TECH: Make a Bellhousing out of an old Intake Manifold!!

This is what I made for a new pouring table works great. Kris have you used Larsen foundry supply? I just purchased some petrobond there seems to work good I had to mull the hell out of it though.



One of my parts

 

I've been using the "Jupiter Mix" from Budjet Casting Supply. I'm happy with it. I'd like to start trying some air-set sand if I can find a source for the stuff. It's as if it's top secret when I ask someone where to get it...

Do you have a link for Larsen Foundry Supply?

...and what is the part? Looks kinda motorcycle case cover-ish.

 

The sand im using now is from Larsens its a petrobond oil base mix, I love it over water base. Larsens are on about 850 W 2600 S, Just go 9th west and turn east on 2600 they are on the left north side of the street. I have bought the pre mix from them Kim Archer at State Brass actually makes it for them, I buy it pre mixed now but im working on a larger muller so I can save some money and mix it myself. It really needs a good mulling and or some heat but you can cast a finger print from it.. That Taco cover is a clutch guard for 60's Taco mini bikes. My main market is vintage mini bikes at this time, and a few car parts but more in the mid late 60's stuff.

 

Subscribed!

 

A Taco mini-bike side cover?? that is the "surface finish" I was after for years of trying. I am impressed, subscribed and now taking notes.

 

Even a slight trace of water will expand greatly,
and quickly, as it turns into steam.

Good way to get burned by molten metal.

 

What is?

 

OLDgoaly, Moderator over on Metalmeet.com has a "spring melt".. I am not sure he has propane money this year and might have a attendance fee??

Anyways.. I thought I was more up on casting than him, but talking to him, he has some more he can teach me.
Perhaps I can drag him into this discussion since there is interest..

I'd like to go to a iron pour too..

 

On a water base sand some may mix it wet, and there can be some serious issues with popping and gassing, I use a petrobond mix and there are no gassing or popping issues, but on a small home type foundry it takes a while to get your sand ready with petrobond cold is real bad for the mix, but for me after going to a petrobond mix versus the old type green sand I will never go back..

 

3Kids,
Those are nice!

LoudPedal, great Tech post!

DC,
there are a bunch of guys doing casting on here, I bet somewhere I've thrown a post or two in here. Oil bond sand is safer than green sand but one can use green sand safely. If you have never poured before, your better off with oil bond. I'm using two-stroke motor oil, have been for years. I've slowed down with bad joints so casting is a few times a year thing now. 2$ a gallon for LP is a long way from 69-76 cents I had been paying for LP gas. tt

 

Many thanks for the thread! Have wanted to do this for some time and you have just stepped up the urgency factor.Wish my Dad could have seen your finished castings as he appreciated "workman like" results.
Rod

 

Wow, Just found this thread! Awesome Thanks for posting it!

 

X3: thanks!

As my thoughts are coming back to Subaru engines I'm going to want to try this stuff. There's a lot of nasty plastic that needs to be lovely cast alloy instead.

 

A good re-read at any time. Any updates Kris?

 

wow!!!!!

 

Help!!! I am messing with attepts to cast aluminum. I have done one little test pour just into a steel tube, and it turned out way better than expected.

My first attempt at a sand mold was last night, and it was total failure. Sputters, popping and quickly the sprue plugged. After I removed the casting, the only part that wasn't full of porosity and nasty bubbles was the excess aluminum that puddled on top of my mold since it the sprue was clogged from the popping and hissing.

I followed the "sausage test" carefully, but maybe I still had too much water in the mold? If I didn't actually weigh the sand-to-bentonite percentages, could that be the problem? Like maybe too much bentonite clay since I didn't do it by weight.

This is not mention to detract from this thread. I never would have even considered trying casting if it wasn't for this excellent thread!

 

Water based sand can be a real pain, I use petrobond mix from larsens they are off 9th west, what part of Utah are you in? I will be casting again soon my ToyBox is in Kaysville you could come up on a weekend and watch. I know I could have used some help like that when I was lerning.

 

I noticed my new pour bench is looking quite worked from when I posted a pic of it in Jan.

 

Sweet!!!

 

Any water in the sand is very dangerous.

 

Thanks for the help! I might just have to come up there! I live down in Mapleton. Also, I tried the same sand as last weekend just on Monday. It was much dryer, and the pour actually went well!!!! Now I just need to learn all of the other things I am doing totally wrong! (Casting was still far from what it should be, but for official try #2 I am MUCH happier!

 

great info here, thanks!

 

Subscribed

 

Just read all this from a link here on the board.

Why is this not in the "Tech" Section?

 

Good question. Maybe I'll start a sand casting thread in the tech section...

 

Im still making vintage Kart and Mini parts trying to get back to cars...

 

3kidsnotime pm sent.

 

Looks like your just a few miles from my toy box.. If you dont mind my beer drinking and and odd fukitry your more than welcome to come by for some melting

 

This thread is beyond awsome, the last time i saw anything like this, i was still at school. Next lesson please.

 

One of those threads that needs to brought back up from time to time.
Well done.