Showerthought: Our scrap rate dropped from 15% to 3% after switching to a new binder system.

Derek Fox · 2026-04-07T09:00:44.601384+00:00

We were using a standard sodium silicate mix for our cores, but the boss brought in this new organic stuff about six months ago. The difference in shakeout is night and day, way less breakage on the thin sections. What's the biggest single change you've seen cut down on waste in your shop?

gracewebb5mo ago

Wow, that's a huge drop. Switching to a different sand mix cut our core-related scrap by half, honestly. The new stuff just holds the shape better during handling.

10

riley_schmidt4mo ago

Our old manual pouring method had a 20% slag inclusion rate. Switching to a bottom-pour ladle got it down to like 5%.

7

riley_schmidt5mo ago

Switching to ceramic filters slashed our dross waste.

6