Building A Molding Bench - Pictures Galore!

[CallMeAl]

Last time I posted a project on MadModder I was casting a base for a solenoid engine.  I had problems with my sand mix and vowed to switch to an oil based sand.  I ordered the sand and set about to build a molding bench to hold the sand and try to contain the usual sand mess I make.  I also wanted a bench that I could roll around and use as a work table when doing any casting so it needed to have a fold down back. Here is some photos of the bench construction.  This mostly about wood working, but it ends with metal casting so I'm putting it here instead of under the wood section.

Building the carcass:





Installing casters to make it mobile:





Plastic mixing tub fitted:







Full extension drawer for tolls etc.



Tub chute edges:



Fold up top and bench grate slats:







Ready paint and sand:



Sand arrived about 200 lbs. of 250 lbs. ordered, bench painted:









Time to test it out.  I turned up a quick and dirty pattern for a rammer out of pine, no paint, just waxed it.  I was in a hurry to try out the virgin sand.





















Turned out just fine for a quick test, but it would be better if I took the time to make the pattern better and put a nice smooth coat of paint on it.





The bench seems to work like I hoped it would.  The sand is a little sticky, but it should improve with use.

Thanks for viewing.

Al

[raynerd]

Great work mate, clearly handy with brown stuff as well as the shiny stuff!! Nice bench.

[Rob.Wilson]

Hi Al


Now thats got to be the Rolls Royce of moulding benches    nicely done 


Did you fined the sand hard to ram up ? 


Rob

[Noitoen]

For not ramming up so good, the sand was fined £50,00. 

[DaveH]

Hi Al,

A very nice job done there

DaveH

[saw]

Nice work

[foozer]

Nice work,  where did you order the sand from?

Robert

[CallMeAl]

Hey Rob: Thanks, I wouldn't say it was the Rolls Royce, more like a Geo Tracker - who would put sand in a RR?  The sand seemed very easy to ram up, a slight bit sticky, but I ain't complaining it should better with use and blacker also.

craynerd: I did some of of the "brown" stuff before I found the religion of metal (though I was welder/mechanic for 25 years).  Now I do wood things to make it easier to do metal things.

foozer: Thanks.  The sand was ordered from: IFSCO. Check out their website: http://www.foundry-supplies.com/home.html   Very easy to work with.

[Brass_Machine]

Nice work!

Eric

[Powder Keg]

Next you'll be needing a muller\o/ I just mix a little 2 stroke oil in my sand when I mull mine. a little goes a loong way!!! That is about like my bench. I find it really easy to use. Great job!!!

[arnoldb]

That's VERY nice Al   

 , Arnold

[CallMeAl]

Thanks Arnold!

Power keg:  Thanks. I do have a muller, I built one awhile ago. 




Here is a short video of the build and of it in action, works very well though I have some improvements in mind: