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Tried using a new binder on a small bronze job and the mold fell apart

I was pouring a set of small bronze brackets last month and decided to try a water-based binder the supplier pushed as a 'green' option. Mixed it just like the old stuff, rammed up the flask tight, and everything looked good until I pulled the pattern. The sand just crumbled, like wet sugar. Had to start over from scratch and lost half a day. The old oil-based binder we used for twenty years might smell bad, but it holds. I guess some new things are just solutions looking for a problem. Has anyone else had a bad run with these newer binders, or found one that actually works as well?
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3 Comments
joseph_bailey
joseph_bailey1mo agoMost Upvoted
Come on, it's one bad pour. @blair_torres70's buddy might have had a worse day, but maybe the mix was off. These things happen with any new product.
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joseph_bailey
joseph_bailey1mo agoMost Upvoted
Our shop wasted three flasks on that stuff before we gave up.
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blair_torres70
My buddy had the same thing happen with a green binder last year. Lost a whole flask of iron gear blanks. He went right back to the old smelly stuff and hasn't looked back.
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