How to Run a Gilsonite Trial in Your Foundry

Switching carbon additives should be done step by step.

1. Baseline

Record current additive, dosage, LOI, volatiles, sand properties and casting quality.

2. Partial replacement

Replace 25–30% of the current additive with gilsonite. Run for several days.

3. Monitor

Track sand tests daily and inspect castings for surface finish and gas defects.

4. Increase replacement

Move to 50%, then 100% if results are good.

5. Optimize dosage

Reduce total additions until surface finish begins to change, then step back slightly.

6. Evaluate cost

Calculate total cost per tonne of good castings.

Data to record daily

Decision rules

Move to the next replacement step only if quality is equal or better for several consecutive days.

Request a trial quantity of foundry grade gilsonite. See dosage guide.