RayG
10th Nov 2011, 09:06 PM
Hi All,
Just a quick overview of some of the tools used to prepare sand molds for casting, I'll leave patterns and cores for next time, these are just the tools used to do the preparation for the pour.
First, I recommend petrobond for home hobby casting, it's an oil bonded sand, rather than "green sand" which is a water bonded sand. It's re-usable many times, and a bucket will last just about forever for home use. I got it from CMS, but I've since found they have changed names, I think they are now called "Arnott & Guy Foundry Supplies" 20-22 Marni St, DANDENONG SOUTH, VIC, 3175.
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0962.JPG
The Queensland Address on the pail might still be the same..
The consistency can change over time, and might require a touch extra oil, or sometimes I've added a squirt of iso-propanol, what you are looking for is when you grab a handfull, it packs cleanly and holds together nicely..
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0963.JPG
Here is a quick overview of some of the tools used...
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0961.JPG
Riddle (sieve) for removing clumps, scoops, rammers, scrapers, tubes for cutting sprues and risers, wire for making vent holes, trowell for cutting gates and parting lines, the sock is full of parting compound for dusting the pattern as well as the parting line in the cope and drag. The two screws are used to help remove split patterns from the sand. Also I'm told talcum powder works fine as a parting compound.
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0966.JPG
The cope and drag, the drag is the bottom, and the cope is the top, together they are sometimes called a flask.. some flasks have snap connections on the corners. It's important that the cope and drag register accurately, that's what the triangle shaped bits on the side are for.
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0967.JPG
Showing the two parts seperated..
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0968.JPG
The best book for sand casting techniques, is CW Ammen, he covers patterns and casting strategies in some detail, the other is the Stephen Chastain book, which covers just about everything, but is a bit light on the casting strategy stuff..
I'd recommend you get both.
The next installment (part 5) will be making a pattern and preparing the cope and drag for casting.. that will demonstrate the use of the tools above...
Regards
Ray
Just a quick overview of some of the tools used to prepare sand molds for casting, I'll leave patterns and cores for next time, these are just the tools used to do the preparation for the pour.
First, I recommend petrobond for home hobby casting, it's an oil bonded sand, rather than "green sand" which is a water bonded sand. It's re-usable many times, and a bucket will last just about forever for home use. I got it from CMS, but I've since found they have changed names, I think they are now called "Arnott & Guy Foundry Supplies" 20-22 Marni St, DANDENONG SOUTH, VIC, 3175.
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0962.JPG
The Queensland Address on the pail might still be the same..
The consistency can change over time, and might require a touch extra oil, or sometimes I've added a squirt of iso-propanol, what you are looking for is when you grab a handfull, it packs cleanly and holds together nicely..
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0963.JPG
Here is a quick overview of some of the tools used...
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0961.JPG
Riddle (sieve) for removing clumps, scoops, rammers, scrapers, tubes for cutting sprues and risers, wire for making vent holes, trowell for cutting gates and parting lines, the sock is full of parting compound for dusting the pattern as well as the parting line in the cope and drag. The two screws are used to help remove split patterns from the sand. Also I'm told talcum powder works fine as a parting compound.
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0966.JPG
The cope and drag, the drag is the bottom, and the cope is the top, together they are sometimes called a flask.. some flasks have snap connections on the corners. It's important that the cope and drag register accurately, that's what the triangle shaped bits on the side are for.
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0967.JPG
Showing the two parts seperated..
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Casting/DSCN0968.JPG
The best book for sand casting techniques, is CW Ammen, he covers patterns and casting strategies in some detail, the other is the Stephen Chastain book, which covers just about everything, but is a bit light on the casting strategy stuff..
I'd recommend you get both.
The next installment (part 5) will be making a pattern and preparing the cope and drag for casting.. that will demonstrate the use of the tools above...
Regards
Ray