I bought a $250 infrared thermometer and it saved my core box project.

I was working on a big sand core for a gear housing last month and the binder was curing too fast. The shop was hot and I couldn't figure out why my cores kept coming out brittle. My buddy told me to check the actual sand temp, not just the air. I grabbed this handheld IR gun and found the sand was 40 degrees hotter than I thought. Adjusted the mix timing and the next batch was perfect. Anyone else use one of these for process control?

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4 Comments

avery_flores4mo ago

Read an article about how even small temp swings can ruin a resin cure.

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hannah_wells4mo ago

Ugh, @avery_flores, temp swings are the worst. I got a cheap heat mat for my curing box and it fixed everything.

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simon_carr4mo ago

Seriously though, how bad can a little swing be? My stuff always turns out fine without any fancy gear.

8

richard_young802mo ago

Hey @avery_flores, next thing you'll tell me my AC is ruining my art.

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