Metal casting is a metalworking technique in which molten metal is
poured into a mold and allowed to set before being removed to reveal
a metal piece which can be finished with grinding, sanding, and
polishing before being sold. This is one of the oldest metalworking
techniques in the world, with evidence of cast metal pieces being
found at archaeological sites all over the world, sometimes
demonstrating a very high level of skill. This technique continues
to be utilized today in a broad range of industries.
A wide variety of materials can be used to make molds for metal
casting, depending on the metal being worked. The material needs to
be strong and durable enough to withstand the hot metal, while being
workable enough to be to be carved or worked into a mold. Wood,
limestone, plaster of Paris, and ceramic have all been used for
molds, and crude metal casting has been performed by pouring molten
metal into forms made by hollowing out sand or clay. Re-usable molds
for metal casting click together, holding the metal while it sets
and then pulling apart.
Some molds are made by carving a form from wax, including a high
level of detail so that the piece will be as finished as possible.
The wax can be inserted into a wet ceramic or plaster of Paris block
and then fired, leaving the shape of the mold behind while the wax
flows out. This technique is known as “lost wax casting,” and it is
simple enough to be taught in elementary school art classes.
To do metal casting, people usually need access to a foundry, a
facility which has been specially outfitted for work with hot
metals. Foundries include a very hot furnace or fireplace known as a
forge which can be used to work metal directly for blacksmithing, or
to melt metals for metal casting. Once metal is molten, it can also
be alloyed with other metals to bring out desired properties, and
then carefully poured into molds for casting.
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