Shoutout to the old guy who showed me the trick for that stubborn riser gate

Man, I spent almost three whole days fighting with a casting that kept getting cold shuts right at the riser neck. It was a big pump housing job for a local water plant, and every single one came out with a line you could see clear as day. I tried everything, hotter metal, slower pour, different facing sand mix. I was about ready to scrap the whole pattern. Then Frank, who's been here since the 80s, wanders over and says 'Kid, you're starving it.' He had me cut a tiny notch, maybe an eighth inch, in the gate right where it meets the riser. Said it lets a little more heat through right at the start. Next pour? Clean as a whistle. I never would have thought of that in a million years. Anyone else have a weird little fix like that for cold shuts?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam4145d ago

Man, those old-timer tricks are the best.

rowanw915d ago

Used to roll my eyes at them, but honestly they work.

blair_torres705d ago

What finally changed your mind? I'm with @adam414 on this, but I'm curious about your switch.