Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking Subject: Re: Melt aluminum over gas stove? From: John De Armond Date: Thu, 14 Jan 93 07:07:59 GMT plumpe@oasys.dt.navy.mil (David Plumpe) writes: > I'd like to try casting small aluminum stuff, but my family comptroller >isn't likely to be too happy about buying a furnace (maybe if I put >it on the 5 year capitol improvement budget?!). Is it possible to melt >aluminum over a home gas stove burner? I have a small cast iron ladle >and enough sense to not spill molten aluminum on the imitation formica >countertop, but my past casting experience is limited to lead and cerrobend. I doubt a stove would have the uumph to do much aluminum but something else cheap will. Get one of those propane-fueled fish cookers. Sold for >$50 around here on the off-season, they typically are 250,000 btu or better. That will melt aluminum very rapidly and will give you the added benefit of doing it outdoors where the fumes can dissipate. You'll find this thing to be a multipurpose device, handy for heating steel stock for forging and other such stuff. John Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking Subject: Re: Melting Aluminum and brass From: John De Armond Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 05:02:40 GMT Dave Larsen <dal@boombox.micro.umn.edu> writes: >I've heard that is possible to melt your own metals for small castings >(in this case golf putter heads). I have some scrap brass (old faucets) >and aluminum (pistons or pop cans). Someone said that you use charcoal >and forced air. I was planning on investment casting that has been >discussed recently. >Has anyone tried this? >Is there an easy/cheap way to try it out? >What do you use for a crucible? >Are these scraps suitable (is there something I should know that I >don't)? I picked up a wonderful little book called "Casting Aluminum" by C.W. Ammen. Put out by TAB books. ISBN 0-8306-1910-0. Get this book. It tells you everything you need to know about casting aluminum including building your furnace and crucibles and molds. He also has a companion book on Brass/Bronze. From what he says, I doubt charcoal would be practical. He recommends smelter coke, natural gas or oil. He shows how to built several suitable gas burners and furnaces. I have melted aluminum, a couple of pounds at a time, in our glass/ceramic kiln. Works well but is slower than a true metal furnace. I made the crucible out of Lizella Clay (red pottery clay) but an iron pot should work well, something like a Dutch Oven or something. I had the clay but no iron pot. I doubt pistons would work very well. Too much silicon. Aluminum blocks and heads DO work well. A source of green sand and refractories is A.P. Green, a national distributor that has offices in most major cities. John From: John De Armond Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking Subject: Re: Looking for a crucible Date: Wed, 30 Mar 94 04:54:10 GMT rkh@teal.csn.org (Rick Harrison) writes: >Where would I buy a small crucible? I need something big enough to melt >aluminum cans in, for example (i.e. not "lab" size). I have looked through >the Yellow pages for my area (Boulder/Denver Colorado) and I don't see >anything. An old fashioned cast iron Dutch Oven works for me. If you need more capacity, a cast iron canning pressure cooker works great. I see them at flea markets all the time for $10-30. >Also, what tool is used for lifting the crucible when it's hot? The handle :-) If you pay the big bux for a real (tm) crucible, it can be lifted either by crucible tongs or a pouring shank - a ring with handles that the crucible sits in. An excellent book on aluminum casting is "Casting Aluminum" by C.W. Ammen from Tab books. ISBN 0-8306-1910-0. There is a very complete vendor list in the back, organized by state. Highly recommended. John John |