Abstract: A sand-forming apparatus (10) comprising a sand magazine (12), a manifold (14), a core box (16) defining a cavity (18), a clamp table (20), and a blow tube assembly (22). The apparatus (10) is convertible from a sand-blowing state to a catalyst-introducing state without removal of the blow tube assembly (22) and/or un-clamping of the tool package (e.g., the manifold (14) and the cope/drag halves of the core box (16)). In the sand-blowing state, sand is blown from the magazine (12) into the cavity (18) and, in the catalyst-introducing state, the catalyst is introduced into the blown sand in the cavity (18) to solidify the sand into a sand-shape. Molten metal can be poured into or around the sand-shape formed by the apparatus (10) and, upon completion of casting the metal part, the sand-shape can be removed.