Making cheap lost foam casting slurry

Taking simple Ingredients from around the house we create the slurry to do lost foam casting. This is much like investment casting but easier for the DIYer and with care and safety we can turn out a surprisingly nice casting in the foundry.
for more videos with lost foam casting check out my playlist at
• Wright Machining Casti...

[@kellycoffield533]

if you take a scraper and wipe the the bucket wall above the slurry line clean after each use, it will drastically reduce the propensity for the dried stuff to fall into and create chunks the slurry. Best, Kelly

[@Wrighmachining]

Good advice as always kelly . Thank you

[@stevesrt8]

Good show. Looking forward to seeing those big ones cast. Cheers

[@Wrighmachining]

It will be a challeng for sure thanks steve

[@seabeepirate]

Can’t wait to see more of this. I’m new to casting but lost foam seems to consistently make clean parts. I’m excited to dry this myself.

[@Wrighmachining]

Lost foam casting is a fun type of casting and will make a consistent parts. I have been told that it makes a slightly inferior pare but have not noticed. it is marginally more risky with the off gassing of foam, etc just make sure you do your research prepare the mold correctly and wear your ppe. Check out some of my other videos and kelly coffields videos for a bit more inspiration :)

[@ironhead65]

Thank you for showing this!

[@Wrighmachining]

Your welcome . If you have any Questions im here to help . Also check out kellys channel with lost foam casting as well if your interested

[@Antonio-MadTexMex]

You could pull a vacuum on the bucket to get the air out like they do on epoxy pours.

[@Wrighmachining]

That is a good thought. I have seen a few guys try it but could not profect it.

[@CNCDude]

And you can fill this with molten aluminum with no major issues? I was under the impression a slurry had to be some unusual refractory material only special gods can acquire. This is awesome! I know nothing of this, BTW, as I have never attempted it. It was only an impression, so looking forward to watching your second part and learning from this!

[@Wrighmachining]

It will be a couple of weeks before I get out there for part 2. Check out my channel though. I have a bunch of lost foam projects I did. Just be careful and make sure everything is dry, your wearing safety gear and you have done a tone of research from differed tplaces . Aside from the regular dangers with casting there is added toxic smoke and water from plaster if its not dry Water expands 1800 times it's size into steam. If its wet it will spit out where your pouring.

[@dillinpicklesworth5698]

Consistency of gravy. 👍

[@Wrighmachining]

Yes , a thin gravey but not as tasty

[@theMassiveEffect]

i do wonder if that mix would work with lost pla casting

[@Wrighmachining]

That's a good hypothesis, however it is thin and doesn't have much structure due to be so thin. It's purpose is mainly to improve surface finish. However I have used a type of plaster for lost wax casting and fired out the plaster and it worked great.

[@mmnyako]

Thank you for sharing

[@deucedeuce1572]

The shells don't dissolve in water once they're done? ...and the water content don't make them crack when dried or heated? I've thought about trying to use dry wall compound myself, but always discounted it, because I assumed it wouldn't work.

[@Wrighmachining]

With thin layers on the foam it acts like graphite dusting on greensandcastings . It improves the surface finish if you put it on way way to thing it will not breath properly and trap all the gasses . This could cause a burp or rapid bubbling of the metal . It would have to be very thick though . Once the mold is pourd the plater will wash off easy with soap and water . Some times i have put the alu in a bucket while it is still realy realy worm ( not crazy hot , causi g warping) and it sizles and takes the plaster off . Truth be told if yoi dont care about space age surface finish it can be done with out the coating and just foam . I just casted a machine part and it turned out good . Perhaps check out the lost foam casting video from last week . I casted a machine part for the servo motor that im puttibg on my indexing head . Good results are seen just with foam

[@johnvonmartin7501]

Just curious if that mixture is ready for the casting process? How long would it take before it gets sturdy?

[@Wrighmachining]

The mixture after coated will take from 1 day to 3 days air drying. It is very important that it is fully dry all the way through.

[@johnvonmartin7501]

@@Wrighmachining thanks seems like a highly detailed work with tons of patience.

[@PopongW]

Apakah bisa foam langsung di masukan ke cetakan mold?

[@Wrighmachining]

I have casted with out anycoating at all and it works good. The coating makes a nice surface finish.

[@miceskin]

Get a rigid mixing drill and if it shits out you can return it for the warranty.

[@Wrighmachining]

:) thanks

[@marciomila9264]

Op aonde encontro esse isopor aí .qual nome dele

[@Wrighmachining]

Comprei-o na loja de ferragens, Homedepot. Geralmente é rosa ou azul. É mais decente do que a espuma de poliestireno e retém mais detalhes. Tenho outros vídeos no youtube sobre o processo também.

[@marciomila9264]

@@Wrighmachining ok

[@Abesaurus]

Dear Mr. Wright, I’m genuinely intrigued by your video to utilize dry wall compound as a suspenda slurry alternative, although in my country drywall compound that comes as a paste that’s been shown in you video is not readily available so I’m wondering if it would do just fine to use a powder form drywall compound and mix it with water into the right consistency? And also thank you for uploading this video I have learned a whole lot more about casting metal. ❤

[@Wrighmachining]

Ok, if you are already into casting aluminium don't let the coating bog you down. It will work with out the coating just fine. Just you will not get as good ( but adequate ) of a surface finish. The key in all of this aside from being safe and wearing appropriate ppe is vibrating your sand and pouring a little hotter than you would with green sandcasting. The foam take a bit of the heat. Check out some of the other videos. All have the coating but like I said it will worm with out. The coating doesn't hold the sand back at all.

[@Abesaurus]

Okay I will keep that in mind, thank you for the advice sir I very much appreciate it 👍🏻

[@Wrighmachining]

Np

[@notyouraveragegoldenpotato]

Anyone who has done this, what kind of surface finish/detail are you able to acheive with the watered down joint compound? Currently testing this a few ways going looking for the most immaculate part casting with a lost pla or lost wax casting. Have a few different mixes drying with added flour silica, added waterglass. The joint compound seems to hold up pretty well but i need perfect for a 1 tine cast of a precision mold😂 asking alot i know and am too cheap to buy a ceramic slurry so.. help/experience/tips tricks appreciates

[@Wrighmachining]

I have done lost wax castings by using a spacific casting plaster paris and it worked realy good . This style of slury is just for improving surface finish on foam . If you do use the high heat plaster paris it will need to be vacumed with a vacume pump in a old pressure cooker. This gets out the air bubbles . Then it needs to dry for a while in air before burn out . Im not sure what makes the plaster i used any better than regular plaster of paris. What are you making ?

[@kentuckytrapper780]

👍👍👍

[@roscoepatternworks3471]

Looks like you've been busy

[@Wrighmachining]

Very busy . For some reason i never cast in summer and wait till winter . :)

[@aldobergamasco905]

Dear I am held to industrial confidentiality and therefore cannot disclose the chemical compounds to product a lost foam coating. In any case the coating cost is not the most expensive part of the process. I'll show you a book edited by the American Foundry Society for those who want to learn more and pour good parts --> LOST FOAM CASTING MADE SIMPLE by Fred Sonnenberg and others. ciao Aldo

[@Wrighmachining]

Thanks for the suggestion , i may have to save up for that text book

[@davidgonlatcom2210]

I thought this video was for lost foam, not plaster....

[@Wrighmachining]

I can see how you would see that . The plaster coating is a important step in my eyes for surface finish . I do however have lots of other videos on projects where we cast parts and what have you .

[@SaintAngerFTW]

Americans are the people in the world

[@Wrighmachining]

Yes i can see how you could see that the western hemisphere is all related to the americas in some way ( north america, south america and central america) The definition americans usualy relates to people from the united states of america. Aka usa/us If i used it out of context my appoligys. :)

[@SaintAngerFTW]

@@Wrighmachining oops.... I meant to say Americans are the BEST* people in the world.... (For sharing great knowledge)

[@Wrighmachining]

Lol, what ever soil you stand you should be proud of where you are !! 🇨🇦

[@mfs5493]

why are you wearing a hat?

[@Wrighmachining]

Hahaha , because hats go on your head ...... when you are balding like me .