Opinion from a scrap yard’s perspective: Would not suggest creating personal ingots if you’re looking for profit on your scrap. You will have a tough time selling your material and likely downgrading your metal. You won’t be able to certify the metal in your ingots. Smaller yards won’t be able to verify the chemistry and although larger operations could run their tests they will likely downgrade knowing quality won’t be consistent from a garage smelter. Melting is definitely fun, would only suggest if you’re just looking to create cool content online and not looking to profit off this metal.

I am glad you mentioned rigidizer and the risks of using uncoated ceramic wool insulation. For the home builder there is a pre coated product available and I would hope the manufactures would start using it.

you need to heat the molds up as well. or the bar will have spots and cracks, and will splatter.

Nice addition to the program. Remember to preheat your molds to avoid steam explosions. And always wear a respirator please.

Always a good day when Thubprint puts out a video.

I am just getting ready for my first aluminum melt in my Vevor 6kg furnace. I have it all put together and ready. Cant wait to get melting.

A full ceramic mortar coating is better, and you should always preheat your molds to prevent explosions and get a smoother cast. You can always remelt if you get a lot of holes or a bad cast

You need a bimetal pyrometer to monitor temps. Drill a hole 3/4 upper furnace hight and use an angle so the tip 4" of the thermocouple is to the side of the fiber insulation. Use Sodium Silicate mixed with Kaolin powder as an adhesive to seal the probe hole. It makes a decent mortar also. I built about 20 furnaces like yours that could melt 200 pounds of copper.

If the lid does burn out at the opening and enlarge, I think cutting a larger hole (square for ease or round if you are up to it) and replacing it with a piece of stainless steel sheet larger than the hole with the exact same size center hole, held in place with solid steel rivets or steel bolts would end future issues. Use a slightly thicker piece of stainless steel if available. I would imagine that as the original steel erodes, the insulation will also. To cut out the patch, an electric or an air powered "zizz wheel" (cut off tool with a thin a thin abrasive disc, some people call it a "death wheel) cut off tool. Just make sure the blade is in good condition, worn evenly, etc. Thanks for posting this. I just got a notification from Vevor about their stainless steel 12KG model. It looks like the same tongs are supplied.

I got the exact same Furnace and love it. Meets all expectations for my first one.

Yes!! I have this same exact one, and it is awesome. It'll turn silver into liquid in 10 mins or less.

Excited to see you start the metal stack like bigstackD!

Mine JUST got to my door!.... Hence me coming here to see what you had to say about it! I feel a lot more confident in the purchase now. I only paid about $120 for the EXACT same setup. With some of the projects that I have in mind to do, I feel like it was money well spent now. All I need now is another pair of tongs, maybe a couple of different sizes of crucibles, and a couple of different molds (not to mention better gloves)... Thanks for the review buddy! It was really helpful! 👍

This is so exciting, I was hoping you were eventually going to get something like this. can't wait to see how the bars pile up

Love the product rating at the end 🤣

did you temper the crucible first? slowly heat in a domestic oven to dry it out. then heat in furnace to highest temp you plan to use it at, and hold this temp for around 20 min. seems to glaze the crucible and make it last a lot longer without the flaking you saw. experiment with some casting, its great fun!

I look forward to seeing you out in a dumpster and find something you want to melt then run home as fast as you can strip down what ever it is you are melting and get the melting process started later experiment with different molds. This will be a cool addition to your channel.

Preheat your cleaned molds. The porosity was created from traces of moisture or something that gassed out from the heated molten metal.

When you use channel lock pliers to tighten brass regulatators instead of a proper sized wrench you end up rounding off the soft brass & then you will only be able to use pliers. I used to freak out on apprentices if they didn't use a wrench on regulators.

pre heat your molds to prevent metal exploding while you pour. a piece of cardboard between your firebrick and crucible will prevent them sticking.

so... point of safety here.. . If your threads are damage, replace the part. PERIOD. You should ALWAYS use the teflon tape rated for propane / natural gas on your fittings. With temperature swings, come metal expansion, and contraction. The felon is there not only to prevent mismatched threading leaks, but to help combat leaking because of thermal retraction.

I couldn’t believe this product could be good at the price.I am an experienced sculptor used to foundries so would be aware of the H&S precautions and would feel confident trying this out. Especially with the recent innovations in high temperature silicone moulding it’s very exciting. So personally I thank you. Anyone who is not fully aware of all the risks should invest in studying all the issues and processes involved first. This baby is not a toy and when things go wrong they go wrong big time!.

Thanks for the video. Great info. Mine is in the mail along with that ceramic wool rigidizer you recommended. Keep up that good work brother.

I bought mine based on this review. They have improved the lid to keep the insulation in. But the tongs and the gloves are crap as you say. Great fun! And thanks!

9:34 Actually, the ceramic wool will degrade with each subsequent firing without a well applied even coat of rigidizer or appropriate coating. Even the coating will eventually break down and expose the wool. It needs to be periodically maintained. Ceramic wool has been compared to asbestos due to some similarities with those minerals. Your assessment of this product was pretty spot on. Some good suggestions for minor upgrades that would improve the product without terribly impacting the cost. Shoot, they don't even need to make the changes. Just put a slip of paper in the box with your suggestions and let the DIYers do it themselves.

They watch the videos and usually make upgrades according to the u tubers recamendations. They make numerous items.

With discount and coupon, Amazon price went from $249 to $145 with free shipping. Thnak you!!

Got this one for my birthday, it looks very well working

Nice review, now that you have a proper melting station I cant wait to see you start melting stuff - imagine a giant stack of those bars

I have just started scrapping after watching your videos. Doing it using my old car now.. I think this is way beyond me for now. I would like to see a video of how to use the grinder for idiots (like me) to cut metals. Maybe the types available in the market. The do's and dont's too.

Downside of using cast iron molds with copper. I use graphite molds instead and the ingots look way better. You can wire brush the inside of the cast iron molds, but you will have a couple of holes in the end.. Preheat your crucible before using it, that way it will last longer. Now, is it worth it melting every piece of scrap and sell it.. Look at eBay, Etsy and see what some people will sell it for.. 1pound of copper for $35.. For me it’s a fun hobby, so it’s definitely worth it😁.

Nice review Thub! At least you'll be able to keep your shed warm now! 😉😊

I am so happy for you that you got your new toy! Looking forward to a bunch of videos of you making cool, weird stuff.

Havent watched this one yet but stoked to see your new setup up, no word of a lie, I have been watching your pouring videos all morning and I was thinking you needed a new setup, Like bigstackD Casting. Then Boom new video, new setup. Update: great video, I think the porous copper was from moisture in the mould. I tried the Discount code with no luck

Superb! I always enjoy your product review vids, even for products I don't intend on purchasing. Your thoughtful presentation is always welcome, and the videos are fun.

Ahhh, fingertip hose clamp - A booze brewer-kegger dream.

I am glad you posted this video. I am new to this and debated making my own or possibly a purchase like the devil forge(before I saw this). I have most if not all the items needed except the batting and the burner to make. I have noticed many saying “its not worth it to melt down” or “your scrap yard may not take it” but I find my need is a little more of having large sized buckets of copper, aluminum, cast(fan motor ends) that I would like to convert to smaller stacking units. I need more info on useable sized quality crucibles (where to get) and tongs and it would be nice if anywhere had a forum where discussion on the topic could be accessible. Thanks again👍🏽

Harbor freight has those kinds of hose clamps btw. I like them for things that get removed a lot. Like radiator hoses.

ordered one from Devil Forge today. I have a smaller electric one already.

I would say if you're going to work with both aluminum and copper based alloys get two sets of equipment and keep things separate. It doesn't take much of one to contaminate the other. I've built a couple of furnaces before and you could do a lot better if you're willing to build a setup yourself. But for someone that's just getting into casting this doesn't look like a bad first setup and going with this could save you a lot of beginner mistakes in building your own equipment - you want to be safe after all. I'd suspect it won't be that durable though (but still good enough to get your feet wet) and if you do stay with it and decide to upgrade I'd plan on replacing most everything.

Threaded gas connections always always always use teflon tape or PTFE pipe sealant or both. Checking for leaks is good but for Pete's sake do it right then check your work rather than taking shoddy shortcuts.

thumbscrew hose clamps are way cooler(easier to use) than conventional hose clamp fasteners, definitely the way to go. At least u got a solid torch to heat up those tongs to bend it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and observations on this. Aloha

Sending love from Minnesota, Big inspiration to scrap thanks really exciting hobby!

Thank you for the great review! We’re so happy you loved your experience and can’t wait to have you back in the future.

Ooh new toy day! Happy for you mate, looks fun.

thanx thubprint, very well spoken and great explaintion, spot on!!😀😀

Great video, but I have to go back to how you seem to treat teflon tape. Its not used as a sealant, but as a means to allow you to tighten the brass further.

Thank you for this great video, you encouraged me to buy a vevor melting furnace. Just a question with which spray did you spray the inside of the oven and harden the ceramic wool?

I got the 5kg size, I've used it about 10 times and had to customize the burner tip. The hinge weld broke off on it.

This is pretty cool. Looking forward to seeing you melt many things lol

very nice to see a review , just got mine

you can put broken gold rimmed dishes in and melt the gold off.

Thanks Man ! - Great demo and review ! - Well done bro 👍👍👍👍👍

The tongs should be junked. I've seen ones designed so that the part picking up the crucible are at a right angle to the handles and grasp the crucible around the body - much safer. Have fun with your new toy!!

7.8 on the maple scale is pretty rock solid science.

Vevor eh! They got their hands 🙌 in everything. Just bought a distillery kit from them. Haven’t used it yet. I also like melting. Intriguing 🧐

awesome!! that thing will heat up your garage very nicely too

Alot of the comments seem to point to the fact that many scrap yards won't look at melted metals because they don't know the purity. Maybe you could do some videos on how to get your metals more pure?

Awesome review, thanks for posting the review.

Gotta heat them molds before pouring keeps all that crackling and popping to a minimum. Good work

lol that rating system is amazing!

keep the flame below the crucible rim or you may get hydrgen bubbles.

Very cool i have been thinking about getting one of these.

I want one of these to melt both US and Canadian pennies to make some bars.

KOOOL! Now you need a Panda stamp.

cheers, stay learning.

Decided to get the wire stripper you use off your web site .I like it better than the china strippers with motors.I can use this stripper in the field with my cordless drill .Thanks enjoy the channel .

Good review.

Same one I got. The regulator 'tank-side' connector doesn't fit into a blue rhino tank.

My regulator failed on about the 4th use. Won't melt silver anymore. Barely melts copper, but not as hot as it should be for proper pouring. The guage reads 20 PSI but the roar is gone and it just won't melt. The insulation defintely blows off to about 1/2 after 4 uses, thankfully there was a wind. I can save it as it is "Close" to the devils forge and the price was right.

I have one of these. The regulator 'tank-side' fitting won't fit into a blue-rhino tank.

Skraping small amont of copper and brass in down times,is a nice hobby i imagine. Then you can melt it when you have enough material for å bar. Easy to stack,and Save for tougher times,or stack for pension.

They are Beautiful All Sitting Next to Eachother Thub 🤩 I Desperately Want One ASAP Man 🤔👀🛠💪🏼🗑✅

The true question about value here... Is whether or not it improves your sale value of metals. Aka.. send #2 copper as is. Vs. Melting and recasting it and (trying to) sell the ingots

I would really like to have one for repair of some things like broken aluminum trigger gaurds and a few other broken things that you just can't buy any more. I used to work at a foundry in south Florida at a us foundry pouring cast iron man hole covers and rings that the covers went on that was a hot job but I loved it. At the end of our work shift no one could tell what nationality you were every one was black as coal dust . Got stopped by a police officer for tag light being out and he question us for over half hour he had our license and said we didn't match our photos or color he finally let us go but what a jerk hassleing us like that we were hungry and ready to get a bath and go to bed after working 12 hour shift from 2pm until 12 am at night. I believe if he had to work our jobs he would have probably had a heat stroke before he got 5 hours of work done. He had one of those sweet jobs don't get dirty and drink coffee and eat donuts and way way over weight driving around in the AC of a police car . Probably never had a real get down and dirty in the dirt job. And those kind usually think there smarter than a man that really works and gets dirty. That cop said we needed to get better jobs and I said how much do make on your salary and he told me and I said well I make 35.00 dollars an hour for 12 hrs a day he said there's no way I said here's my pay stub I think that's proof enough. And I told him I wouldn't have your job for what there paying you. You have a high risk of getting killed every day for just a few dollars they are paying you .

my old furnace was just made out of steel starting to rust through so I got a Stainless steel one

Try devil forge they have what you wanted or had suggestions for improvement

Have you ever heard of Devil’s Forge products? They have some good kits as well that could be reviewed.

Im going to build 2 forge/ furnaces out of a propane tank and the other out of s helium tank. Goin to get the tools i need to get the job done. I have to by the circular hand saw blade or whatever its kalled. And goin to put 2 or one inches of ceramic wool in them. Then put rigidizer on it . Then light it and coat again with rigidizer. Heavy coats. Then light and dry. Them refracorty cement that withs 3150 degrees. I phat coat maybe inch or 2. Then i coat that when it dry wit satanite thsts rated for 3200 degress. And ima let thstset and dry. Im think aboutmaybe adding an inch layer on the outside just cuz lol. Ima add 2 holes on side next 2 each other but aprat for when i use it forge. The i will addd 2 other holes at the lower part on opposit side for when i smelt them fine metals😂. Just got to figure out how im goin to get some tubes 😂we

The fiber on the bottom where the flame hits will go first. Buy replacement fiber or have it on hand because it will have a limited service life. You'll know when it's done when the side of your furnace starts glowing red.

Once you accumulate a decent amount of bars, I would like to see a video of your trip to the recycling center to cash in. I have wondered how they treat recyclables in this form.

id say it looks like a pretty good starter kit! id love to get one one day! CheeRs Thub

Those aren't for picking up the crucible bro. Those are for adding metal to the crucible. You need lifting tongs and a pouring shank for the crucible.

That's a nice review video, thanks for that. Any recommandations on the sealant ? More specifically brands cause that stuff is certainly called by a different name over here in france, and I wanted to be sure I got the right stuff

Hi, interesting video, I would like to know how long does it take to cast bronze? Thank you

do you actually put the firebrick on the bottom of the furnace while melting? or is supposed to serve as a base for the crucible, when you take it out ? Thanks!

I'm currently cleaning out my shed. I'd like to melt down the old nuts, bolts, screws, and nails, rather than throwing them out. It looks like I need to get a furnace that can reach the 2800-degree Fahrenheit level. My preference is a propane unit unless you talk me into an electric unit. Down the road, I'd like to use the resultant metal to mold various projects. Would you suggest this expensive unit for such a purpose?

Hi! It is good for melting bronze? Can you suggest other ones? Thx!

Hello, what is the name of the liquid that you spray, thanks in advance

Love your channel bro

brilliant.. sound advice

Not sure what to think about this new video. Whether it’s a good thing or not to start product reviews. To me it’s just like my morning news program’s doing the “Steal’s on Deal’s”. If I wanted to be watching QVC or HSN. I’d be turning the channel to it. I’ve come to like you channel for the scrapping & assorted videos not a new Amazon channel. I would much rather see “Thub-n-Wub” open up viewer mail(to which I do enjoy seeing every month or so) & a head’s first dive into a dumpster for two cans than a paid promotion! Sorry for the kinda harsh criticism but these videos are all over YT & I can find them just by clicking blindly. I come here for my enjoyment & knowledge of new scrapping items to look for. Yes I did like the wire stripping comparison but that went right along with the wires from the scrapping.

Yaaaaasss 🥰 🥰 🥰

Where you get your ceramic wool rigidizer ? Please and thank you

Hi, thank you for this very decent review. I just wonder where to find the ceramic wall sealing solution. Is there any commercial product readily available ? Thank you.

I took my grinder on it and it's silver underneath and Sparks a little bit but not a lot

Hey did u find that the double valve to the propane tank , the male connect is longer then the average male pol connector

Hi. What spray did you use to crystallise a fibre? Thanks.

I'm looking to be purchasing a smelter soon and I'm just curious as to what size yours is it seems close to the size I'm aiming for I have an electric smelter from vector but it doesn't have the capacity I'm looking for

Good review! Ceramic “ridgidizer “ what exactly is this spray you use to harden insulation? Something off the shelf from hardware store?