I recently has a similar experiencia. The still in the extinguishers IS not reliable.

This is crusible can survive for melting Magnalium?

thanks!

All crucibles fail at some point. Heat and contamination from the metals you are melting speed that process up. Consider homemade crucibles a "consumable". Be safe & happy casting! :)

Thanks!!

You prolly dont care but if you are bored like me atm you can watch all of the new movies and series on InstaFlixxer. Been streaming with my gf lately =)

@Logan Jonah Yea, been using InstaFlixxer for since november myself =)

@Logan Jonah yup, have been using InstaFlixxer for months myself :)

Thanks for the kind words and welcome aboard! Metal melting is great fun...be safe!! :)

aweaome

YW...... I find them to be a cheap, easy & reliable crucible

Glad to help!

Glad I could help

You are very welcome, I hope the videos I put out are helpful to others. Welcome aboard :)

Thanks & You Are Welcome. I appreciate ya watching!

True. But it will propably also become hot. A detachable handle would be nicest.

Glad you caught your error in time, coulda been worse! Many pressure vessels are aluminum such as some medical oxygen containers. Yes, black pipe works well...be sure & NEVER use galvanized pipe & fittings.tho!

No yoy are right I forgot to mention that, yes only black pipe.. never galvanized, sorry took that for granted that people would know that.. wish I was in your neighborhood would love to stop by and see that sand casting demo you were talking about.. did you post it by chance

If ever in Tampa, FL let me know, you are welcome to drop by. No....I didnt get any video of the sand casting classes as those days are rather hectic & lotsa Q & A and making sure everyone stays safe. Just no time for camerawork. Subscribe if ya think the channel is worthy! :)

+Makin Sumthin From Nuthin thankyou I will

Thanks friend ~ Richard

Thanks!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks Zack! Cheers from across the pond! :)

Very easy to do, a bar & a bolt :)

That will work too! Now that I have a stick welder I will be keeping my eye out for some scrap pipe as well.

My neighbors had two broken basketball hoop stands, I volanteered to "recycle" them and ended up with two main shaft pipes that are about 8 feet tall, at the moment I don't remember diameter but I think it's right size. I think you can find them at Craigslist for free.

Yup, thats a great idea. I get lotsa free stuff off craigslist for my projects. Happy Casting! :)

Thanks, I have a newer video on making another crucible, its been out about 4 weeks...much better vid if ya wanna check it out. Consider subscribing! :)

Thank you :)

Thanks Rusty

Thanks

Roger that.

Thanks Ethan, your subscription means a lot to me. Sometimes I question if my videos have value to others. I appreciate ya! :)

awesome!

Thanks for all that great information! Sounds like you worked in the industry with your knowledge, thanks for sharing!

Sure, that would work great too. I get fire extinguishers free so.... 🤗🎉

Yep, they are a good size too 😊

I made 2 propane cylinder crucibles, and both failed on their 1st heat, before the aluminium was even 1/2 melted, so, I can't recommend them...

a full one

@@xXUNKNOWNXx For better results

I have a CO2 tank with a bent valve. I'm going to make a yard bell out of the top 2/3s, a crucible is an excellent idea for the rest!

Thanks Michael, great point and thanks for commenting on it! :)

Thanks!

Thanks, I appreciate you watching! :)

Thanks, hope it helped. Consider subscribin! :)

My pleasure!

@@MakinSumthinFromNuthin Found a cast iron CO2 extinguisher. Really hard to remove the top. Needed a blowtorch & 2' wrench. Used it for an air compressor tank.

I think you will find a pure graphite crucible rather easy to clean out as not much aluminum will stick to it. If its a clay/graphite crucible you can use something fabricated that resembles a bent spoon to scrape out remaining metal and dross while its still hot

Every little bit helps! Great suggestion! : )

Trap Dodo thank u

Thanks bro

Thanks

Thanks

YW!! Thanks for watching & Happy Holidays! 😊🎉

You could but not recommended, use a cheap, small ceramic or graphite crucible for precious metals. It will likely stick unless you use plently of borax as a flux

Thanks for Watching Grant

Thanks, hope it helps give ya some ideas 😊

Thanks Tony! 😊

Thanks DJ, its comments like that that keep me making vids. Wish I got more comments on some of these vids to get a conversation going about casting. Great Hobby! :) The perlite is what gives the mixture its refractory capabilities but keep me posted on how 60% works out. For the first few firings once FULLY DRY (dont rush it), it needs to be fully dry so there is no chance of a steam explosion blowing apart the furnace. The 1st firing needs to be on the lowest propane setting you can manage without the flame going out and for just about 5 min, slowly increasing burn time and temp between firings. 5 firings or so is sufficient IMO, then its ready for melts. This purges any excess moisture still in the refractory. Feel free to check out some of the casting videos I have and hope to see you as a subscriber! :)

yep

I have a video on how I made my furnace

Sweet. The aim of the channel is to do things "on the cheap" when it's feasible :)

best thing I ever made, is awesome

I always do my best to follow up with questions that are asked :)

nope, made from materials from a baby carriage someone was throwing away

Possibly your thick crucible is acting as a heat sink, not sure what type of furnace you have or how well its insulated but try upping your fuel. If push comes to shove add forced air and you should be able to easily melt and pour brass with forced air ~ Richard

Interesting. I have a video about how I made my furnace, can be made for about $10.00 I think if you put a lid on your furnace with a 4" hole to add aluminum and for venting you can get your metal to liquid state

I have not tried that, interesting idea though! If you try it let me know the your results

Nice! Good luck with your new furnace!

@@MakinSumthinFromNuthin, thank you-I always appreciate your work. Waiting for new burner-today or tomorrow perhaps, built the furnace then issues with old burner right afterwards-decided to order a new one that uases air pressure as mine needed a blower and I am not intelligent enough to do one without.

Is 1 melt a single heat/cool cycle - YES It is the heat cycle that is the issue, not cool down time, the aluminum is also slightly caustic to the steel and degrades it

Good to know, thanks! My 1st welder....

YW!! Thanks for Watching. Consider Subscribing! :)

How would you add a spout?

Genius. thanks I'm doing that tomorrow

all day long

Are you using a charcoal type furnace and an air source to superheat the furnace? I will address your questions once I hear back from you.

Yes, It's just a brick foundry. Octagonal shape about 18" high, I just used some extra 6" paving bricks I had lying around. For now I'm using the blower motor out of an old hair dryer through a 1 1/4" pipe.(only one side for now) I was using traditional grilling charcoal briquettes when it failed and I think I had it too hot as the blower was at max speed, though I did not check the temp. I know that charcoal has a higher energy value and burns hotter more consistently than wood thanks to the additives. But also read it's not as hot as lump wood charcoal? Not sure what the best source for burning goes (charcoal traditional, lump, or just wood) as I'm new to this and only doing small projects for now...so trial and error is expected. But it's fun to be working on something that doesn't require a grinder, welder, or planer for once. So I may end up investing in a better (propane) foundry and just ordering a few graphite crucibles online. Will for sure be picking up a non contact thermometer in the near future if you have any recommendations on them, or any other temperature gauges.

The reason why I asked about the fuel source is that charcoal and even wood furnaces get wayyyyy to hot for melting simple aluminum, especially with forced air (hair dryers) and other blower units. Overcooking steel crucibles causes them to fail prematurely...even mine fail but I just replace them cause I get the extinguishers free but not everyone can do that. The green propane tanks are really thin...I bet they dont last long. If you plan to do it a while...construct a propane fired furnace, invest in a clay/graphite crucible and for temp control use a K-Type Thermocouple. I have videos on making furnaces and burners, the rest is up to you. Move away from charcoal and wood....go propane :)

25mm is about an inch....so its rather small. Those are usually used for precious metals as they wont hold a whole lot

I subbed.

Might be tough but worth a try!!!!

I have never seen a plastic cup in one.....it needs to be removed somehow. I would avoid melting it out as it may leave plastic residue

Casting humor...love it! 😊

Thx for watching Wil!

Or crucible makers that are mad that hes showing a cheap way to do it.

@@zachwhyte6040 "CRUCIBLE MAKERS HATE HIM! LEARN THIS ONE WEIRD TRICK TO MAKE A CRUCIBLE!"

Any type of steel bolt will do

Given the gentle heating nature of an electric kiln I wouldnt be surprised if you were to get 15-20 uses out of one of these...possibly more...speculation on my part The harsh environment of a propane burner heating the crucible unevenly is what causes these to fail prematurely. The most I have gotten is around 12 melts but usually 8-9 is the long term average Please share your results if you use one. Thx

+Louise Alcott Thank You! Send pics of yours if ya make one!

No need to quench steel crucibles, once they fail they fail....could be repaired by welding but not worth it in my opinion

I like free! :)

Why so lucky? Aren't they good as scrap metal once they've passed their due date?

They get the job done! :)

I used one the other day as a funnel when I changed my oil in my truck! LOL :)

+Makin Sumthin From Nuthin That's the first thing I thought of, a funnel. Good stuff, thanks for sharing this.

Thank you for watching Dave, consider subscribing if you haven't already :)

@@MakinSumthinFromNuthin could you weld feet on the part you cut off and use it as a crucible if you put a pipe plug in it or welded something over the inlet?? just curious

have never seen a lid used on a crucible, it is not needed

Its real easy, just pull the pin going thru the handle and point nozzle and pull up on the handle. They make a mess so do it in an open area. I have another vid where I discharge one...you can see what happens here...its another crucible making video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z7Ceabl71p_RqWg.html

Use a wrench and open the top where the gauge is at so it can let it go just do it at a non populated area because of the bad dust or just spray it like crazy and finish it i hope I help

Thanks Luke :)

From a fire extinguisher company. These are out of date ones that cant be re-certified and rented back out. Have a friend that works there :)

Thanks!

Yes, they would work as well. I am a bit leery about cutting open one of those myself tho. Take all safety prevautions if you plan to do that k

Fire extinguisher companies have lots that cant be recertified for use :)

I have 5 in my shop that I picked up off the side of the road on garbage day...

I would purchase a clay/graphite crucible to do iron

For maybe one/two melt. I have melted copper in these, 2070 is doable if you have a good furnace