A sand dispensing system with a compact movable sand reservoir, mounted for movement atop a metal making furnace, is refillable with a predetermined amount of sand, and tilts with the furnace. The reservoir dispenses a directed stream of the predetermined amount of sand through a nozzle in a sump panel door to fill a tap hole in the furnace. One end of the nozzle receives the directed stream of sand. The opposite end of the nozzle projects into the furnace, to direct the sand stream into the tap hole when the sand reservoir is in the dispensing position. An imaging device may be used to inspect the tap hole before and after the sand is directed into the tap hole. A remote control may be used to operate the sand dispensing system. The predetermined amount may be adjusted as the fill volume of the tap hole increases.