Supporting > Casting

A small foundry setup

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PatJ:
I made this small (small being a relative term I guess, some have said this is what they consider large) furnace to melt iron and aluminum using propane.

These are the insulating type bricks, like the ones from Budget Castings, and they can be cut with a hacksaw easily, and shaped with a wood rasp.

If I had to do over, I would probaby just stand the bricks up vertically, in a circle, but I had to try this method, and wanted a perfectly round interior surface.

There is not much mass to this furnace, and I can pick up up by myself if necessary, or roll it around on a little cart.
The bricks are glued together with 2,700 F (?) furnace cement.

Two layers of ceramic blanket are wrapped around the bricks.

Two wash tubs from the hardware store, one washtub going on inverted after the ceramic blanket wrap.

It works well, and uses a #10 crucible.

Note:
Don't coat the interior with furnace cement, that is not a good idea, it peels off.
If you want a sprayed-on interior top coat, ITC-100.

And wear a good dust mask, don't breathe either the brick dust or the ceramic blanket fibers.
Don't breathe brass fumes either, the zinc in those is toxic.  Most backyard casters use bronze.

PatJ:
Here are the lifting tongs I made.
I included an adjsutable postive stop to keep from crushing the crucible.

PatJ:
And finally a pouring shank.
The handle works best for me pointing straight down.
There are a lot of variations on pouring shanks.

I need to rework the crucible retainer, it does not work well.
I need to make a variable height retainer.

Don1966:
Nice setup Pat, you know it just occurs to me who you are. Welcome back bud.

Don

PatJ:
Thanks Don.

I read the statement in the introduction section:
Please take the time to introduce yourself when you first register; you are assured of a warm welcome by all.

And so I took that at face value and decided to join up.

It is good to see much of the old group in one place.

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