Saw this and thought it may be of interest. May 12th and 13th. Actually less than an hour from me but cant say I'm looking to build a cupola. Best, Kelly
Looks like this is not a hands-on experience. Could be valuable to someone ready to take the plunge, however. Denis
If you're an hour away, it might be something interesting to go experience even if you don't intend to build a cupola.
https://www.afsinc.org/conferences/2020-practical-cupola-workshop Registration is $675 for non-members 2-day workshop Tuesday, May 12, 2020 9 - 11 a.m. Plant Tour - Gunite Corp. - An Accuride Co. Noon - 5 p.m. Registration 1 - 2:30 p.m. Cupola Introduction/Basic Principles of Operation David Kasun, Kuttner LLC, Port Washington, WI 2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Break 2:45 - 3:30 p.m. Cupola Introduction/Basic Principles of Operation (continued) David Kasun, Kuttner LLC, Port Washington, WI 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. Break 3:45 - 5:30 p.m. Charge Materials: Questions & Open Discussion Metallics: Dan Weiskopf, Neenah Foundry Co., Neenah, WI Foundry Coke: Steve Hay, Hay Melting Solutions, South Lyon, MI Alloys and Fluxes: Brian Johnson, Hickman Williams & Co., Palos Heights, IL 5:30 p.m. Networking Reception Appetizers and beverages will be served. Wednesday, May 13, 2020 8 - 9 a.m. Safety Discussion Alex Croll, Waupaca Foundry Inc., Athens, TN 9 - 9:15 a.m. Break 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. Preparing the Cupola for Startup Jim Wright, McWane Ductile, Coshocton, OH 10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Break 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Cupola Operation Lyle Heberling, Iron Casting Research Institute, Columbus, OH 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Tapping out Cupola, Banking, Shutting Down Steve Heger, Waupaca Foundry Inc., Waupaca, WI 1:30 - 1:45 p.m. Break 1:45 - 3:15 p.m. Troubleshooting Gene Ritchie, Ritchie Melt Consulting, Greenwood, IN 3:15 - 3:30 p.m. Break 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Cupola Refractory Systems: Material & Installation Charlie Hardin, Reno Refractories Inc., Morris, AL Pete Satre, Allied Mineral Products Inc., Columbus, OH 4:30 - 5 p.m. Questions, Evaluations, Open Discussion 5 p.m. Event Concludes Denis
You can join AFS instantly online as a retiree for $25/yr...... BUT....still $450 registration for members. Looks like a decent two days but a little rich for my blood. Best, Kelly
A person would have to pretty seriously invested in a cupola design to invest a further $700 for a seminar on them. That's a bit rich for my blood as well.
As Kelly pointed out, you could go for 465 total for joining the AFS and then paying member prices. And, yes, that is quite a bit of money. On the other hand I would spend it if I were going to try to run a cupola. It would be pretty easy through missteps and misunderstandings to burn through that much money just by screwing up a few firings and possibly damaging the furnace not to mention time lost. I figure there is an very high chance that through learning achieved at the meeting itself and, maybe more valuable, connections made with experienced people of whom future questions could be asked that you make back the investment. Just sayin... I am finding contacts to be invaluable as time goes along. Denis
