I have just recently begun creating jewelery and the thought of
spending $400+ on a centrifugal caster was not in the cards for
quite some time. However, yesterday was the yearly spring opening
of a local used tool store (Liberty Tool, Liberty, ME ) and I
couldn’t make it. ( took my two son’s 7 and 9 yrs to Sugarloaf
skiing for the day) but my father called and asked if there was
anything I wanted and I replied with the usual, “Anything
interesting”. Fortunately he and I had visited J.S.Ritter in
Portland the week before so when the owner of liberty tool came
in with a large homemade enclosure surrounding a centrifugal
casting machine he though it looked interesting! The owner could
find no clear spot to set it down and just sort of stacked it on
some other tools. My father inquired and the owner said $40
today and considerably more tomorrow. Well anyway I now own an
"Allcraft Tool and Supply" caster. Unfortunately, my father lives
about an hour away and I can’t get there for a few days but he
says it is in very good shape appears to work and comes with a
"large box of stuff". Needless to say I am like a kid on
Christmas eve. Question: Does anyone have any experience with
this caster? There is no documentation with it and I have never
used any caster. Is this a decent/safe machine? Any experiences
would be greatly appreciated. dave
"large box of stuff". Needless to say I am like a kid on Christmas eve. Question: Does anyone have any experience with this caster? There is no documentation with it and I have never used any caster. Is this a decent/safe machine? Any experiences would be greatly appreciated. dave
Hi Dave,
Most centrifugal casting machines are very similar, with the
major differences being the housing surrounding the spring and
the way the crucible mounts on the arm, and perhaps the way the
weights mount on the arm. The Allcraft is no exception, and works
in exactly the same manner as the Kerr. Allcraft is an old
company that might have been bought up by someone else. I belive
they were in New York, and I haven’t seen a catalogue from them
in at least 10 or 15 years, (or maybe 20 years!) :).
Jeffrey Everett