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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
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    Victoria, Australia
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    Default Casting Tools Part 4 - Sand Casting Tools

    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.



    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..



    Here is a quick overview of some of the tools used...



    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.



    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.



    Showing the two parts seperated..



    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

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Athelstone, SA 5076
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    4,255

    Default

    Have'nt you got any thing to do Ray

    its great stuff

    I hope your saving all of this in word or something..It'd be great to see it as a pdf or similar after all the chapters are finished?

    PS dont forget the chapter on SAFETY
    Last edited by eskimo; 11th Nov 2011 at 09:34 AM. Reason: added safety bit

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Lower Lakes SA
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    Default

    Onya Ray. Don't think for a moment no replies means no interest. I've got my ears pinned back! And I'm sure many others do as well.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Ballarat
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    Default

    What Bryan said Ray

    Phil

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Brisbane
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    49

    Default

    I would just like to thank you for this Ray it may be something I never get to do but I find it very interesting indeed.
    I like to move it move it, I like to move it
    CNC Supplier List
    My Baby CNC

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Canberra
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    805

    Default

    Ray what do you do with the black, charred bits of petrobond after you have cast in it? I try to discard that bit, but by the looks of your photo theres a fair bit of black in that sand....do you just put the lot back in?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 19brendan81 View Post
    Ray what do you do with the black, charred bits of petrobond after you have cast in it? I try to discard that bit, but by the looks of your photo theres a fair bit of black in that sand....do you just put the lot back in?
    Hi Brendan,

    I used to do just that, scrape off the charred bits, and still do if it's a large lump that's easy to pick out, but over time more oil gets burnt off, and I add a bit of extra oil (doesn't take much) also a spritz with propanol seems to help keep the right consistency.

    So, by all means keep as much out as you can, but I don't think it's a deal breaker.

    Regard
    Ray

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    Athelstone, SA 5076
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    Default

    cant wait till this comes out in book form...need it for my library

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Canberra
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    Default

    Thanks Ray

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