Sand catcher for production of steel and other metals

A method of capturing sand or other insulating material in a flow stream comprising sand or other insulating material and molten metal, said method comprising:

• placing a catching device in a path of said flow stream, said catching device comprising:
• a retaining component comprising a container, said container comprising three walls and a bottom component, said three walls and bottom component made of a refractory material;
• a ramp component mounted on said retaining component, said ramp component made of a non-refractory material;
• wherein said ramp component is disposed at an angle with respect to said retaining component such that material delivered to said ramp component travels by gravity into said retaining component;
• said catching device optionally comprising one or more support elements;
• initiating a flow of said flow stream;
• and,
• removing said catching device from said path of said flow stream after a finite time.