This week I was obsessed with building a tiny vacuum former to recycle milk bottles. Reader, I made it – possibly the world’s ugliest DIY vacuum former.

As the good weather continued, we got the furnace going again and put the small cope and drag to use, this time casting an aluminium coin.

Making a casting flask had to be high up on this week’s jobs list, because when the sun finally shines in Lancashire, you’ve got to melt some metal.