casting copper hammer head ?

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casting copper hammer head ?

This topic has 14 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 4 September 2014 at 09:59 by Bazyle.

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2 September 2014 at 19:32 #162506
Rich2502
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@rich2502
I have come by a nice small copper hammer, with no copper inserts, how can I backyard cast the copper discs ?

I have a propane torch, oxy propane cutter, firebricks, plaster of Paris, lots of scrap copper pipe, if any of that is use full.
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2 September 2014 at 19:32 #17494
Rich2502
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@rich2502
2 September 2014 at 19:49 #162507
mike T
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@miket56243
Richard, You can but new inserts from that well known auction web site. You could saw a piece off a solid copper billet. You could even buy a complete new copper faced hammer for less than the cost of all the gas and effort required to DIY… Unless you feel you must.
2 September 2014 at 20:11 #162508
Rich2502
Participant
@rich2502
6 blimming pound each !

I’m not made of money !

Seriously , I don’t think it will take 6 squids worth of gas to melt a bit of copper.
2 September 2014 at 20:25 #162509
jason udall
Participant
@jasonudall57142
Copper melts at 1083 ° C…probably casts at 1100…

Compared to ali at 600 this will be a stretch.

You will need

A furnace. . ( white fire brick)…

A crucible ..chose carefully. .you don't what it leaking ..on you feet say….

A DRY.. repeat DRY mould…

Something to act as flux to remove the oxides that will float to surface (Don't know what to use for copper)

Old stainless spoon to scrape off the dross removed above…

Suitable gloves…. see cruible above…

..good luck
2 September 2014 at 20:27 #162510
jason udall
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@jasonudall57142
I suggest weighing in a tenners worth of copper and buy the faces required..
2 September 2014 at 21:15 #162514
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Is it a 'Thor'? You can get nylon and hide faces as well.

At £1266+p&p for 6" of 1" bar, £6 isn't a rip off.

Neil
2 September 2014 at 22:33 #162520
Enough!
Participant
@enough
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 02/09/2014 21:15:24:

At £1266+p&p for 6" of 1" bar, £6 isn't a rip off.

Hope there's a decimal point missing there!
3 September 2014 at 02:59 #162529
Vic
Participant
@vic
No, he's from the future and prices have gone up a bit!
3 September 2014 at 07:59 #162533
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Posted by jason udall on 02/09/2014 20:25:40:

Old stainless spoon to scrape off the dross removed above…

..good luck

I have discovered that ASDA have some very useful kitchen items. For instance they sell stainless steel containers/pots for £6 and these are useful for some of my blueing mixtures and there is a whole section of stainless spoons and stuff that can be made into ladles and skimming tools, even made a "dunker" for degassing tablets from a sink strainer. All for just a couple of quid.

Well there is my useless bit of info for the day.

graham.
3 September 2014 at 08:18 #162534
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi Richard, I personally don't think it is worth the effort. Buck and Hickman do replacemant faces at a reasonable price:- **LINK** and hide faces at **LINK**

Probably better to take your copper pipe down to the scrappy and buying new ones as Jason suggests

Hope this helps.

Regards Nick.
3 September 2014 at 13:44 #162570
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
Borax would probably be the flux to use, I'd try it. Ian S C
3 September 2014 at 17:29 #162600
jason udall
Participant
@jasonudall57142
Prompted to try somthing….

Took copper blanking plug(Two) 22mm

Made short length of 22mm copper pipe. …I used 50 mm

Cross drilled middle of pipe one side.to allow gilling

Set on fire bricks..added lead …heat..melt add more lead..top up…..if filled carefully before heating you might not need to top up…but best be prepared

Cool…now have nicely annealed lump of lead filled copper……

Trials show copper durable and at least soft this far

Enlarge hole ..add handle..completed hammer..Haven't done this yet.( lacking suitable wood for handle to complete this idle thought project…)..but feels heafty
3 September 2014 at 19:36 #162618
julian atkins
Participant
@julianatkins58923
as a slight aside i acquired a few copper stays removed from a GWR loco at tyseley many years ago, and these have been used by a few fellow club members to make copper hammers.

cheers,

julian
4 September 2014 at 09:59 #162660
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Do you really want copper as opposed to lead? Perhaps you could flatten some pipe, roll it up and glue it together with lead. Sort of compromise in hardness.
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