FAQ’s
Why do you get your castings from New Zealand?
There are a couple of answers for this one but the quick answer is cost. The big cost in the parts that are wax printed is the prints themselves and the casting as supplier by Mike typically works out 1/3rd of the price of just the wax print alone when done here in the UK.
Do you have to do everything to the works drawings or can you do things to our own specification?
Not everything has to be or has been done to works drawings but it’s just where we like to start if possible. If you have a project in mind or want something making to your own drawing then all you have to do is ask and we can work with you to turn your idea into something tangible.
Do you hold stock of everything seen on your website?
Simple answer is no. We hold stock of the items we sell on a more regular basis and smaller stocks of some items we sell time to time but typically we do most things to order.
What are the lead times for my part?
Sadly lead times can vary by quite a lot so we try and be as honest as possible when you are looking to order something. As said above we don’t hold a large amount of stock but if you order something we have in then we try get it out as soon as possible otherwise we will be as up front about the lead time as we can on a case by case basis.
What do I need to finish your fittings?
To most people’s surprise I do everything on my Grandfathers ML7 using a variety of Myford tools such as the vertical slide and dividing head which are two of the regulars. Every item is designed to be made in any model engineer’s workshop so no special equipment is required. If you receive your parts and drawings and feel there is a certain part you can’t or don’t want to do yourself then we can always help you out with this. We are always happy to share our tips and tricks that we have learnt making these fittings and on occasions we loan out some of our fixtures.
What is the white powder in and around the castings and how do you remove it?
This powder is the ceramic that the waxes are coated in to create the mould for casting. This is baked in a furnace to remove the wax and to get the mould temperature right before the metal is poured. It is later cleaned off using a variety of techniques depending on the foundry ranging from high pressure water, rumblers or grit blasters. The best way to remove what is left is to leave them soaking in warm water and washing up liquid and using something to scrub the surface. For internal passages its best to leave it soaking as long as possible (couple of days if not more) to let it soak right through the medium and then agitate it however you can. Be sure to clear this out before any final assembly and use.
How can I pay for my order?
We prefer if you can pay via BACS transfer but if not then cheque is fine.