The invention relates to a method for producing a casting mold for sand casting, wherein a model is positioned in a molding flask and the molding flask is filled with molding sand (green or wet sand -sand, bentonite, and water) and wherein the molding sand is compressed around the model in order to form a stable mold suitable for casting, is characterized in that the compression of the molding sand occurs in certain zones or regions, with consideration of the contour and/or the dimensions of the model. A corresponding device for using the method comprises a compression unit having a compression head having a plurality of compression cylinders.