Molding Bench

[Chucketn]

I'm setting up my foundry almost from scratch. Afriend is helping me make a Vontorne muller. Now I need a molding bench andwant to get it built before the muller is available. Are there any good moldingbench plans available? I will be using green sand to start.
I have a couple ideas but want to ask the experiencedto avoid design errors. What plans did you build from? I need to know basic dimensionsand useful features. I'm thinking 24" x 48" and 12-24" deep,slats on top for holding flasks, room underneath for tubs to hold new/mulledsand.
Is 1/2" plywood strong enough or should I go with3/4"? Should I divide it into 2 sections for conditioned vs. used sand?
Show us pictures of your molding bench, any specialfeatures, why you like/dislike your bench.
Thanks in advance.

Chuck

 

[Tamper84]

In one of tubal cains/mr.petes videos he shows his moulding bench that he built. Before he got his commercially made one.Also check out a guy named double boost. He shows his in a lot of vids

Chris

 

[Tamper84]

http://youtu.be/Q_7eRBzTGLo this is the link to mr petes foundry tour and shows both of his molding benches. I don't know why this didn't show up on his page. I actuall had to search through you tube to find it.

Chris

 

[Terrywerm]

Thanks for posting that link, Chris. I like the design of the molders bench that he purchased. It is simple, clean, easy to use, yet all self contained and still has plenty of room to work.

 

[Tamper84]

No problem. I liked it myself!! Although watching his and myford boys videos on casting is giving me the itch. Too many things and not enough money :rofl:

Chris

 

[Chucketn]

No problem. I liked it myself!! Although watching his and myford boys videos on casting is giving me the itch. Too many things and not enough money :rofl:

Chris

I've had that itch for years. I have a 5 Gal bucket of "muffins" of aluminum from Frecycled lawnmowers made with a charcoal fire in a bucket, a hair dryer and coffee tins!
I'm once again working toward a foundry, with a new found friend to help. Now to find someone within 100 miles that sells castable refractory or at least fire clay.
My bud is helping me build a muller, and I'm making molding tools. We'll tackle a furnace made from a propane tank next.

Chuck

 

[Tamper84]

What kind of sand are you using? I have read of oil bonded, water bonded, green sand etc. I'm confused on what to use. Sorry just re-read your original post lol

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Chucketn]

Chris, we're going to start with traditional Green sand. Might go to petrobond in the future. We just found a source for fire clay about an hour and a half away. Still beats shipping on most national dealers.
We're building a muller now, and furnaces are next.
Chuck

 

[Tamper84]

If you can, could you post pictures of your progress on everything??? Pretty please???

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Chucketn]

My new friend is building Vontorne Mullers. I'll ask his permission to post progress. We'll be building molding benches and furnaces as well as what ever tools we can fabricate.
Meantime, I have made a rammer per plans/designs found on the web and several forums. I can post pics of that. The rammer will be my first casting when my foundry is complete.

The rammer is made from 3.5"x3.5" pieces of an oak cutting board. I think it was oak of some variety. I glued up the pieces, turned one stack round and cut the other into a wedge. I glued in a 1" piece of broom handle, and finished with polyurethane spray.
I have been collecting aluminum castings for years. I have gotten many defunct lawn mowers from Freecycle, and stripped/melted them into hockey puck sized pieces using a charcoal fire in a bucket and muffin tins. I now have a 5 gal bucket full.

Chuck