Yes i agree with you but there are degrees of risk. From time to time i do a bit of wood working and even there some materials are irritants or dagerous - even the natural ones.
The point i was after was that if you have to buy something look for the safer material.
Another post brought up sand blasting which reminded me of something. The local Tractor Supply had big pallets of of graded Sand Blasting "sand". It was called Black Beauty and available in at least two size grades. Since blasting materiaks are widely available on the net i have to wonder if anybody has tried such materials? One advantage is that they are already graded, handy if you don't want to screen the sand yourself. I never thought to look to see exactly what "Black Beauty" was made of.
All of this discussion though can get one side tracked from actually casting anything. The Gingery series could easily be buolt with rather course sand as these are tools. Many old tools had rather course surfaces that often got filled with heavy paint or other fillers or primers. Many people probably have the sand they need in their back yards.
Obviously nicely graded sand, properly maintained will produce a better looking casting. That can't be disputted. Having the perfect sand though isn't required to get on ones way. In fact it is counter productive in my mind.
Part of Gingerys arguement was that your first few machines can be put to use building better machines. So starting out with a crude lathe you can end up with a very nice mill. Collect all the tools and you can then slap together a very nice lathe.
So for the beginner is the perfect sand all that important? I'm not sure it is. If the goal is to get the lathe running at the lowest possible cost in time and money, i'd take what i could find locally and gain experience. By the time the lathe is done the builder should understand if he needs something better for the next machine.
David A Frantz
websterindustro@mac.com
Sent from my iPhone.
On Aug 28, 2010, at 12:27 AM, Wonk <tiwonk@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Agreed that silica is a health hazard, but any dust you create is also. That said the best casting sands today are made with 'Olivine' sand, which is crushed rock in a grain size that give good definition from your patterns, wearing a particle mask or respirator with good filters is the only safe way to handle dust, smoke, fumes!
>
> Gene
>
> --- In gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com, David Frantz <websterindustro@...> wrote:
>>
>> Silica is a health hazard, I'd look for alternatives simply because of that.
>>
>> As to sand at your home centers it depends, some of it can be very course. It isn't bad to have some available though as it is suitable for lost foam or investment casting and other foundry uses. If you have to you could always screen it yourself.
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>> As to alternative sources look at farm supply shops. Esoecially ones cattering to DIY, they often have materials usable by foundrymen.
>>
>> You could always try a local quary.
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>> Finally there are the nation wide foundry supply houses. For sand though you shouldn't need to go this route. Just look outside of the home center suppliers, instead focus on professional supply houses.
>>
>> David A Frantz
>>
>> websterindustro@...
>> Sent from my iPhone.
>>
>> On Aug 27, 2010, at 9:59 AM, aces4me <aces4me@...> wrote:
>>
>>> After doing a little lost foam casting I'm looking forward to doing some casting with green sand. I've got bentonite but damned if I can find a local source of fine silica sand. All I can find locally is "play sand" or general purpose sand at Lowes and Home Depot. Does this kind of sand work OK as green sand?
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