Wasted $300 on a cheap ladle that cracked after 3 pours

I thought I was saving money by ordering a cast iron ladle off Amazon for $30 instead of getting a proper one from our supplier. After my third pour of molten aluminum at the shop last Thursday, the handle snapped clean off and spilled a bit on the floor. Nobody got hurt, but I had to stop the whole line to clean up and replace it. My foreman just shook his head and said 'you knew better, kid.' Now I'm out the cash and had to buy a $90 ladle from McMaster that's built way heavier. Anyone else get burned by online tools that look good but don't hold up to foundry temps?

2 comments

2 Comments

casey_torres6010d ago

Yeah, anything under $50 for foundry work is basically a gamble you're gonna lose.

sanchez.sean10d ago

Hold up, $50?! Did I read that right? Dude, that's crazy cheap for foundry work. I'd be crossing my fingers and hoping the mold doesn't just fall apart mid-pour at that price. No way you're getting decent material quality or a proper finish for that little. You're basically paying for the metal and hoping they don't mess up the shape. The setup time alone has to be worth more than that.