# All about Metal casting
**URL:** http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595
**Category:** Off Topic
**Created:** [June 4, 2019, 5:46am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595 "2019-06-04T05:46:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@r\_wesseling](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/r_wesseling)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/81 "2020-06-18T12:41:15Z")
I’m with Kristijan. Its often done, to pour aluminum around steel. Great pattern work, btw.
Rindert
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### Author:  [@Handy\_Andy](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Handy_Andy)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/82 "2020-08-07T23:52:18Z")
I was set up to make some new kitchen drawers, so decided to knock up a molding flask.
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### Author:  [@mggibb](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/mggibb)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2020, 12:47am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/83 "2020-08-08T00:47:54Z")
That is beautiful woodwork
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### Author:  [@r\_wesseling](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/r_wesseling)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/84 "2020-08-08T12:58:41Z")
We have almost exactly the same ideas?
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### Author:  [@madflower69](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/madflower69)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/85 "2020-08-08T18:09:59Z")
I totally need to do that… I keep finding half full propane tanks. I think I picked up 4 or 5 of them in the last 2 weeks curb shopping. (some were empty.)
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### Author:  [@Handy\_Andy](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Handy_Andy)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/86 "2020-08-13T14:23:14Z")
In this video, he squirts some liquid on the mold and lights it. Why?
My guess is to bake the surface into a bit of shell. I think they are using molasses for a binder.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWLN0cxQPPs)
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### Author:  [@spaco](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/spaco)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/87 "2020-08-13T14:36:37Z")
I think the purpose of lighting the liquid is to dry the sand so no steam/gases form when pouring.
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### Author:  [@Handy\_Andy](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Handy_Andy)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2020, 1:07am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/88 "2020-08-18T01:07:02Z")
So FINALLY the core box is done. I confess, tis thing has tested my patience! Just a coat of sealer an try it out.
   
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### Author:  [@r\_wesseling](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/r_wesseling)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/89 "2020-08-18T15:11:10Z")
> [@Handy\_Andy](#):
>
> I confess, tis thing has tested my patience!
Yes! Pattern work is the most challenging aspect of foundry. Your work looks very good though. What kind of binder do you use for your cores? I like washed silica sand, 120 grit, with waterglass/ CO2.
Rindert
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### Author:  [@Handy\_Andy](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Handy_Andy)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/90 "2020-08-18T16:25:44Z")
I use the waterglass co2 also. So far, ive just made the co2 with vinegar and baking soda.
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### Author:  [@r\_wesseling](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/r_wesseling)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/91 "2020-08-19T21:13:58Z")
> [@Handy\_Andy](#):
>
> vinegar and baking soda
I have a tank and regulator. I hooked up a spray gun like for the kitchen sink and pushed a short piece of hose over the nozzle. The grocery store sells dry ice. I just get some and put it in there when I run out.
Rindert
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### Author:  [@KristijanL](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/KristijanL)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2020, 4:16am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/92 "2020-08-20T04:16:03Z")
Can someone plese explain that waterglass CO2 method in more detail plese? Never heared of it…
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### Author:  [@Handy\_Andy](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Handy_Andy)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2020, 9:41am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/93 "2020-08-20T09:41:32Z")
Water glass is an old fashioned name for sodium silicate. You might remember a previous discussion by that name.
Anyway you would mix a small percentage ( about 5% ) sodium silicate with the sand, then press into the mold. When carbon dioxide is applied, it hardens instantly. No baking, no waiting.
While i’m at it, here is my co2 generator.
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### Author:  [@KristijanL](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/KristijanL)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2020, 9:47am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/94 "2020-08-20T09:47:09Z")
Yes l use waterglass a lot but never heared of it hardening with CO2! This opens so many posibilitys!
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### Author:  [@r\_wesseling](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/r_wesseling)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2020, 3:01pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/95 "2020-08-20T15:01:38Z")
I think you did use CO2 before. When you put insulation inside your chargas generator for your MBZ e230 you used a torch to harden the waterglass. The torch makes CO2.
Rindert
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### Author:  [@KristijanL](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/KristijanL)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/96 "2020-08-20T18:51:23Z")
I admire you remembering my waterglass/rockwool experiment but l cant seem to remember pre hardening it, except with the gasifier it self. Culd be old age 😄
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### Author:  [@madflower69](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/madflower69)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2020, 6:40am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/97 "2020-08-24T06:40:38Z")
> [@Handy\_Andy](#):
>
> In this video, he squirts some liquid on the mold and lights it. Why?
I suspect that liquid is “diesel” or a fuel oil. According to wikipedia it is also used as an additive for a reducing agent which prevents the metal from sticking to the sand. The way it is burning, it looks like some was already in the sand. My guess is if you pour hot metal into a closed cavity with diesel in it, it results in the diesel catching fire and blows the aluminum out of the cavity.
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### Author:  [@KristijanL](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/KristijanL)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/98 "2020-08-24T13:32:43Z")
Lights a bit to easy for diesel. Maybee kerosene?
Culd it allso be burnt to soot the surfacem
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### Author:  [@r\_wesseling](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/r_wesseling)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/99 "2020-08-24T17:42:20Z")
> [@KristijanL](#):
>
> Culd it allso be burnt to soot the surfacem
I think Kristijan has the right answer. I have seen a mold maker dust the inside surface with powdered graphite. It made a very smooth surface on the casting. And [Petrobond](http://www.petrobondforsale.com) sand contains oil and makes beautiful smooth surfaces.
Rindert
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### Author:  [@Handy\_Andy](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Handy_Andy)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/all-about-metal-casting/4595/100 "2020-08-25T19:20:04Z")
The first attempt at a core was not entirely successful, but showed some promise. I think i needed to be more gentle with the removal. I waxed the core box with paste wax, and it didnt seem to stick too bad. Would dry powder be better for release?
Why dont I start out learning on a simple project like a normal person?
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