The Complete Handbook of Sand Casting

An excellent book of information on the art and science of sand casting in production shops. There exist a cornucopia of tips, tricks and good advice culled from years of experience in this book. And it is fun to read.

When I needed a part for a project that I just couldn't buy, I decided to try sand casting it. This was the first book I bought, and I don't regret it. It has a great deal of technical knowledge to offer, and it's written in a very accessible way for the amateur like myself. Mostly though, I get a great mental picture of Mr. Ammen when reading his words. I've known crusty tradesmen like I imagine Ammen to be, and it makes me sad to think that they are a dying breed. What a world, full of artists, amateurs, and pencil pushers, with few that know how anything really works. I think it's worth buying just for the colorful prose. A topic like metal casting could fill an encyclopedia easily, so I think it is great praise of Ammen to say that this book gives you just enough rope to hang yourself. Besides, anybody who's ever done anything knows that the only way to learn how to do something is to do it. So get this book, mix up some green sand, and git'er done.

This has got to be the sand casting bible, because for one it really does start at the begining. This book will treach you how to start from scratch, build your own furnace, and how to make the anciliary equipment. Most importantly it is written by one of the experts in the field, he will take stepby step through your first casting, and teach you how to figure out what went wrong. So if this is what you want to do this is the book for you.

C. W. Ammen has done an admirable job of condensing the three foundry trades apprenticeships into a paperback. If ever a live steamer or inventor wanted to set up a small foundry this would be the book to buy. Mr Ammen knows his business and how to teach it but he is not a technical writer. You will have to live with the book's faults. It's poorly edited and there are a good many clumsy sentances and examples of bad grammar. Do not let these faults distract you from the narrative. A good industrial craftsman with little knowledge of foundry practice can follow the instructions given to ultimately produce practice sand castings of most any metal of good quality.

This is possibly the best reference work for sand casting that I have ever read. It covers bench and floor castings, in all the popular metals (iron, brass, etc..) Ammen uses his 35 years of foundry experience to provide a complete and explicit reference for sand casting.