seth_harris36•14d agoProlific Poster

That one time a core box vent clogged and cost me half a shift

Man, I had a job last month where we were pouring a big gear housing, maybe 200 pounds. The core box for the internal cavity had this tiny vent channel, no wider than a pencil lead. I thought I'd cleared it during setup, but after the pour, the sand core just would not vent. The mold started weeping metal from the parting line, a real mess. We had to stop the line, let it cool enough to be safe, and then break out the whole casting to get to the failed core. What should have been a 20 minute pour and shakeout turned into a 4 hour cleanup and re-mold operation. My lead was not happy. It's crazy how one little blocked airway can ruin your whole rhythm. Anyone got a good trick for making sure those fine vents are totally clear before a pour?

3 comments

3 Comments

karen_roberts414d ago

Ever try using a piece of guitar string to poke out those really fine vents?

charles44214d ago

Honestly, that's a solid tip for getting into tight spots. A high E string works great for tiny speaker grills too.

sean78214d ago

I mean, a high E string always feels too bendy to me, charles442.