If your interested in home made machines based on Dave Gingerys books, mostly using cast Al
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gingery_machines/some really interesting stuff in the links.
I'm frustrated at the moment, I'm building my workshop and Appartement into an industriel building, which means no casting, sculpture, machine tool making, and only vital work on my DD 82 pick-up!
When I get a "roundtooit" I will build myself a Cuppola furnace, cast iron and bronze, in large quantities! It's hard to find these "roundtooits" these days!
Matthew