CASTINGHOBBY FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions.)

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K-bond

K-Bond, named for Kent State where it was developed by one of Tom Cobett's Students, Is an almost smokeless oil bonded foundry sand. It is used for casting zinc, aluminum, brass, bronze and iron.

The recipe is:
*100 lbs. sand - 100 mesh or finer
*6 lbs. bentone clay (such as Bentone 34 or VG-69)
*3 lbs. synthetic 2 cycle motor oil
*0.2 lbs. (3.2 fluid oz) Methanol (dry gas)

Mixing:
Mix the sand and bentone clay first (wear a dust mask!), then blend in the oil thoroughly. Small batches (less than 10 lb.) can be done by hand with good results, but a muller is preferred. The small batches can be done with a cheap kitchen electric mixer.
Add the alcohol and mix thoroughly.

"The sand won't seem like much until the alcohol takes effect and then it will become like stiff cookie dough. How stiff? It bogs down my muller!

It will be much easier to handle when it is a day old and will get easier to use with time and use.

The sand gets powdery after it sits and it is best to mull it or warm it before use.

When green strength starts to fade, add in some alcohol."
... Ray Brandes, quoted from his old web site. Also the source of this recipe.




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Introduction + Superlinks Page + FAQ + Safety + Casting Requirements + Furnaces + Crucibles
 Sand molding + Molding sand + K-bond + Flasks + Sprues, gates and risers
Other molding methods +
Lost Foam Casting + PatternMaking + Hot wire cutter
Casting Defects + Foundry Tools + Other equipment + Metals + Aluminum + MatchPlates
Glossary
+ Other Resources + Suppliers

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