Central Virginia Blacksmith Guild meeting August 8,  2009 at Tom Chenoweth's shop.

Tom gave a demo on sand casting for metal items.  "Green sand" (sand and a clay binder) is used as the packing material for forming the mold for casting.

Click on the picture to enlarge.

Tom showing the trays he will use for the casting process.

Tom filling up one of the molds with sand.

The item to be cast is placed in the tray and sand is packed tightly around the object.

Here Tom is adding another layer for the casting process.

The top layer is added and everything is packed tightly for the molding process.

George Smart assisting Tom to remove the metal object "via a magnet on an old speaker"

One-half of the mold showing the impression left for filling with hot metal for the casting.