The Steamboating Forum

Hello gents, I was wondering if anyone might know which bronze alloys are the best suited for casting fittings ?
In the past I've generally salvaged old plumbing fixtures for my bronze,the older the building the better the metal seems to be.
At least its always seemed best for making handles,knobs, and linkage parts. But I'm not sure which bronzes are best in a marine environment.
I know that I could buy cleats and just about anything else I might need , but there is just something about fire and liquid metal that I just love
So any ideas?
as always I appreciate your input ,best regards Les.

Taken from a well known classic boat fittings co.;

Name
Designation
Alloy Elements
Typical Uses

Brasses
Common Brass
CZ108
Zn 37%
Interior Fittings


Naval Brass
CZ112
Zn 37% Sn1%
Pre-war boat fittings


High Tensile Brass
CZ114
Zn 37% Mn 2% Al 1.5% Fe 1% Pb 1.5% Sn 0.8%
Snap shackles, Propellers, Winches


De-zincification resistant (DZR) Brass
CZ132
Zn 36% Pb 2.8% As 0.1%
Hull valves and skin fittings

Bronzes
Aluminium Bronze
CA104
Al 10% Ni5% Fe5%
High strength fittings


Phosphor Bronze
PB102
Sn 5% P 0.2%
Fabricated/wrought fittings


Silicon Bronze
CS101
Si 3% Mn1%
Fasteners


Gunmetal
LG2
Sn 5% Pb5% Zn5%
Cast hardware


Aluminium Bronze - cast
AB2
Al 10% Ni5% Fe3%
Stanchions, some mast hardware

Al - Aluminium, As - Arsenic, Fe - Iron, Mn - Manganese, Ni - Nickel, P - Phosphorus, Pb - Lead, Si - Silicon, Sn - Tin, Zn - Zinc

Greg

Thank you Greg. Copied the whole list to use as a reference . It Should make a good starting point for my little experiment.
I've made quite a few valve handle and a great many stove parts ,but never boat hardware . I will try to post some pics when my casting rig is ready to go .
Do you know a good source for photos of period deck hardware?
thanks again. Les

I do, but as to what is suitable; that depends upon what type of boat your building....

Greg

Dear Les ,

As Greg says , it depends on the sort/style of boat your after . The web sites for the following firms have some rather general pictures of their products :

Davey &Co London : http://www.davey.co.uk/davey_and_co_products.html
Classic Marine : http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/default.htm

Their prices will probably make you even keener to cast your own . If you do you might find several customers in this Forum !

Regards Edward .

Put me on your "buyer" list as I've been looking and haven't been able to find 6" cleats...I need four. The shiny polished ones with some sort of varnish don't fit the character of our boat.

daysaver1 wrote:Put me on your "buyer" list as I've been looking and haven't been able to find 6" cleats...I need four. The shiny polished ones with some sort of varnish don't fit the character of our boat.

I've been happy w/ the Herreshoff bronze cleats; very traditional, and they weather to a nice color.

I found mine abroad, but these are similar: http://www.sailboatstuff.com/dk_Sea_Dog_cleats.html

- Bart

Walter Beckmann used to have these Herreshoff cleats

http://www.steamboating.net/page2.html

Hi The Herreshoff style cleats are very nice looking. I am currently looking at building a new casting furnace, the refractory in the old one isnt looking too good. If anyone is interested I will document the process and post it i here.