Time to build a moulding bench

[dallen]

(08-23-2015, 07:20 AM)Pete O Wrote: So many things on the go here at once, but now that my furnace is workable I need to get the moulding business organised.
I have an old fibreglass 3/4 length bathtub that I am thinking of using for the basis of my moulding bench, with a hinged lid and a moulding board that can slide from side to side, perhaps a divider down the middle to make two separate sand compartments. I'd appreciate thoughts on whether this is a workable idea or if I should leave it for the cattle to drink out of.
Also I am having trouble finding bentonite clay, seems it's used in all kinds of quack-medicine and beauty products so goes for a zillion dollars an ounce at the faith-healers supply but can't find it elsewhere. So I'm thinking of using oil-bonded sand, have read that synthetic 2-stroke oil is good and I have some of that. Once again, would appreciate any guidance here, this is all totally new to me. I'm itching to pour some metal.

ask around at the feed store where people buy livestock feed.

its also used to seal ponds so the water won't seep out thru the earth.

or the really nasty way is to find a floor sweep/oil dry that is made from the stuff and pulverize the stuff back to a powder. which is a pain in the back side.

its used in a lot of things other then cosmetics and health food where its not so expensive

if the shipping wouldn't kill it I could get you a 100 pound bag for about 10 dollars

of course you could look for a naturally occurring sand with enough clay in it that it will bond together when damp and given the squeeze test and use that as some of the guys do in the UK.

I would be giving some serious thoughts to building a muller or something similar to recondition the sand with cause doing it by hand isn't any fun