A traditional foundry mixture containing high amounts of clay, coarse sand, water and organic binders like horse manure or straw. Unlike green sand, it is applied as a wet paste over a brick or iron armature, then swept to shape with a strickle board and baked hard before pouring. It is used to cast massive, symmetrical objects like bells, propellers and large cylinders without needing a full solid pattern.
We're going to need a fresh batch of loam to build up the core for the new bell.
The organic matter in loam burns out during baking, leaving a porous structure that allows gases to escape during the pour.
Related terms
Strickle
A profiled wooden or metal tool used to shape sand or loam surfaces in a mold.
Sweep
A rotating template mechanism used to form large, symmetrical sand or loam molds.
Pattern
A physical replica of the final casting used to shape the mold cavity.
Corebox
A mold used to shape and pack sand into a solid core for creating internal cavities in a casting.