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Crack in the sand mold almost ruined my cast, glad I spotted it early!
Caught a mold flaw last minute, any pre-pour inspection tips?
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ryanhill1mo agoOG Member
My old foreman used to tap the mold with a screwdriver handle, listening for a dull thud that meant a hidden crack. Pat424 is right about the light, but sound catches what light misses sometimes.
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pat4241mo ago
In our shop, we inspected every mold with a bright light held at an angle. Shadows make even hairline cracks obvious from the side. Also, avoid pouring into a cold mold, the temperature difference stresses the sand. If cracks keep showing up, your sand mix probably has too little moisture or binder.
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jamieclark1mo ago
Seriously, you guys check every single mold with a light like that? That's some next level patience right there. I'd probably get halfway through the first one before saying "good enough" and just pouring. But I guess that's why my hobby projects look like junk and your shop stuff doesn't. So you're basically giving each mold a full medical exam before it gets any metal. Makes sense, but man, that sounds like a slow way to start the day.
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