Smelting Furnace

Creator: EnabrinTain Status: Melting aluminum and burning the unwary Born On: 21:35, 5 July 2012 (CDT) Last Updated: 12:12, 31 July 2017 (CDT)

Overview

This is where I'm hanging pics and info related to the furnace. We fixed the pressure issues - it turns out that my 30psi regulator is probably lying.

NEXT UP: Waste Oil Burner!

• Progress!

Sand screens for filtering the sand? I need to check with Greg...

Links

1. Home Forging
2. I started with Lionel's Furnace Kit
3. I used ULTRA EXPRESS 70 from Empire Refractory in Birmingham.
4. I am using this 60psi regulator

Pics

Hoses

Furnace with flash

Furnces w/out flash

The whole setup

Melting copper (see note about copper)

Sandcasting

See this for the design files.

Sandcasting a 3dprinted part	sand base mold	top mold with sprue hole and vent hole	poured cast, cooling
after a quick soak in the water bath	same part, from the top, so the 3dprint layers are showing	cleaned up with a sawzall and a wire wheel	powdercoating!

Notes on Furnace Operation

• When you are done
  • Put the crucible back in the furnace so that it will cool off with the furnace
  • Put the plug over the hop vent hole so that the furnace will cool slowly
  • Pull the burner out of the furnace and dunk it in water to cool it off
  • Its "safe" to move a hot furnace, but be careful
• On Copper
  • Copper needs about 20 psi and a hairdryer blowing air into the burner.
    • If the hairdryer blows out the fire, the furnace isn't hot enough yet - let it heat up at 15 psi
  • The target color of the iron crucible is Yellow
  • Copper cools off much faster in the ingot mold than Aluminium

Calendar

• August 19 2017, 11:00am - 11:59pm: Melting Day #3!