Hi Roger - There's also a lot of information about how to build your
own foundry
on the web. Google for "home foundry" - a lot of hobby machinist types
have made really nice tutorial web pages about how to build a furnace,
sand cast, etc.
You can get a small foundry set up for about $200 (propane). You
might try starting with Aluminum for casting. Cheap, melts easily.

- Jud
www.judturner.com