incomplete pour problem

Just keep it on the fire longer. It simply needs to be hotter. Much hotter than "just molten". If you do this at night, the metal should be glowing a reasonable amount (red; orange is way too hot).

Pouring simultaneously from two or more sprues is possible but ONLY if it is simultaneous. Aluminum will never weld to itself as you are trying. However, if both pours are still liquid when they meet, it will weld properly.

I've made worse castings than this so I know it's possible. Have fun!

Tim

-- "I have misplaced my pants." - Homer Simpson | Electronics,

- Rod White

Thanks! I'll let it simmer a bit. And weather permitting I'll try tomorrow night.

Robert If time is the 4th dimension, then money is the 5th dimension. We are always concerned about dollars per hour for the space we occupy. - Rod White

Yes, a pyrometer either of a thermocoup0le and meter or a regualr pryrometer thats used in fundry work is just abaout essential to make sure your metal is of the correct termp, but you can go by the seat of the pants and get a feel for it but it may mead to a few failures. As Tim pointed out its easier to see the color ar night.

When you do pour keep the fill sprue choked full until it refuses to accept any more material. Just a slight hessitation can cause a freeze, especailly if your not using a means of checking the temp and your metal may be on the cooler side, but still fluid. Fast and hard is the general rule when pouring a mold.

Visit my website:

expressed are those of my wifes, I had no input whatsoever. Remove "nospam" from email addy.

Dies, Consider warming the mold. The hotter it is, the less heat will be wicked out of the molten pour. Steve

- Rod White

If time is the 4th dimension, then money is the 5th dimension. We are always concerned about dollars per hour for the space we occupy. - Rod White

What part of Texas are you in? Gary Brady Austin, TX

This Old House showed a doorknob replicator where the molds were removed from an oven just prior to the pour. Not sure how well this would work with Gingery's wooden molds though :o

Joel. phx

Visit my website:

expressed are those of my wifes, I had no input whatsoever. Remove "nospam" from email addy.

Yeah, that occurred to me after the previous comment. They also had to melt the wax out and lose it {lost wax technique}.

Joel. phx

If time is the 4th dimension, then money is the 5th dimension. We are always concerned about dollars per hour for the space we occupy. - Rod White

I am using petro bond. Got it from BCS.

If time is the 4th dimension, then money is the 5th dimension. We are always concerned about dollars per hour for the space we occupy. - Rod White

I got a personal guided tour of a high volume investment casting house. Brass, aluminum, stainless, you name it. Pretty nifty process.

I also found the prices qouted > Yeah, that occurred to me after the previous comment. They also had to melt

- Rod White There are several member of our casting group in your area. I think it would be possible for you to see them at work and pick their brains. Our group is:

Ron Thompson Was On the Beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast, Now On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.

--Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

Why not mix a little paste or flour with the greensand?

After a short while, it will turn into a stinking moldy mess.

If the pour is freezing in the runners, it's not hot enough.

Do you have a pyrometer? I got multimeter with a type K thermocouple from my local purveyor of quality imported tools for the princely sum of $12. Pretty basic job to place the thermocouple into a bit of steel tubing to use to get actual temperatures of the metal. Or you can just continue to experiment and adjust your work to the results you get.

Too cold, it'll freeze up in the mold, too hot and you get exessive shrinkage and porosity in your castings. Thin sections require a hotter pour than thick ones.

Cheers Trevor Jones

And what purpose do you think that would serve? Organics like flour cornstarch etc needs to be kept out of water or oil bonded greensands as in no time they get moldy and rancid. Stick with a good known proven components or way of doing things and then you do not compound things when problems creep up. Visit my website:

expressed are those of my wifes, I had no input whatsoever. Remove "nospam" from email addy.

Ah, the sand gets reused, then.

yes, Greensand weather its water or opiol bonded is reuseable many many times..........probably never wear it out in a home shop environment. When it gets weak in strength, you add more binder and add oil or water and remull it and use it again.

So its important to not put anything that may screw up your sand in the mix. Visit my website:

expressed are those of my wifes, I had no input whatsoever. Remove "nospam" from email addy.