Foundry Shop Hand Tools:
Foundry is the place where job is prepared by pouring the molten metal into mould cavity. Mould is prepared by placing a model known as pattern in the sand. On cooling a casting is obtained. The common hand tools used in foundry work are as follows.
Trowel: It is made of iron with a wooden handle. It is used to finish flat surfaces and corners.
Shovel: It is used for mixing and conditioning the sand, and then transfer the sand to some container.
Hand Riddle: It is made of wooden frame with wire mesh fitted at the bottom. It is used to remove foreign material from sand.
Lifter: It is used to finish the mould. It is also used to remove the loose sand from mould.
Vent wire or Vent rod: The use of vent wire is to make vents or small holes in the sand for exit of gases and steam during casting.
Rammer: The tool is generally made of wood or iron. It is used for ramming the sand in the moulding box to pack it closely around one pattern.
Strike off bar: It is used to strike off extra sand left after ramming.
Draw spike: The tool is used to draw pattern from the mould.
Smoothers and corner slicks: Finishing tools used for repairing and finishing flat and round surfaces, and edges.
Slicks: They are used to repair and finish mould surfaces after pattern is withdrawn.
Mallet: Wooden hammer is known as mallet. It is used to drive spike into the pattern.
Sprue pin: This is tapered wooden or iron rod used to produce a hole, called runner.
Swab: A fibre brush used to moisten the edges of sand mould, before withdrawing the pattern.
Sprue cutter: A hollow tapered tube which is used to produce hole.
Bellow: It is used to blow away unwanted sand from the surface and cavity of the mould.
Moulding boxes: The boxes are made of wood, cast iron or steel. The upper part is called cope, the lower part is called drag and the middle part (if used) is called cheek.
Ladles: They are used to transfer molten metal from furnace to mold cavity.
Crucibles: These are melting pots made of refractory material.