out this good first try!!!

    CBB
     
  6. Gippeto

    Gippeto Silver

    Still blown away by what can be done with a piece of foam and some patience. Turning out great Kelly...but you knew that already. ;)

    Al
     
  7. Rocketman

    Rocketman Silver Banner Member

    You guys never cease to amaze me. This is why I come here.
     
  8. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Ok, YEA.... Maybe a little pressure...;):rolleyes:
     
  9. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    I took advantage of a small window in the weather and cast the tail light housing. Here’s the prep.

    15 TL Housing Prepped.jpg

    The jury is back with the verdict…..and here’s the result.

    16.JPG 17.JPG 18.JPG 19.JPG

    Looks good so far…..but, there is a flaw.

    20.JPG 21.JPG

    The pattern was very thin in that area. It’s the oldest Foundryman’s excuse in the book Jack……blame the pattern maker! :p It can probably be tigged up and with a little fettling no one will know…..oh, except everyone reading this.

    OK if I fatten up the pattern in that area on the other one Jack?

    Best,
    Kelly
     
    oldironfarmer likes this.
  10. Jack Meckes

    Jack Meckes Copper

    Yes, go ahead and thicken from the inside. Whatever you need to do. Can you add a second sprue so that area is not the last to fill? I roughed in an extra pattern for the tail lights when I was making them. Do you want me to finish it and send it to you? I could have it to you before next weekend.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2019
  11. Your photographic skills hiding the cold shut are exceptional!

    Glad you didn't make the pattern.

    He poured it too cold, Jack.
     
  12. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Plenty hot. I poured at 1600F. The pattern really was only about <.090" thick there and you just aren't going to succeed in sand at that thickness very often. When I drilled the hole through the emblem embossment it was also very thin. I did thicken that area up to about 1/4" but not the area that didn't fill.....didn't know that it was there.

    22.JPG 23.JPG

    Based upon how the lower portion of the casting filled, if the walls are 1/4" or so and there aren't any thin spots I think it will run just fine.

    Sure. Don't hollow out the area behind the embossment.....isn't necessary.

    Best,
    Kelly
     
  13. I was just giving him a little ammunition. We all know you keep track of your temperatures.

    How did you thicken that? With wax?
     
  14. Jack Meckes

    Jack Meckes Copper

    I did that. I used a mixture of the dust from sanding the foam and some wood glue. Looks like crap but it filled. I didn't know you could use wax. I just hope it will burn out. A little bit of knowlege is a dangerous thing.
     
  15. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Start with this

    24.JPG

    Fit a filler piece, and attach with hot melt while applying pressure to make it conform.

    25.JPG

    Then blend with bull nose bit in die grinder.

    26.JPG

    Hot wire some thin foam plank, dry fit it up, and glue in place with hot melt.

    27.JPG

    Trim, blend, and detail it.

    28.JPG 29.JPG

    Mud that sucker up

    30.JPG

    Pour hot metal on it.....oh wait, haven't done that yet. Supposed to be 50mph winds tomorrow.....crap! Don't know if I will have a chance to cast.

    Best,
    Kelly
     
    Melterskelter and oldironfarmer like this.
  16. Thanks! Great tutorial!
     
  17. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Had a go at the second tail light bucket today. It was about 20F and very windy, 50mph gusts! I tucked my lost foam rig in the corner to shelter it the best I could and clamped a piece of cardboard in place to try to shield the cup from the wind.

    31.JPG

    Here’s the result.

    32.JPG 33.JPG 34.JPG 35.JPG

    There is a small fold flaw at the very bottom of the casting. It may polish out depending upon how much material Jack removes when he fits them up and polishes them. Worse case, slight touchup with the TIG torch.

    36.JPG

    Here’s the family photo. One more tail light bucket to go.

    37.JPG

    Best,
    Kelly
     
  18. Looks pretty good! Did you super heat your melt before pouring in those conditions?

    I was going to pour my clamp today but got suckered into going to get some free tools.:eek:
     
  19. Al2O3

    Al2O3 Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    I already consider 1600F to be superheated. It's such a short time, 5-10 seconds, from when I grab the crucible and pour it's more about the wind quenching the thin stream being poured. I could see it skinning over at the end of the pour. -Not ideal conditions. I did the best I could with what I had.

    Best,
    Kelly
     
  20. Jack Meckes

    Jack Meckes Copper

    The left housing looks good. I can have that welded up no problem. Actually I could have the right one welded up if I have to. I am almost finished with this other right side pattern. I have to put the emblem boss on in the morning and do some finish sanding. I'll drop it off at FedEx sometime tomorrow afternoon. Don't scrap the right housing till we see what we get with the second attempt we'll use the best of the two. I left some extra thickness in the lower area that gave you trouble in the first pour. we'll use the best of the two.
     

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