As they have failed or became too hard to find or even expensive I have replaced forgings/stampings with investment castings very successfully. The trick being in the choice or steel and the heat treatment. The hardest part is forming a working relationship with a foundry and getting them to embrace new or unorthodox ideas. I wish I had your experience of metallurgy and the associated science. I admit using trial and error with many of my new ideas.
I really don't want to get into fabricating manufacture, though we have a comprehensive factory. If I could find suitable staff that might change. If I make one of something there are often others made at the same time. They get put up for sale, if they sell I might make more.
I've just finished a Job costing me over £3000.00ukp in labour. The part produced I'm asking £150.00 I could never break even on it. I just needed one to finish another job. There were alternatives but the result would have been substandard.
The question of forgings or malleable iron castings has been a long running one...A trawl of the internet turns up comments that definitively state that either one or the other was the type used...Well they can't all be right unless changes took place at some time or other...
My question is does anyone have any BSA literature that specifically states the materials used?...I'd like to be certain about this point...Ian
