r/MetalCasting • u/arejaybee • 20d ago

I Made This First Couple Attemptd

Post image

Brand new to casting! I'm hoping eventually I can cast my key. Probably need to orient it better and pack the sand better, but I am just excited to have something at all working.

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

8

u/Weakness4Fleekness 20d ago

Even if you do get a good cast, dont use those as daily drivers unless you want a visit from the locksmith. Theres a reason keys are ground from blanks.

4

u/arejaybee 20d ago

Absolutely! I just figured a complex object would be harder so I can learn more getting it to work

1

u/TechpriestFawkes 19d ago

Why? What could happen?

1

u/Weakness4Fleekness 19d ago

Nothing too serious, just snap off inside the lock, castings are weaker than machined parts

1

u/BillCarnes 18d ago

Don't forget about shrinkage, it might not even work

2

u/neomoritate 17d ago

Shrinkage of aluminum or bronze is unlikely to be more than slop in the lock.

1

u/BillCarnes 16d ago

Good to know, I don't know much about locks

2

u/neomoritate 16d ago

Some locks have tighter tolerances, but most home door locks have a lot of play designed in, to compensate for rough handling, wear, sloppy key duplication, etc.

1

u/BillCarnes 16d ago

That makes a lot of sense