I worked in a cast iron founry for 5 years... happy days its better if you sieve the sand for the top layer ... We used parting powder made from chalk .... but it would have been better if you had layed the blade on the base and filled it up and rammed sand on top of the blade . then turn the mold over and make a joint ... then put the top half of the box on top then parting powder then fill top half with sand . then you should be able to lift the top box off remove the sword mould and cut the runners an risers .... youll get a better finish if you use a Sieve ... Once it has been cast you should let it cool down naturally .....

Absolutely fascinating from start to finish, and very informative. Thanks for sharing your process with us Will, brilliant work.

Just a suggestion... a tiny suction cup or a length of wood with adjustable suction cups on the hilt and blade part would probably give you flawless pickups with little risk of damaging the sand.

One of the best casting videos I've ever seen

A lot more work doing the packing than I expected. Nice one :)

If the sand reacts anything like concrete, which I think it might, to a degree. Using a palm sander or something similar, around the outer edge of the mold, ( box ) to vibrate the sand, should better compact it. After setting the pattern in the sand a jig could be made, of sturdy, flat material that sits just inside the mold. Having pull-down straps fastened to the tighten the jig, on both sides. The straps come together under the table, pulled tight to one side and cranked tightly, to compress the jig. A combination of cranking and vibrating, around the edge, should produce a finer detail, left behind in the pattern. The PH of the sand will be crucial to create a smooth finish, which is also the idea behind the vibrating as well. These techniques are used in concrete forming so, I suspect they should also work or at least not harm in the process. Using hydrated lime in the mix with sand and possibly in place of the powder, to release the forms, could be an inexpensive alternative.

What a fantastic video Will, first time i've seen this being done and really appreciating the amount of work that goes into making one of these. Many thanks for taking the time to share this ~Peace~

this video was very informative and that sword looked perfect. love your work

I understand this is an old video but to see you in modern clothes is strange lol

I have been thinking of casting a bronze kukri knife for a while now and your video is a great help to me .

This is one of the coolest and most interesting things I've seen on youtube in a long time. Keep up the good work!

Awesome job, brother! Ended up looking awesome! I've been enjoying a lot the stuff on your channel. Thanks for sharing this stuff with us!

I've read about a two piece limestone mold for casting bronze spear heads that had been discovered in Israel. Dated to 400 b.c.e., if my memory is not betraying me. I recall the author saying that such a mold might be good for up to 100 castings--although I have no idea how such a determination could be made.

Cant wait to try that! Great show Will as usual. Thx!

Have already watched this video but like every other video you have made I just watch them over again as they are excellent and informative on a lot of great stuff keep it up mate

I mean, it seems like a lot of work - but if your survival depends on it, it seems like a trivial task to protect yourself!

I think one could use stone tools to make wood tools. And also make the sword shape from wood. Thus one could forage stuff to get into the bronze age.

Dude this was so long... it was awesome!

Have you ever used soapstone to cast with? I've made a few small ones. A couple of small knives and arrowheads years and years ago but nothing larger then that.

excelente. Saludos desde Córdoba Argentina

Good show ol' chap!

Thank you for the lesson

living the dream *.*

What cracking video. You are a clever man Will :)

how did they make the first sword?

Thank you!! This helps me alot! But i still wonder how much sand you were using for the sword in the video, looks like alot!

after the quench why not clamp it in between two wide boards to prevent warpage ?

Well done!

Awesome step by step video, and very neat. I want to start making this kind of things, but probably with aluminium. I need to build the furnace from zero. Any advice to someone who has never done anything like this before? I don't want to die right away when I pour the molten metal.

where did you get that sand

Thanks for taking the time and effort to show your method here. Really cool to watch. Also, cool truck. Not seen any of those here in the States. What is it? One more thing. You have a striking resemblance to an old friend of mine here in Alabama, USA. You have any ancestral kin with the name Ledbetter by chance?

I wonder how much bronze cost in that era, given the difficulty of extracting and smelting both copper and tin then hauling it and making a sword I expect it would have been worth weeks or months pay for the average person.

where do i get oil based sand for casting like that.

👍

Nice Defender, Video is good too....lol

amazing

Hey, Hephaestus how are your leg's not broken?

I was wondering what type of bronze you used and also where you got it from.

6:15 clearly, you don't know my cat... >:D

excelent

Great video! What about the detail on La Tene (presumably ceremonial) swords? Surely sand isn't sufficient for that detail, do you know how they did that?

As the molten bronze is being poured, how does the air inside the mold void escape?

wouldn't clay be easier?

(HINT: PLASTER OF PARIS IS SWAG)

Попробуйте таким же образом отлить меч катана из высоколигированой стали.

how many castings is this mold good for?

Ok good

using a curved blade knife makes your screed leveling more difficult. Use something straight.

This is, of course, not how bronze was cast in the Bronze Age. We actually know this.

Go eat something, you're shaking!

i also like to make crazy stuff

✨⚔️✨ 👶👏❤️

What kind of sand is this?

I have only just found your videos. Got to say really well done my grandad used to Knapp and legit I never got my head around it but being in Scotland flint isn't really common I spent hours watching him work some of the fondest memories I have, he used to travel far for material and theres a fairly funny story of him getting caught robbing a local church yard of its yew tree Haha. Yew also being reasonably rare in our neck of the woods

Excellent demonstration and detailed explanation. Thank you!

Amazing skill at work! Somehow this was very relaxing to watch. Thanks!

Thank you! This is very well illustrated and explained. Can't wait to try and cast something!

absolutely fascinating to watch. I love this sort of thing. The best history is living history.

A comment, here in the USA talcum powder is call baby powder however baby powder sometimes is made with corn starch. Corn starch is flammable anyone casting should know this but if anyone is new to casting be aware. Why not have a mold master that has the cup and fill track already built in? Very nice.

Great video. The cast turned out flawless.

Thanks Will, excellent work, an inspiration to us all.

did anyone hear him say, "the pressure you should use is the same as petting a cat" ive never pet me cat with a knife. regardless cool video.

Outstanding!

Enjoyed your video very much....good job.

Would it be possible to list the materials used in the video description? I would like to know the composition of the sand. Cause just "sand" is vague. And are there alternatives in sand composition? Also, how would you make the casting with out the blade to start with. Like if you were making it from scratch. And last, are you planning to do a video on a primitive forge? Like how the ancients forged bronze.

Did you say stroking a cow

will you make a video on finishing this?

soooo awesome... SUBSCRIBED!

interesting video!

"Baby powder ! " :D

There's no evidence they used sand casting techniques?

Hi Will watched this video about ten times , the thing is I get to pack the sand (green sand )not petrobond and it fails, spitting and obviously means the mold does not fill ,do you recommend petrobond or how can I install venting.best wishes ian,

20:27 RELEASE THE SCREWS!

should put the link to your website in the description box. yes?

Any reason why you did not talcum the opposite side of the mold?

Where can I learn how to work with bronze? I want to dick around with this stuff myself.

why is it that it seems men from the UK fucking love swords? I mean,its a good hobby but ive just noticed

Is brass good for a machete or hatchet? I'm thinking of making one for hiking.

Are u a Viking 🇬🇧😯

what if i dont have a sword to press into the sand

Sword was beautiful, but I had to laugh because the pour cup strongly resembled a vagina. Keep up the good work.

what the f dude u put payment on a casting video, I reported u hahaha u jerk