Sand casting something hollow? A train conductor’s key!

I have a friend, Lars, who is a train enthusiast. He helps restore old trains in the “East Seeland railway club” and even has a license for driving trains, so of course, he needs a silver compartment key. (It’s him talking in the background in part of the video by the way.
He is also my court alchemist and I thought it would be a neat project to with his silver.
Casting an open-ended hollow item can be done in sand by including a wooden inverse. Watch our attempt at a hollow train conductor’s key.

[@HouseholdDog]

Finally a channel that shows the sheer frustration of casting.

[@ShapingSilver]

Casting always includes cursing and throwing stuff through the workshop! 🤣 Thanks for watching.

[@torstenneuer1560]

@@ShapingSilver It also includes dancing around when you succeed. ;-)

[@ShapingSilver]

@@torstenneuer1560 Yep!

[@johnmatarazzo1901]

thank you for taking the time to make this video

[@ShapingSilver]

Thanks for watching! :-)

[@vogman]

Another fun project and excellent video. Keep them coming : )

[@ShapingSilver]

Thanks Geoff. I'd forgotten how much fun sand casting is. Will do.

[@torstenneuer1560]

As from my own experience, the main problem with your first moulds was that the metal had to take a sharp turn, which slows down its flow. If your large wooden frame would feature a hole on one of the narrow sides for the sprue, the chances of getting a good result would be much higher. The sprue would then have to sit at the top of the handle of the key though. This would also require connecting the top of the ring with the key itself, so the metal can get straight down and fill the mould quickly. This connection would then be cut out when finishing the key.

[@ShapingSilver]

Thank you, yes that is my conclusion as well. I have kept the original key to do some experiments with, but we were out of time, so I cast the ring separately. Thanks for watching!

[@kyleshore9591]

Thank you!

[@WilliamMCarnes]

Fun video, I believe if you had used a wider diameter sprue it would have filled up completely.

[@ShapingSilver]

@@WilliamMCarnes you are probably right. Thanks for watching.

[@eivindkofod1774]

Hi Oliver and all the rest of you.
I like that Oliver also showing when things go wrong, else how can we all get wiser? Torsten advises tjat there is always difficulties with sharp bends. In my experience, the problem lies in the silver having to run horisontally, thus losing the momentum and the pressure from above. Oliver should have poured the whole thing from the end as he in the end did with the "handle" part (good resque by the way).
Also, I would have compacted both parts harder. Not so important in this case as there are no surface details. I liked your self made wooden casting frame.
Thanks to Oliver, have a nice weekend with the last strawberries.

[@ShapingSilver]

Thank you. I came to about the same conclusions. You too.

[@themakesmith]

🌼

[@viv5645]

That was BRILLIANT. Thank you.
I really enjoyed this video.
The casting rings with side hole are new to me. Can I ask where you got them from please? And do you make your own casting box?

[@ShapingSilver]

Hi Viv, Glad to hear it. I got it from a danish company: ravstedhus.dk (search for ""støbering") or have a look on ebay. Yes, I needed one that was bigger than the ring. Have a nice one! :-)

[@viv5645]

@@ShapingSilver many thanks, I shall pop over and have a look. Always exciting to find a new supplier x

[@waliza001]

lost wax would be better method.

[@ShapingSilver]

I agree, but I don't have any vacuum equipment, so... thanks for watching.

[@waliza001]

@@ShapingSilver You don't need any vacuum equipment to cast with lost wax method.