Sand mold casting explosion - GIF

**Jon** · Oct 14, 2018, 12:09 PM

Sand mold casting explosion.

Previously:

Oxy-acetylene gas bottle crash explosion - video
1941 explosion of HMS Barham battleship - GIF and photo
Dump truck hydraulic explosion
NHRA Funny Car engine explosion
Steel mill wet charge explosion - video
Tanker truck explosion in Bologna, Italy - video
Grain bin collapses and explodes - video
Combustible wood dust explosion safety video
Lead sheet casting
Casting a giant propellor GIF

**BTS** · Oct 15, 2018, 01:03 PM

That gives me flash backs to a previous life. Had a few go up in the day.
Green sand molding, a bit of a lost art these days in the commercial world.

**12bolts** · Oct 15, 2018, 05:31 PM

Looks like they didnt have sufficient weights on that mold. You can see it float up just before the metal escapes.

**neilbourjaily** · Oct 15, 2018, 06:58 PM

Or perhaps the drag sand was too thin. It lifted the entire near left norner.

**sven875** · Oct 16, 2018, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by 12bolts

Looks like they didnt have sufficient weights on that mold. You can see it float up just before the metal escapes.

Wet sand is the cause.

**VinnieL** · Oct 20, 2018, 10:07 AM

Wet sand can cause a steam explosion and that is what this looked like to me.

**Jon** · Dec 5, 2018, 01:58 PM

I like all of the PPE worn in this casting explosion. Big boom, and lots of people real close by, but I doubt there were any serious burns.

**hemmjo** · Dec 6, 2018, 05:05 PM

The explosion appears to happen when the molten metal lands on the ground, vaporizing the moisture in the ground.

**desbromilow** · Dec 6, 2018, 09:59 PM

thats a cast iron pour using a small cupola... the explosion seems to be when the molten iron hits the ground, so probably moisture in the ground.

**wizard69** · Dec 8, 2018, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by hemmjo

The explosion appears to happen when the molten metal lands on the ground, vaporizing the moisture in the ground.

It looks like cast iron too. If so can’t imagine that there where no injuries. PPE or not that iron or steel can malt / burn through a lot of protective gear with ease.

The interesting thing is that this appears to be out doors so you have to wonder if the guys doing the pour where aware of the risk of a steam explosion. Back in the day that was one of the few things stressed in the Zinc die cast foundry I worked in, steam becomes an extremely powerful explosive when confined in melted metal. Zinc die casting only happens around 850degrees too, imagine how hot that iron is.