Abstract: Blank metal ingots particularly steel of uniform weight per piece and cross section are formed with a mold which is made up of a plurality of superposed vertical sections which together define an interior mold cavity of uniform cross section over its total height. The steel which is produced in a known steel making method is first tapped into a casting ladle which is provided with a refractory lining. A plurality of mold sections are built up one after the other over a casting plate and the steel is directed upwardly through a bottom opening on the plate into the mold cavity and as soon as the mold is completely filled the slide plate is closed. For casting ingots of round or polygonal cross section with diameters of 200 to 350 millimeters the steel is bottom poured into the mold cavity at a rate of rise of from 30 to 80 centimeters per minute and the surface of the melt is not covered but is maintained as cold as possible.