Cattail foundry

[Guest vacabill]

Has or does anyone know anything about the cattail foundry in Pennsyvania, run by the Amish?

I need aluminum runningboard trim for my 32 olds, the trim ends mimic the chrome trim on the fenders see pic, so would like to know if anyone has,had work done by them for something like that. I have read they will make 1 piece and are resonable on their prices. I have a friend, that says he can carve the details from my fender and make the trim from wood. Since I know nothing about pouring metal, I am assuming that could be used for a mold. or am I way off track?

Edited May 5, 2013 by vacabill (see edit history)

[F&J]

When you make a pattern, you must allow for aluminum shrinkage as it cools off. There should be online charts to show how much shrinkage occurs per inch or per foot.

Sand casting is cheaper but has a rough surface.

Lost wax casting will have a smooth finish and can copy any fine details.

[Guest vacabill]

When you make a pattern, you must allow for aluminum shrinkage as it cools off. There should be online charts to show how much shrinkage occurs per inch or per foot.

Sand casting is cheaper but has a rough surface.

Lost wax casting will have a smooth finish and can copy any fine details.

Read where it was 3/16" per foot

will check lost wax , does anyone have a source for lost wax<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Edited May 6, 2013 by vacabill (see edit history)

[Guest Mochet]

I sent you an email with info., Bill.

Phil

[Coley]

For a lost wax pattern you need almost double the shrink factor as the wax pattern shrinks as it cools and the metal does the same.

The cost for lost wax is a lot if you are only doing a few copies of the part.

No-bake is cheaper and copies detail very well.

[Guest vacabill]

For a lost wax pattern you need almost double the shrink factor as the wax pattern shrinks as it cools and the metal does the same.

The cost for lost wax is a lot if you are only doing a few copies of the part.

No-bake is cheaper and copies detail very well.

Now I know, why most of the guys that have 32 olds, don't have the runningboard trim, have seen several for sale, complete as from factory, but no trim. Oh well. Maybe I can track down some of them and split the cost, I guess part of restoring is the FUN in tracking down parts,

Edited May 6, 2013 by vacabill (see edit history)

[Restorer32]

We have work done by Cattail on a regular basis. If you can post a better pic of the part you need I can likely tell you if it's something they could do. If it's a long and relatively thin casting it can be very problematic. The Amish at Cattail know foundry work but they don't know cars. They have done hundreds and hundreds of castings for us over the years in bronze, aluminum and cast iron. They only do sand castings.

[Guest vacabill]

I got lucky, a guy had 1, so at least I have something to make a another one with When I get it, I will post a picture. Then I can get advise on how to make another one,

[Restorer32]

I can happily advise you. We have castings at Cattail now being done and I am very familiar with their operation and capabilities. You can't phone or e-mail them but they do do UPS etc. Fewer and fewer foundaries are willing to even attempt castings using originals as patterns.