what range of metal can you work with in a molten state, in a home-based workshop [rather than industr foundry?

Question

obviously you can work with lead and silver solder, but i was wondering what range of metals can be worked with at home to cast into various sculptures and artworks? are there some that just require to hot a condition to work with at home....or can you work with practically any metal in its molten state at home?

also which is the best book on such techniques?

Answer 1

The easiest alloys to work with are the fusible alloys(cerrobend,woods metal,printers metal etc:look up in Wikipedia).These make excellent detailed castings because the alloys expand slightly in solidifying and are all molten and pourable at temperatures below100C.

They do contain toxic metals but since you are a grown up I think you just need to be told not to eat or drink them.They have been used for a century by in the printing and plumbing businesses.And if you later mean to go on to more refractory metals you will have experience of pattern making and founding.

Answer 2

Technically you could build your own blacksmith's forge. Look up metal crafts. Books tend to be specific on one particular type of metal craft such as using wire. You can work aluminium (aluminum) fairly easily at home if you are careful http://blueegg.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/the-smell-of-molten-aluminum-in-the-morning/ (for health and safety reasons I only point out this site as an example of what can be done not how it should be done).

Answer 3

Be alert to the toxicities of any metals you do use; many low melting alloys contain cadmium which is extremely toxic.

Iron, copper, tin, zinc, no problem, but Cd, Pb, Sb[contains As] are all problematic.