Time to build a moulding bench

[the artfull-codger]

(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 s ,  

 Hi Pete,
           Not an expert but I've used greensand for the past 40 odd yrs in my foundry[as an amateur] & when I think it's losing bond I sprinkle some "hybond 100" bentonite in,don't know if this is a trade name for this particular grade or that's what it's called in the industry but that's what foundrys use, I don't have/need a muller, I have a mixer on the end of a heavy duty drill,it has 2circular blades & boy does it mix the sand in a plastic bin,[it comes out like snuff!!] If I'm doing fine work [ie with letters & motifes] I use petrobond, or face the pattern with petrobond & back up with greensand ['cos petrobond's expensive] I've read that in america petrobond can be re-constituted with oil but I just discard the burnt bits, be interesting to know if it can,perhaps someone on here may well tell us. Good luck, btw I'm coming to ozz in october for a month!!
 Graham.