My backyard foundry project paid off with a solid steel ingot

Honestly, I've been messing around with a small furnace in my garage for a while now. Tbh, getting the mix right for the green sand was a real headache. Ngl, I almost gave up after the first few casts came out porous. But I kept at it, adjusting the moisture and packing it tighter. Last weekend, I poured a simple wrench handle and it came out smooth, no bubbles or cracks. It's not much, but seeing that clean pull from the mold felt amazing. I think the key was letting the sand cure for a full day before pouring. Now I'm hooked and planning my next piece, maybe a custom bottle opener.

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3 Comments

jade477mo ago

Wait, isn't an ingot different from a cast piece?

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janaf917mo ago

Awesome! Letting the sand dry out completely before my pours made a HUGE difference for me too.

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ramirez.patricia7mo ago

Yeah, that drying time is key. I ruined a few molds rushing it before I learned to just wait.

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