- Many people don’t realise that steel can be cast – so can stainless steel – you just need to go to a larger foundry.
- Although foundries may get a small job done within a week, lead times can be very long (months) so worth thinking about timing.
- All should do bronze, lead, aluminium. The larger foundries do iron and steel.
- Generally you have three choices: for something complicated and/or very detailed, go to an art-specific foundry; if very simply made, it is worth trying the semi-specialist (mid-range) casters; if producing large numbers, or if you want to work with steel, it’s good to try a big foundry.
Art-specific: go up to exotic alloys. More expensive but you are paying for expertise and the ability to do small runs. These foundries will do several different parts of the process for you and help you through the thinking. They are used to odd requests. More in tune with fragile work, specialist finishes, including patination, and the importance of detail.
Mid-range: go up to (possibly) cast iron. Like something straight out of the late industrial revolution. They will do small runs and batch productions of simple things – trade or industrial products, but they also do one-offs and are approachable for different work.
Large category – industrial casting: go up to steel. The least expensive, but you have to have your pattern totally sorted or at least your drawing fully CAD-ready. There is little leeway with these guys unless you are using their design facilities, but this will eat into the savings you are making. Designers can design patterns and do post-machining – otherwise they want the part and the number of orders.