Authentic Wood Mold for Casting of a Stockless Anchor

Wood molds like this one were used in the process called sand molded casting. This wooden mold is embossed "SEMI STEEL 700" on one of the anchor flukes. The mold was made out of oak and yellow pine . This type of anchor mold was designed for ships that are likely to encounter all types of sea bottoms. It combines the advantages of dead weight for holding in very hard bottoms with the ability to bite and hold in mud and sand. A hard to find item from the days of American Steel foundries that created products for both the U.S. Navy as well as the commercial shipping industry.

ABOUT SAND MOLDED CASTING

Sand casting, also known as sand molded casting, is a metal casting process characterized by using sand as the mold material. The term "sand casting" can also refer to an object produced via the sand casting process. Sand castings are produced in specialized factories called foundries. Over 70% of all metal castings are produced via a sand casting process

Sand casting is relatively cheap and sufficiently refractory even for steel foundry use. In addition to the sand, a suitable bonding agent (usually clay) is mixed or occurs with the sand. The mixture is moistened, typically with water, but sometimes with other substances, to develop strength and plasticity of the clay and to make the aggregate suitable for molding. The sand is typically contained in a system of frames or mold boxes known as a flask. The mold cavities and gate system are created by compacting the sand around models, or patterns, or carved directly into the sand.