Metal Casting Zone

I need to make up some green sand. I have about 30 pounds of silica bead blasting medium. It's very fine.

First question is, will it work for casting?

Next, how much bentonite do I add to it?

Last, what is the ratio for adding oil to it?

Thanks all,

Gene

I'm no expert on this but I made my green sand from Walmart play sand I did
10 lbs of sifted sand to 1 lb of clay(ground cat litter) I added just enough water
to the mix until it looked and sort of felt like brown sugar.
Once the sand is mixed good it you should be able to take a hand full of sand squeeze it and then break the squeezed lump cleanly into. The sand should also not stick to your hands. Google green sand and find more info. I hand mulled it you can also put the mix on the floor and walk on it and turn the sand as you do this. It may take a while of just sitting to get the water and clay to mix good. I did not use oil
in the mix from what I understand using oil if for a different sand type of sand mix.
The finer the sand the better the cast part will look. I used just plain window screen
to sift the sand.
The cat litter needs to have Benoite as the main ingredient or say clumping cat litter
I ground it by using a cheap blender and sifted the clay after grinding to get any unground litter out which was then reground. No the litter was unused!!
I've used this sand for all my castings and they came out pretty good. I'm making the Dave Gingery metal shaper and metal mill.
Norman
sample of one of the casting for the shaper.

Yes, everything Norm said 10:1 ratio by weight and add small amounts of water while mixing it. It will take less water than you think. I think I used less than a pint of waterfor a 5 gal bucket of greensand. No oil in greensand, only in a petrobond mix which takes special clays and some alcohol.

The casting looks good.
Thanks for sharing.

its really looks good ,

i like it dude ,

thanks for sharing the casting here ........

Hey Norm, who says you are not an expert!
You are doing a wonderful job, carry on!