Abstract: An aluminum or aluminum alloy melt is cast and shaped directly on the surface of a work piece and permitted to contact the surface without exerting pressure on the melt for at least a portion of the time that a temperature of 500.degree.C to 700.degree.C is maintained at the interface between the melt and the surface until an intermediate layer of an alloy of aluminum and chromium or nickel contained in the work piece has been produced at the interface, and the melt is then permitted to solidify as a shaped part on the work piece.