Sand castings: finishing methods

Published - 15th Oct 2019

The finishing of each sand cast component is critical to its quality and performance. Sand Castings require different levels of finishing depending on the type of metal used and the end application, all of which our manufacturing facilities can accommodate.

Types of finishes

The variety of finishes available confer different benefits to the component. Some of the more common finishes are:

• Linishing and Fettling

  Fettling removes risers and excess material from the sand casting, whilst linishing involves grinding or sanding the component, which improves the surface flatness.

• Shot Blasting and Peening

  These processes give the casting a uniform appearance and remove sand or small burrs and provides a good key prior to next-stage processes such as painting or powder coating.

• Painting

  There are a wide range of painted finishes, including powder coating, suitable for castings that require high levels of resistance to abrasion and contact. Wet painting is another common process and provides a high level of coloured finish.

• Anodising

  Hard coating anodising produces increased corrosion resistance and protects the surface. Chromic acid anodising produces a thinner film which remains tough and also provides a good key for painting, while sulphuric acid anodising produces a thicker film.

• Alochroming

  This will produce a decorative finish but is not ideal for components that will be exposed to significant abrasion.

• Moly Spraying

  This will increase the resistance of sand castings to withstand extreme temperatures, making it ideal for components that experience adverse weather and temperatures, such as those in aerospace and aviation.

Our experts at Haworth Castings are able to advise customers of the best finish most suitable for their requirements.

Haworth Castings

Haworth Castings is part of the Expromet Technologies Group. Based in Romsey and Basingstoke, in Hampshire, our highly skilled engineers produce high-precision aluminium castings for a wide range of industries. Customers benefit from our cutting-edge technology and our wealth of design knowledge and experience.

Our expertise in areas such as finishing enables us to provide support throughout the casting process, including design, advising on materials and methods to deliver consistency and quality.

To find out more about how we can help you, contact us on 01794 512685 or email sales@haworthcastings.co.uk.

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