Make use of what folks on the Internet have to offer you. Spend a little time with a decent search engine, and you should be able to find a number of articles that could help you understand some of the ins and outs of the casting process - including technical details and safety information.

Some of these may be low-budget DIY folks, some of them may be professional artisans, but don't dismiss any of it out of hand. As an example, some guy may be using expensive equipment that you don't plan to buy, but that doesn't mean that his discourse on the nature and use of flux isn't worth reading.

By considering information from a variety of sources, you ought to be able to come up with a sensible initial approach that fits your needs and resources.