It's always an exciting day when you get to melt! Thanks for the comment!

Thanks for the comment! The way I make my shorts from the long video makes it tough to show everything in one clip, check out the full length video to see the final ingot!

Thank you!

Thanks!

Thanks for the pointer! With how this mold fared, I'd guess that you are correct and I could get better results from another type of mold! An aluminum mold would definitely be tough to work with unless I work with a metal that melts at a lower temp, could be fun though! Thanks for the comment!

Thanks for the comment, friend! I'm not too worried about the cost of gas as I greatly enjoy melting as a hobby! You're right though, if I was trying to make money I'd be in trouble!

If you want to waste a lot of nickels go for it.

You absolutely can! Melting down soda cans is a fun way to get into melting, and they liquify pretty fast! Keep the cost of gas in mind, and consider whether you need the nickel back out of them or if you don't mind melting them down for fun!

Thanks for the comment, friend! I'm not too worried about fuel or time, I melt down for the fun of it and greatly enjoy doing so!

Thanks! I will try!

It's the forbidden food!

Thanks!

I'm happy to answer your questions! You are correct, the matter being scooped out is slag, I know it's slag because the impurities tend to either float to the top of the molten metal or sink to the very bottom, depending on density. So I'm for the most part removing all of the slag that is less dense than the aluminum! And the cooling with ice and/or water is purely because it gives off a satisfying sound and takes a lot less time than it would to wait for it to cool with air! There isn't really any practical benefit when pouring ingots aside from time and the fun of watching the ice melt and then boil off!

@@zestyjonssmeltery321 I appreciate your reply. I have access to a fairly good amount of scrap aluminum. I mostly just drag it down to the scrap yard. But some of the smaller, better quality aluminum I’ve considered melting into ingots. Heavier bars in a smaller package just seems like a better way to make money and a lot less likely to cut my hands open like the big, jagged stuff. 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻

Could be a more efficient way to handle the bars! It would be worth asking if they pay a different price after you've melted it or not, as the exact alloy composition could change after you've done so, not sure if it would be significant. Also factor in the cost of gas! Best of luck if you go after it, melting is fun!

@@zestyjonssmeltery321 the scrap yard said they pay the highest price for 6063 bare scrap Aluminum. But by my melting it down, it takes away their ability to grade it because the item has been melted. They said they get so many varied scrap items it would be impossible to determine the metallurgy of each item. So I would actually lose money by melting it down. Same for other high grade scrap metals. Factoring in the cost of a new crucible, gas, etc. I’d be losing money. What I can do is melt down the lowest quality aluminum I get and sell it for the lowest price. But it’s really more of the fun factor in this than making a premium on my castings. Thanks for your thoughts!

Thanks for sharing! I wouldn't say this has any financial benefits, I'm willing to accept the cost for the fun of it! The tanks of propane I use are about $20 each and usually last 3-4 melts!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Great question! I think my grandparents found it on etsy somewhere. If you look up "graphite chess mold" you might be able to find it

That's a pretty good name! Liquid copper is definitely my favorite metal to pour

Probably everything, hah!

@@zestyjonssmeltery321 i hope not. Keep up the good work. I enjoy these kinds of vids.

I'm glad you like them! I'll do my best to keep em coming!

Thank you I appreciate it! That would be cool but I don't know that I'm good enough at casting to be making them for KZfaq yet! Good luck to you reaching 1000 subs!

Thank you!!

I have not but that's a great idea! I'll have to look into that!

@zestyjonssmeltery321 I have a 3d printer. If you want I can print something and send it to you

That's cool! Maybe sometime in the near future!

Great question! It is definitely cheaper to just buy them, this was just for fun to practice making different shapes within castings!

Thanks for the comment, Friend! I'm not trying to make money off of melting anything, this is all for fun as a hobby and that's worth it to me! This also puts the pieces in a more convenient form to do custom castings!

Thanks for the comment, Friend! It is still the same alloy of aluminum, just in a more convenient form!

​@@zestyjonssmeltery321you did not get it, did you?

Is cast aluminum worth less

oxid Alu

Right? It's always a good time! Thanks for the comment!

Very cool, I'm glad you liked it thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks! That mold is made of graphite!

Duct tape fixes all

praise the divine duct tape @@zestyjonssmeltery321

absolutely! I already have a replacement!

That is graphite! You can buy blank molds to shape yourself although graphite is a bit of a pain to work with. I believe this one was machined on a CNC mill.

Ok bro.

Why not both? :D

Thanks!

Thanks!