Casting Aluminum Sand Rammer from a 3D Printed Pattern with a Vertical Casting Flask

Today I cast a new mini-sand rammer for myself, using a new technique. I've done vertical casting flasks before, but never have I made such a large casting without a huge out gate. Just some minor venting. This ALMOST ended in quite a casting fail, but there weren't that many fires as a result. Only 1 small fire. You'll see it. RIP that flask. It's not dead, though, i'll still use it.
I'm shocked this worked, but i'm not trying it again.
Here's the 3D model: www.myminifact...
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Janesville, WI 53545-9998
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Music: "Quirky Dog" by Kevin MacLeod. incompetech.com
#metalcasting

[@esra_erimez]

Okay, so I have absolutely no idea about anything this channel is about, but I subscribe to it just to hear Paul's wonderful ramblings.

[@PaulsGarage]

Glad you're here! I ramble enough for anyone I'm sure

[@athopi]

With that small feeder, I really wasn't expecting it to work... congrats!

[@PaulsGarage]

I've done it before, it's always surprising

[@askquestionstrythings]

Small sprue for the win every time. Also far less porosity with a small tapered sprue. but you have to know how to pour with a pouring basin and small sprue, lots of people pour too slowly or stop pouring in the middle (pouring slowly or stopping and restarting will cause failure to fill)

[@swdweeb]

I modeled a new ramming tool months ago and still haven't cast it. Maybe I should consider it doing it now ;-) Congrats!

[@ralphmourik]

yes I would like to see that video 👍👍👍

[@PaulsGarage]

Yes you should! I'd watch that. Polish it up too, it would look nice. None of my stuff gets mirror polished because I dony have polishing equipment

[@Thewulf56]

@@PaulsGarage I just casted this last night, made mine outta brass, might make one out of Aluminum too. It turned out pretty good, I made a video of it. Thanks

[@Thewulf56]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKKohnR4mp2Bm80 My Video of me casting your sand rammer pattern.

[@jblizard7035]

Paul your videos are a fun "laid back" way to learn about casting. Its fun to watch as you bumble your way through each task while the complexity increases and you start to get better each time. Your perseverance is key. I would like to suggest one improvement. Please show a pic or diagram of the final prep before you do the pour so we can see exactly how & where the metal is supposed to flow. That would really help as I have been following along slowly using your vids as a guide.

[@bigstackD]

That’s not a fire 🔥 I’ll show ya a fire😉👍🏻. I’ll be making my rammer soon as I just 2 weeks ago got my first ever petrobond 🥳🥳 so now I need a decent rammer and not a piece of wood . Even on my best pours I always prepare for the worst that way there is little to no disappointment 🤔. Turned out great Paul good work bro🍻🍻🍻

[@jayson8394]

looking forward to watching it

[@Thewulf56]

Was just thinking earlier tonight that I needed to make a sand rammer, when I was packing my box in with the end of a hammer, then your video pops up, will have to print the file and give it a go. Thanks

[@semperparatus3685]

I have learned to learn from others mistakes so thanks for showing those. Nice finish!

[@robinson-foundry]

Good job Paul. Thanks for sharing the model. I will probably make one just like it.

[@clappercl]

I, too, use self depreciating humor as a way to defend my soft squishy emotions from the horrors of reality. Lol, great video! I was as shocked and happy as you were when that was opened to reveal a near perfectly usable do-hickey, good for you! 🙂

[@PaulsGarage]

It lowers the bar, so I can rise above it! Or something

[@arttaysiallc1614]

That's so amazing! I'm just starting to get into indirect pouring gates and vents which don't make science sense to me yet lol but I'm getting there. I'm always making spindly and delicate stuffs so I'm always overly concerned the metal is going to cool in the mold and miscast. This video was really cool to watch and I'm so excited and happy to see that you got such a wonderful cast from such a small pour gate. Interesting stuff.

[@gregj4857]

Nice job good to see you back again

[@drewfausett5388]

great job! this is a case of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat!

[@PaulsGarage]

Exactly! This is the kind of surprise I like

[@LooseChange7325]

Surprise ending, it worked! Congrats!

[@HunterValleyDan]

Good video Paul. I'm not a teacher but I was going to give you a practical score and a theory score... until the casting came out! Turned out to be a pretty good casting in the end. Thank you for the STL file as well. I'll be casting my own, soon... ish...

[@ChaosPootato]

Looks reaaaally good! Great job man

[@PaulsGarage]

Thanks! I was surprised and very happy

[@robinson-foundry]

What does it weigh? I’d like to make one using a copper alloy but that might be too heavy.

[@PaulsGarage]

It's about a pound, pound and a half, not very heavy. Its aluminum, would be much heavier in other metals

[@robinson-foundry]

@@PaulsGarage Alright thanks! Lead sounds lite enough.

[@ralphmourik]

I'm going to try this style sand rammer using the lost foam method soon, skill lvl not high enough for flasks and molding like you do, and having a 3D printer that doesn't work isn't very helpfull either :( I wasn't very confident either seeing the pour, but very nice end result, well done 👍👍👍

[@PaulsGarage]

Seeing how much my mold leaked, I don't think I have above average molding skills, give it a shot

[@1ericedwards]

You do a good deal of talking yourself down. Its funny sometimes... But honestly it can be a bit hard to watch. Anywho, GREAT video, and GREAT outcome! I'm glad it worked for you!

[@PaulsGarage]

I'll keep that in mind 😉

[@watahyahknow]

starting to work with fusion 360 , turns out theres someone at the place i work that teaches the stuff , its fun i was as suprised as you where that it worked so well

[@ngreen66]

Great video. Question for ya...do you do any crucible maintenance? I seem to be having a lot of dross(? Maybe) buildup on the inside after my pours...

[@DukeOfMarshall]

Just curious, was that a flap disc you were using with the side grinder or a grinding disc? I'm just learning to use one and trying to learn more is why I'm asking.

[@forzapaq]

Flask on fire, leaking everywhere, not a chance it worked, tadaaah.....perfect cast. Nice work, love watching your videos, any lost PLA planned in the future?

[@PaulsGarage]

I was shocked! Actually gonna try a little lost PLA this weekend, dont know if I'll film it though, it's a friends project

[@ironhead65]

A finger longer... Wasn't there a video posted to the discord about imperial measurements? How long is that in seeds, or fathoms?

[@PaulsGarage]

No idea, but finger width should become a worldwide standard

[@askquestionstrythings]

about 0.0136702 Fathoms or 0.56243 rack units

[@SharkyMoto]

that looked closer to desaster than usual, thumbs up

[@Dragonmastur24]

people who dislike this video are people who have a phobia of ram hammer inception...

[@christophermanfredo2241]

Well done sir!

[@Kikkit.B]

Watched a sand ramming video on TheWulf 56. Sending you a like and subscribe for helping him out. That was very cool of you. Then started watching your videos. Very nice. Will keep watching. 😎

[@tylerkrug7719]

I'm surprised that worked so well, lol. I wonder if you polished the ends, if that would help the petro bond not stick?

[@BonkaWonka]

I feel like I have a makeup brush that looks exactly like the one you're using. 😂

[@johncnorris]

Perhaps your handlers are running a Dunning-Kruger effect experiment on aluminum casting?

[@mhypersonic]

So when are you casting a glock 17 lower? You need the STL? Hmu

[@PaulsGarage]

Lol I'm not much into guns so probably wont, some people on the discord are though

[@simpleman806]

Fun fact. There are feral hogs in Wisconsin. Get a piece of wood for the spear handle and get you a pig. They are good eatin'

[@PaulsGarage]

Really? That's crazy, didnt know that. We have wild turkeys by the dozen around here, wonder when spear hunting season is around here...

[@simpleman806]

@@PaulsGarage From what I read when I searched on Google, there's only a handful of counties there that has them. But in time, the numbers will multiply and be widespread like they are here in Texas. As for a season, it's open. No limit, anytime of the year. You might want to double-check, but I think you'll have to get a hunting license anyways. Stupid rule, but follow the money trail.

[@askquestionstrythings]

Backlighting is not always bad... food photography is almost always backlit... You need a step between the pouring basin and the sprue; that's part of how it works.

[@bjorn301]

Sand is rough and coarse and it gets everywhere

[@p3asant]

You were very lucky I think.

[@pyramydseven]

🎶I wanna be... your SAND RAMMER!🎶

[@athopi]

Why don't you caaall my name? : )

[@mrgreenswelding2853]

Wax or hard soap onyour flap disc will prevent it from blocking up.

[@tylerkrug7719]

Hmm, I've never heard of that before, interesting, tricks of the trade, IL have to check it out 👍

[@mrgreenswelding2853]

@@tylerkrug7719 yep there is wax specifically for it.

[@greenandgold6740]

I'm not buying a 3d printer to make stuff. I wish videos showed a poor man's 3d way.

[@PaulsGarage]

The old school way is to carve it from wood. Both work fine. In fact prints require so much post-printing work to make them into good casting patterns that you don't really save any time

[@s7bfreeman]

There are plenty of wild boar in Georgia. Most are killed by blunt force trauma, i.e. hit by cars

[@PaulsGarage]

That sounds painful, we hit deer here mostly

[@pyramydseven]

I won last years buck derby challenge. Doe!

[@AvengerDK]

The "Freeman's mind" of casting anyone?

[@atomiccs6115]

first comment YAY

[@PaulsGarage]

Sadly you're second

[@zaheerahmad1373]

Your Working time less than unnecessary speech.