Metal Casting at Home Part 6 Preparing the Moulding Sand

A short video showing how the sand is prepared for use.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Greensand
• furnace
• foundry
• melting
• model
• engineering
• how-to
• how
• to
• diy
• aluminium
• aluminum
• mold
• mould

[mckma382]

i went to a local quarry and picked up what they called foundry sand but i have my doubts as it looks like normal sand. when wet it does form well and break smoothly only when i pack it into my cope and lift the cope, the cope comes leaving a perfectly smooth walled box of sand. perhaps i need to add something to the sand? i see both clay and bentonite are added to sharp sand some times.

great videos, im really keen to get into it.

[myfordboy]

@mckma382  Sounds like your sand was too wet.

[kawana87]

Can the molding sand be reused? After casting a part that is.

[myfordboy]

@kawana87 Sand can be reused indefinetly.

[jockiron]

Excellent videos.

Where can I buy foundry sand in the UK.

[myfordboy]

Try John Winter ,Halifax. Google will find it.

[TheLoyalSpartanFilms]

thank you for posting these videos, they are very helpful!!

[dogfootrot189]

@myfordboy until the clay in the molding sand vitrifies; which increases the porosity of the sand, ad also reducing its gassing qualitis

[myfordboy]

@MrStrumhard You can make patterns from foam. The pattern is left inside the mould and vapourises when the hot metal hits it. I have not tried this myself. Downside is you only get one shot at it as the pattern is lost, so if you need several of the same part you would need a pattern for each.

Method is called lost foam casting.

[SuperAlmac]

@jockiron MUTR sand at £2.96 inc.VAT per kg? They have mail-order delivery.

mutr[dot]co[dot]uk