Hand Tools Used in Moulding

Bellows: This is used to blow out loose sand from the cavities and surface of the mould.

Slick: Slick is used for repairing moulds. It is a small double-ended tool having a flat on one end and a spoon on the other. It is also available in various shapes.

Lifters: Lifters are used for smoothing and cleaning out depressions in the mould. They are made of thin sections of steel of various widths and lengths with one end bent at right angle.

Rammer: A hand rammer is used to pack the sand in the mould. One edge of the rammer, called the peen end, is wedge shaped, and the other end, called butt end, is flat. Pneumatic rammers are used in large moulds, saving considerable time.

Draw Spike: The draw spike is a pointed tool at one end and loop at other end. It is driven into a wooden pattern and withdraws the pattern from the mould.

Riddle: A riddle is a standard mesh screen used to remove foreign particles from the sand.

Swab: A swab is a small brush having long hemp fibres and is used for moistening the sand around the edge before the pattern is removed.

Gate Cutter: This is u-shaped thin metal strip, which is used to cut a gate for metal feeding into the cavity.

Figure 20.14 Hand Tools for Sand Moulding

Trowel: It is available in various shapes and is used for finishing and repairing mould cavities as well as for smoothing over the pasting surface of the mould.

Vent Wire: This is a sharp pointed wire used to punch holes through the sand after ramming for escape of the vapour and gases produced on pouring the molten metal.

Cope and Drag: Cope is upper part of moulding box. Drag is lower part of moulding box. The middle part of the moulding box is known as chick if three parts of moulding box are used.