The document describes a patent for improvements in the production of molds and cores. It involves a process of blowing a mixture of sand and gas-hardenable binder into a mold or core box while applying a gaseous hardening agent. Specifically, it applies the hardening agent at points where the air pressure driving the mixture has reduced, so that the gas is prevented from flowing backwards. The invention also provides an apparatus for this process using a blowing plate with vents to introduce the hardening gas into the mixture stream.