I was wrong about using a wet sponge to cool small molds

For years at our shop in Toledo, I'd mist a sponge and dab hot molds to speed cooling. Last month, a new guy from a big plant saw me and said, 'That's a quick way to get a steam burn and warp the piece.' He showed me his method: a small fan on low, placed three feet back, for about ten minutes. The metal cools evenly and the surface stays smooth. Has anyone else found a better trick for cooling small castings without cracking?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny_young721mo ago

Feel your pain on that one. I've seen steam do weird things to finish quality. The fan trick is solid for keeping things even.

the_hayden1mo ago

Warp the piece" seems like you just got unlucky with your timing.

kim_mason551mo ago

Timing is everything with humidity. @the_hayden is right about getting unlucky there. I had a tabletop that cupped on me last spring after a clear coat. Had to strip it back, let the wood sit in the shop for a week to adjust, and then redo the whole finish. A dehumidifier in the room made a huge difference for the second try.