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How fluid is cast iron?

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airmodel:
WATCH this amazing video and the best part is at the end of the video when he stopped pouring, cast iron keeps flowing to fill up the mold.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hE4XvZNpiz4

rklopp:
Gray cast iron is very fluid, which is why it is so great for intricately cored engine blocks, steam radiators, and New Orleans architectural filagree ironwork.

crueby:
Wow, looks like a movie special effect. Neat how you can see the color change as it flows and cools, also that its an open topped mold. Would they need to file or grind that side, which I assume is the back of the finished part? Or does it flow level enough. Very neat video.

CI:
The local art-iron folks here use old radiator iron exclusively, since its high phosphorus content gives it extremely good fluidity.
The downside of higher phosphorus iron is that it is supposedly not recommended for things like engine blocks and machinery (structural castings).

I tried to use Class 40 iron, or something equivalent to that.

I am aware of one individual who used radiator iron to cast a V8 model engine, and he has been running it for a long time, but without load.

I have been getting pretty decent fluidity with electric motor end-bell iron, but have not tried any very thin or intricate castings yet.
Below was a demonstration pour I did for the local art-iron group, to show how an oil burner is operated to melt iron.
The fluidity was good, but it was not quite as fluid as aluminum 356 alloy.

Adding a small amount of ferrosilicon improves the fluidity of iron, and I use that for all iron pours, for improved machineability.

If you use a cupola/cupolet, I think you can superheat the iron up to perhaps 2,800 F, and that is another way to increase fluidity.
My oil burner is probably limited to a pour temperature of around 2,500 F.
The sparks coming off the melt are a good sign that you have reached a good pour temperature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuvI0r8GyiA

vtsteam:
Pouring basin/sprue height is low, just like yours, @airmodel.

Long slow pour, yet it fills.

I would have liked to see the finished piece.

Cool video!  :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :cheers:

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