Any metal casters near Kingsport, TN?

chucketn · Jul 26, 2014

I am having trouble setting up my furnace to melt aluminum for several items I want to cast. I'm sure it's just beginners problems. I did fine melting in a bean can or whatever I could find in a bucket of charcoal.
Now I have built a proper furnace from a propane bottle, have a good crucible and a propane burner. Just can't get it all to work together.
Anyone near by that can/is willing to look over my setup and tell me what I'm doing wrong?
I'd be forever greatful...

Chuck (him what's given up for today and gone inside for an adult beverage...)

werowance · Jul 28, 2014

Chuck, i am in Lebanon VA. i am not a very good caster however i have no problem melting aluminumn with my setup. i just lay up my oven out of firebirck (from my moms pottery business) and use my propane burner. in about 45 mins i have molten aluminumn. if you want to stop by some day id be glad to show you my burners. just built an oil burner that seems to work well however i havnt ran it long enough to melt anything. but the propane one works just fine.

again i stress i am not a good caster as i have yet to pour anything that came out like i wanted. witht he exception of a few knobs and hand wheels that were basic shapes.

did you get hit with any of the tornadoes last night?

chucketn · Jul 28, 2014

We made it through the storms with no damage, but lots of damage all around us.
Lebanon isn't that far away, I might just pay you a visit one day. I'd like to see your oil burner. Let me know a few days in advance when you're going to run it again.
It seems the majority vote on my problem is the tank was running low. I'll get it refilled and try again.
Thanks for replying, werowance.

Chuck

werowance · Jul 29, 2014

sure, id be glad to show you, i dont know when ill be casting anything but id love to melt some aluminum if not for the fun of it at least ill pour some stock for turning or something.
here is a link to where i got the plans for my oil burner http://www.alloyavenue.com/vb/showt...d-the-quot-Kwiky-all-fuel-foundry-burner-quot i have only done a few test burns so far but got hot quick. it siphons waste motor oil out of a 5 gallon bucket with ease.

and here is a link to the propane burner i made, they show using flares on the tips but i never do and i use this burner alot outside the furnace for heat treating and just about anything else i need to heat up quick.. this burner will flameout if i really throw the gas to it but does great as long as i dont get carried away with the propane regulator knob

http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/oliverburner1.html

how are you at ramming up patterns in sand? i would really like to see that done up close and learn more about that?

chucketn · Jul 29, 2014

I'm just starting out with mold making. I've built a molding bench, and have 2ea 5 gal buckets of green sand mixed up. One was way back befor I found bentonite, and is mixed from pulverized kittl litter. The other bucket is proper greensand with bentonite.
I have made a few patterns for things I want to make and a set of Gingery shaper patterns made by a friend.
I have rammed up molds for practice with both sand batches, and find the kitty litter mix a bit better!
I have only made one flask so have to dump the mold to ram another.
I'm off on another project at the moment, making hobs to make gears, but the blanks for the gears will be cast aluinum.
Still have to refill the propane bottle to melt more alum, and make another flask.
LOL, think I'm coming down with Adult ADD!
Been working on getting ready to cast for several years, so what's another few days, eh?

Chuck