Tools Used In Sand Casting

Sand casting, also known as "greensand" casting, is a flexible art technique that results in beautiful and interesting art or functional items such as door handles and car parts. With the correct tools, most of which are simple and inexpensive, anyone can take up this interesting hobby.

One of the first tools you will need to sand cast is a sieve, also known as a riddle or a screen. This is used to cover the pattern with fine sand. You will also need a sock full of "parting" dust. This is a hydrophobic dust that will keep moisture off of your pattern. It works along the same principle as baby powder, absorbing excess moisture.

A striker is a specially cut piece of wood approximately 10 inches by 1 1/2 inches. Sand casters use these to pound the sand into the mold. The spoon is exactly what it sounds like, just a regular teaspoon from the kitchen. It is used to smooth any rough areas of the sand.

A runner-bar pattern is used by sand casters to keep whatever object you are molding in place. It is a a small piece of wood rectangular wood. A dowel is also a small piece of wood, but is cylindrical and is used to make a "pop-up" hole in the mold, which will enable you to remove the mold once it is finished.

Trowels are used to smooth the mold once you are nearing completion. The big hole cutter is made of a 1/2-inch copper pipe and is used to make the large hole where molten metal will be poured when the mold has been cast.