Scope
I intend to build a furnace that is capable of melting aluminum for the purpose of casting. The goal of this project will be to produce 20 one pound billets of aluminum.
The Components
- Furnace
- Use old water heater tank (its free)
- DIY Refractory cement (sources located and cost estimated)
- http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/refractories.html
- The refractory mix is composed of Portland cement (1.5 parts), silica sand (2 parts), perlite (1.5 parts) and fireclay (2 parts).
- Plinths
- Cast with same material as furnace
- Crucible
- Research options
- Possible used my old steel scuba tank
- Tool to remove the Crucible from the furnace
- Will build after I decide on the crucible
- Tool to poor the Crucible
- Will build after I decided on the crucible
- Propane/Oil Burner
- Research options
- Really like the burner used by Doug from SV Seeker
- Forms for Aluminum Billets
- Scrap Aluminium
The backyard site is useful and there are a couple of books too such as the Dave Gingery series and the flowerpot furnace book. Here's my articles on casting, the early ones look at the tools http://workshopshed.com/category/techniques/castingarticle/