Casting Terminology

Bench Rammer

Used in packing sand into a modeling box. Think Hammer

Hand Riddle

Screen Frame to prevent large blocks of dirt from building up

Strike of Bar

Flat Bar used to remove excess sand from the Cope after ramming Drag.

Vent Wire

A thin sod with a pointed end used to make a vent hole after ramming and srike off, so the gases can escape during casting

slick

A finishing tool used to mold surfaces and edges after the pattern has been removed

trowel

Used for finishing the flat surfaces and the joints in the mold

Crucible tongs

Used to lift the crucible from the furnace.

Crucible

The container used to melt the metal

Flask

The contain ued to hold the molded sand.

Cope

Top of flask

Drag

Bottom of Flask

Mold

Cavity shaped sand with a path for the molten metal

Vent

Path in mold for steam and air to escape.

Riser

reservoir for metal to accommodate shrinkage as the metal cools

sprue

shaft the metal is poured into

gate

the path between the sprue and the mold cavity

Pattern

The outside shape to be cast

Core

The object which makes the hollow in the casting

Bentonite Clay

Aka Sodium Bentonite-Used as a Binder in water bonded foundry sands

Southern Bentonite imparts good strength to the sand when it is moist.

Western Bentonite gives sand good strength to the sand when it is dry

70% Southern Bentonite and 30% Western Bentonite makes a good mix for both green (wet) and dry strength sand.

How to make sand

Typically 2% to 10% bentonite by weight as binder. We will use approximately 6%. Dry Mix the benonite with the sand. Add water (1% to 3% by weight) and mix thoroughly. Let the sand sit overnight after mixing to allow the moisture to distribute evenly thru the mix.

Sodium Silacate

Primary ingredient in the core mixture. (Pure Sodium Silacate would be too hard and result in failure to collapse and hot tears.) It is a liquid binding agent which can be mixed with sand to form cores.

shank

object used to hold the crucible.