So....Casted Gray Iron Riven Sword

Sir ArmaMalum·Sep 17, 2014·9 votes·5,318 views

Long story short:

I love League
I have free access to a collegiate foundry and as much Gray Iron as I can use
My Metal Castings class required a metal cast of whatever I wanted as a grade

End of story:

http://i.imgur.com/u8WhrEn.jpg

I have pictures and can explain the process I did if it's wanted. Note that I am not an artist at all so while it's not amazing I'm still damn proud of it XD (also, before you ask I had to cut the handle short to have it fit the mold dimensions)

27 Comments

RiotRiot GirlSep 17, 201410 votes

This is pretty freaking cool!! Congrats Summoner. Did you already get your A, or what?

I can fully relate to those feels, bro. Labors of love like this are the best. I am preparing my first and second cosplays right now (Chell from Portal and Spell Thief Lux) and I know they won't be perfect, but I am so proud of the progress with each new touch I add. Keep it up!

xoxo, Riot Girl <3

Sir ArmaMalumSep 18, 20143 votes

Did you already get your A, or what?

I'm going to assume I did, lol. The actual grade itself was based on cast yield (i.e. how much waste metal was used) and I even out at about 35% yield, which is decent. That and this was my first ever pour, 2700 degree F molten iron ftw!

Eventually I hope to wrestle some workable 3D models of champs and investment cast them in about 5 inch tall figurines. 3D printing is a godsend among the casting industry ^_^

RiotRiot GirlSep 23, 20142 votes

Glad you didn't Johnny Tremaine it. ;)

TulareSep 24, 20142 votes

I do not recall enjoying that book. >_<

RiotRiot GirlSep 24, 20141 votes

no one does.

Ark Angel HFBSep 18, 20145 votes

This is pretty freaking cool!! Congrats Summoner.

xoxo, Riot Girl <3

What is a Summoner?

RiotRiot GirlSep 23, 20145 votes

Um, serious?

Summoner is another word for player in LoL jargon.

ChickenWrapSep 23, 20146 votes

Um, serious?

Summoner is another word for player in LoL jargon.

See cause they were removed from lore. They TECHNICALLY don't exist anymore, remember?

RiotRiot GirlSep 23, 20144 votes

Yes, I wasn't sure if we had messaged that yet. But I mean, I just use it for player. Maybe i need to stahp dat.

Ark Angel HFBSep 23, 20143 votes

Yes, I wasn't sure if we had messaged that yet. But I mean, I just use it for player. Maybe i need to stahp dat.

Yeah please do. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Ether we are in the game or are not.

Also you might want to go talk to the Esports dudes. The Cup needs a name change.

Final GirISep 25, 20141 votes

.> Riot Girl did nothing to you, no need to be rude to her. Damn dude. Chill out, take a Xanax maybe.

TiropatSep 23, 20143 votes

they don't exist IN RUNETERRA any more. you are not in runeterra. you are still a summoner.

DecritSep 17, 20142 votes

Cool stuff, i approve u.u

MrBuffingtonSep 23, 20142 votes

CAN YOU HAVE CAST IRON POROS IN YOUR NEXT CHAMPION CONTEST?!?!?!

I mean, shipping is going to be expensive....but....the poros...

Sir ArmaMalumSep 24, 20143 votes

Not gonna lie the thought came to mind. And then died very quickly when I realized shipping would be over $100........

MrBuffingtonSep 24, 20141 votes

O.O

well, you can always make one for yourself :D

EDIT: On a side note, I'm surprised you didn't make Renekton's weapon instead. I do love Riven though :D

Sir ArmaMalumSep 24, 20142 votes

That was actually a casting issue! You see, when casting metal thinner areas (think Renekton's Blade's handle) will solidify first possibly cutting off the flow of molten metal to the rest of the part. Making for a very distorted and destroyed cast. This can be combated by the use of risers (extra 'banks' that pool extra molten metal for heat and to slide back down during shrinkage) and/or having a hot mold (literally just heating the mold so the smaller areas don't freeze).

The project I was doing didn't allow for heated molds and if I had wanted to do all the extra risers that would make my yield ratio (more waste metal, lower yield ratio) plummet and possibly also take off from my grade. So, went for the 2nd best. And that's also the reason that the sword is in one piece instead of in pieces as it should be btw!

#ILikeMyClasses ^_^

MrBuffingtonSep 24, 20141 votes

interesting; could you have instead used a different material for Renekton's handle? And just cast the blade? For example, have a simple metal rod that you can cut and weld onto the blade once it's finished?

Also I'm suggesting these as potential future projects; getting the grade you want is important, but you mentioned you had access to the foundry and tons of metal, so I pictured you (given enough time) creating a full-sized Renekton cosplay out of iron :P

Sir ArmaMalumSep 24, 20142 votes

so I pictured you (given enough time) creating a full-sized Renekton cosplay out of iron

T_T so much want, but sadly no. While having access to a foundry and metal is AWESOME, creating something so large will only be possible in many, many pieces. And the 'free access' is specifically 'within reason', so sadly that will not be happening. HOWEVER, I do make props (foam) as a pastime (when I have the time that is) and while I'm still very much a beginner I'm currently working on a dragonslayer panth cosplay. (It's going very slowly)

I'm suggesting these as potential future projects

If I had a list for all the future projects I want to do I'm fairly I would crush myself in my apartment with the sheer amount of paper necessary. This is indeed one of them....eventually >_<

could you have instead used a different material for Renekton's handle

Yes, I definitely could have, but sadly the resources needed to bend/forge the handle and attach it are in the machining lab, which is in a different department, which isn't nearly as generous! Eventually, albeit most likely later on in life when I'm out college, I will have my own forge. So there's that :P

MrBuffingtonSep 24, 20142 votes

And the 'free access' is specifically 'within reason', so sadly that will not be happening

Stupid "within reason", always getting in the way :P. I want pics of your future work though :D

Sir ArmaMalumSep 24, 20143 votes

You'll be waiting a little while, but it'll get here eventually!

RueianSep 17, 20141 votes

wish i had access to a forge... and materials and tools ..

Sir ArmaMalumSep 18, 20141 votes

While I am going into casting I'm actually also founded/head of a Blacksmithing/Forging Club at Virginia Tech and let me tell you making a forge is actually really cheap and easy! All you need is a heat capable container (from old brake drums to hole in the ground) and an old hair dryer you don't mind breaking. The biggest cost is really the mallet, anvil and gloves. Which, depending on where you look, can be dirt cheap.

######I am not liable for anyone hurting themselves after reading this, research what metals you are working with, wear natural fiber clothing and remember that fire is hot!

RueianSep 18, 20141 votes

I've been trying to make time to get instruction from the Renaissance reenactment group in my area since they do forging. Been really busy with work lately though. Hopefully when i have my own place i can start gathering what is needed. Deep down i want to build a furnace in my future backyard.

KinjishiSep 18, 20141 votes

Do you plan on making a larger (or even life-size) version at a later time?

Sir ArmaMalumSep 18, 20141 votes

IF I COULD I DAMN WELL WOULD! XD

But, sadly the size of the molds at the campus foundry would not allow for that. Maybe....maybe when I finally get the blacksmithing/forging club up and running I can (although I'd be doing Renekton's weapon first in that case). But sadly it surprisingly hard to find someone willing to allow semi-unsupervised college students to handle white-hot metal and sharp objects on their land......