Tubular assembly, method of preparing the assembly, apparatus for uphill teeming which incorporates the assembly and method of casting metal

A method of casting metal wherein a guide assembly is prepared by arranging a plurality of tubular elements of ceramic material end-to-end inside an outer tube with an annular space between the internal surface of the outer tube and the external surfaces of the elements, particles of a refractory material are coated with a curable binder, the annular space is packed with the coated particles, the binder is cured, molten metal is guided by means including the guide assembly from a source to a mould, the metal solidifies in the guide assembly, the outer tube burns and, after the metal in the guide assembly has solidified, the mass of refractory particles and the elements of ceramic material are disrupted to expose the metal.