11
A new guy on the floor asked me why I tap the sand mold three times before pouring
It was his second week at the old Hamilton Street foundry, and he just stood there watching my routine. I told him my first boss, a guy named Frank, showed me that back in '09. He said it's not in any manual, but it settles the fine grains and finds hidden air pockets. That little trick has saved me from more scrapped castings than I can count. Does anyone else have one of those old habits that just works?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
chen.casey8d ago
Honestly, I've seen that tap thing cause more problems than it fixes. It can actually make the sand separate or create new weak spots if you're not super careful. My old foreman called it a superstition that gets passed down to new guys. A good, steady pour from the right height does more for the casting than any ritual. Sometimes we just do stuff because it feels right, not because it works.
4
miles728d ago
Tbh calling it a superstition misses the point. A light tap settles the sand just enough to close air pockets without hurting the mold. It's a simple trick that works when you know how much is too much.
10