OOT - Cast crank making

[Nut124]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrLkm243_-8

[Mummert]

I see that operation making it in America with no issues at all, OSHA has pre approved there safety inspection after watching this.

Seriously though to see that, and then think of all the bullshit we have to go through to make the same exact part. You just got the perfect example of why American companies are goin out of business everyday. As caveman as this looks, they're making parts.

The guy ramming metal sitting on his butt in flip flops makes me jealous.

[billet]

Anyone notice the crank says "SCAT"?

[Dan Timberlake]

At 14:58 ?
Does kind of look that way .

scat crank e.PNG

[BillK]

I have always wondered if all of those places are actually in a big movie studio and they are making millions from their You Tube channel That video has 3.3 million views !!

[Wetflow]

The alloy of recycled materials seems pretty random; a few of these and a few of those. Probably whatever they happen to get a supply of. Also, who knows what originally went into the materials being recycled. After seeing what looks a lot like casting sand made from used motor oil, who know what was thrown in furnace for flux. Kind of fascinating and scary all at the same time.

[billet]

https://ibb.co/4mGPyrp

It could obviously just be a knock off

[Roundybout]

1053? 5140? 4130? Nodualr cast iron?

Who knows lol. It’s never the same batch to batch. An elemental analysis would be an eye opener for sure.

I can only imagine the forging operation going on next door

[Dave Koehler]

We laugh but there is a lot that can be learned from those folks.
How it's done, nothing goes to waste, people that actually work like the mold guy that seems to take pride in his work.
Then we can get snooty again when we see something like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cluoymX0OzA

[rebelrouser]

I think we also need to think about what working in the primitive foundry does to a person's body and how easy for an accident to hurt or even kill somebody in those conditions. Several of the workers did not even have shoes on their feet. I think the goal should be to manufacturer quality parts safely at reasonable costs. Years ago, manufactures thought it was cheaper to wear out people to save money. The other issue is environmental, they dumped the parts to cool in what looked like an alley. Besides the fumes they breathed while working in the foundry. I know sometimes the government can get out of hand on regulations, but at least we don't have rivers catching fire like they did in the 1970's and in the 70's lake Erie was almost dead, today you can actually eat the fish.

[Dave Koehler]

True that but the shoe thing seems normal over there. They have to have the toughest soles and haunches on earth.
Or they don't want to ruin their only pair of shoes.

[Big bald guy]

There's a video on youtube, they use old tire treads to make sandals. Truth.

[rebelrouser]

Back in the 70's I had a pair of sandals made from a tire tread, best sandals I ever had, I wish I could buy another pair.

[Wetflow]

Back in the 70's I had a pair of sandals made from a tire tread, best sandals I ever had, I wish I could buy another pair.

It's a lot more difficult to find an old bias ply tire to make them with these days.

[BCjohnny]

The alloy of recycled materials seems pretty random; a few of these and a few of those. Probably whatever they happen to get a supply of. Also, who knows what originally went into the materials being recycled.

The foundryman's lost art

Around here when I was growing up there were still quite a few small foundries and that method of 'feeding the melt' was common, usually by the most experienced

Apart from what was known to have been put in, the 'colour of the melt' was a good indication of what was in there, and may be needed

No, not entirely a science, but for most castings it was sufficiently accurate ....... not sure I'd want a 'cast steel 9000' crank in my engine though, too high duty an application, too many variables .......