Low tech green sand casting

Reprocing hard to find objects

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• low
• tech
• green
• sand
• casting
• reproduction

[lhester2003]

Hi cleoshepardchou

Thanks for the comment. Good point Pre-heating molds on smaller or more detailed castings is a must! This vidio was intended for folks whom have never cast metals and are intrested in inexpensive (home recipe) casting sand. I would like to do a vidio on silicone molds and lost wax. Perhaps I will soon.

Thanks

[scottiblasto]

I noticed on other videos that two holes are drilled, I assume this makes it breath, and eliminates the vacuum effect, and allows the aluminum to get all the way through the mold. Awesome work, I have never tried this personally. You make it look very easy!

[lhester2003]

@scottiblasto Hi scottblasto

Thanks for the comment. The small holes that you refer to are probably vents used to release trapped air in the sand mold. Venting will insure that the cavity will fill all the way, and give a quality reproduction.

Thanks Leonard

[Truthhurts3pm]

I just built my foundry off of myfordboy's model but now im trying to find the right sand to make my molds with. I live in texas what kind of sand should i use to make my molds and where can I get it? Also price range?

[lhester2003]

@Truthhurts3pm .

Hi

 I am using silica sand (white sand). I have purchased it locally from Ace Hardware.

Good Luck

[MrAnvilman]

I noticed you had troubles with your mold staying together. Ram you mold up with more force and watch you mixture, that will help you get much more predictable results. The mixture that I liked the best was the true green sand: no oil just clay, sand and water. Watch your water though.

[lhester2003]

Hi MrAnvilman

T hanks for the info, I only use this for aluminum. I maintain a mixer full of oil base, sometimes there is too much oil (like this day in the video) It will burn down as the day goes on, and then a non issue. I will be casting iron next week , I will be using western bentonite sand and water for this. I used this to show that a Mullor is not not a "pre rec" for home foundary work.

Thanks

Leonard Hester

[woodbinedrinker]

Something that small should be done with an RTV mold.

[cleoshepardchou]

enjoyed video. don't you heat molds to reduce premature cooling and porosity of casting? Also those extra vents help to avoid "bubbles". As a reply to plbuster, this process was going on in ancient Egypt and dates to the Bronze Age. Anyway, yours is one of the better videos on subject. Have you ever tried investment or "lost wax" casting, that is where you make a wax sculpture of object, pour sand mixed with plaster around it, melt out wax then pour metal? I've done it on more complex objects.

[plbuster]

Hey....sand casting ain't "hilbilly reproduction". It has been going on for hundreds of years all over the world.

[Truthhurts3pm]

@lhester2003 Okay Awesome thank you! Keep up the good work!

[brassman1257]

i been making molds for over 20 years and have never heard of using oil we use water