You’ve been tasked with finding a foundry to produce metal castings for your next project, and the list of requirements are highly specific involving metal selection, machining and more. Sounds simple, until you realize you’re not entirely sure what that means. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

At Quaker City Castings, we’ve guided countless customers through the process of selecting the right castings for their needs. Whether you’re an experienced engineer or sourcing cast components for the first time, understanding the basics will help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

What Are Metal Castings?

Metal castings are components formed by pouring molten metal into a mold that defines the desired shape. Once the metal cools and solidifies, the mold is removed, revealing a solid metal part. This process allows manufacturers to create complex geometries, internal cavities, and custom specifications that would be difficult or costly to produce with other methods like machining or forging.

There are many types of casting processes, but at Quaker City Castings, we specialize in no-bake sand casting and centrifugal casting, two highly versatile methods used to produce a wide variety of iron and steel components.

Choose the Right Metal

One of the first things to determine is what metal type your part requires. Different foundries specialize in different alloys, and choosing the right one ensures you get the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance your application demands.

At Quaker City Castings, we pour:

If your project involves high heat, wear resistance, or corrosive environments, you may want stainless or high-alloy steel. For cost-effective strength, carbon steels are often ideal. And if you need vibration damping or good machinability, ductile or gray iron may be your best bet.

Not every foundry handles every type of metal, so verifying material compatibility is a key early step in sourcing metal castings.

Understand Size and Volume Capabilities

Foundries are not one-size-fits-all. Some specialize in large production runs, while others—like Quaker City Castings—are job shops equipped for short runs and flexible order volumes.

We produce castings from 10 to 7,000 pounds, and we routinely handle order quantities from a single unit to 200+ units. Whether you need a custom prototype or a batch of industrial components, it’s essential to partner with a foundry that has the right equipment and expertise for the casting size and production volume you require.

Define the Required Surface Finish

The surface finish of a casting can impact both performance and aesthetics. A casting that must be “smooth as glass” might require a high-precision process like investment casting—which is also much more expensive. At Quaker City Castings, our no-bake sand casting process offers a commercial-grade finish suitable for most industrial applications.

Our customers often choose us for our ability to cast intricate shapes with excellent surface detail, while keeping costs under control. Understanding your finish requirements helps avoid over-specifying and overpaying.

Consider Additional Services

A great casting isn’t just about pouring metal. It’s about delivering a fully finished product that meets all your operational requirements. That’s why many of our clients choose us not just for casting, but as a full-service partner.

Quaker City Castings offers for Metal Castings:

If your part requires post-processing—or you want the convenience of dealing with one supplier from start to finish—we can provide a seamless experience. You’ll save time, reduce logistical complexity, and ensure consistent quality across every stage of production.

Vet the Foundry’s Experience

While technology has modernized the metal casting industry, one thing hasn’t changed: experience matters. Foundry work requires not just equipment, but expertise. Understanding mold flow, shrinkage rates, heat transfer, and material behavior under stress is both an art and a science.

Quaker City Castings has been pouring high-quality metal castings since 1932. That’s more than 90 years of experience in metallurgy, tooling, pattern making, and finishing processes. We’ve worked with clients in power generation, transportation, industrial machinery, mining, energy, defense, and more.

We’re not just a supplier—we’re a strategic partner that helps you solve problems, reduce costs, and meet tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.

Think Long-Term Not Just Transactional

Buying metal castings isn’t like buying office supplies. These components often go into critical machinery, safety systems, or high-performance equipment. You need more than just a part—you need trust in your supplier.

At Quaker City Castings, we focus on building lasting partnerships. Our clients return to us not just for our technical capabilities, but for our responsive service, clear communication, and genuine commitment to quality.

We’re proud to say many of our customers have been with us for decades—and that trust is something we earn every day through hard work and results.

Final Thoughts

Sourcing the right metal castings doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you:

  • Know the metal your part requires,
  • Understand the production and surface finish needs,
  • Choose a foundry with the right equipment and expertise,
  • And value long-term support over short-term savings,

…then you’re already on the path to success.

At Quaker City Castings, we’re here to help you every step of the way—from material selection to final delivery. Contact us today to get started on your next project, and experience what a true casting partner can do for your business.