POOR MAN’s CRUCIBLE - SIMPLE DIY $0.00 COST - MSFN
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 พ.ค. 2016
- Make an easy to fabricate crucible from fire extinguisher for an aluminum foundry. A Start to Finish Video
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MSFN = Makin Sumthin From Nuthin - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Story time! I made one of these like 4 years ago and I was doing some aluminum smelting. It had worked really well in the coal furnace the last two times, and me and a buddy were about to do a third burn. At this point, the steel was quite oxidized, but we weren't all that worried. We got it burning and started melting cans. Suddenly, the fire got much hotter and much brighter out of nowhere! It was so bright, it was hard to look at! The chemistry savvy among you may already know what happened... Iron oxide + aluminum + heat = thermite. Anyways, we turned off our crappy billows and let it burn itself out. In the aftermath we found that the whole bottom of the crucible had melted. As had the sand and plaster bottom of the furnace which had vitrified. Stay safe out there.
I recently has a similar experiencia. The still in the extinguishers IS not reliable.
This is crusible can survive for melting Magnalium?
I'm glad you were up front and explained how they only last for a bit and then spring a leak. Of all the casting videos I've watched, I haven't noticed anyone explaining that they do not last very long.
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! :)
Seriously. Thank you for no fillers here and just getting straight to the point.
The average person tries too hard with informative videos when we just want to know what the heck to do.
thanks!
thank you for not only showing all the steps, but for showing other things to use if someone cant get an extinguisher at first.
i subbed, and i cant wait to start smelting.
Thanks for the kind words and welcome aboard! Metal melting is great fun...be safe!! :)
Your wing nut design for pouring is exactly how I pictured making mine. Love the lifter design, exactly how I'm going to make mine (probably from rebar). I have an unused bollard. Its at least 1/4" thick by 4 feet long. I'll cut it and get steel caps welded to the bottom. Many crucibles.
aweaome
I got plenty of fire extinguishers. I used them whilst making rocket stoves for my Vanuatu friends. I never thought of smelting, but now I want to smelt the brass valves from the rocket stove outers which are lpg bottles, so I might use a used fireman’s breathing tank as it will be thicker.
I enjoyed your video, many thanks 😊.
Nice. Thanks for sharing. I like the tool you made to pick the crucible up with.
What a great video! Just great video! Thanks for all the information, demonstration, and no music!😘😘😘😘😘😘
This was a really nice video glad you posted it.. Also I'm very glad that you mentioned that same extinguishers are made of aluminum.. I made that mistake on my first try, luckily I caught it as it was melting and was able to remove it. another thing I have used as a home crucible is a steel pipe nipple with a cap on the end.. this works rather well and lasts a while since its thick steel. Thanks again enjoyed watching this.
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
*I've seen people building these for decades, always wanted my own and it looks like this summer I'll get to it.*
We appreciate your wisdom. I'm going to cast aluminum rings with cubic zirconia. This helps a ton thank you
Thank you for sharing, sometime I hope to make a video and show how I make my crucibles, but I think yours is easier to make.
YW...... I find them to be a cheap, easy & reliable crucible
For a tipping handle you can drill a hole in bottom lip and attach any type handle with bolt and nut, clamp etc.
True. But it will propably also become hot. A detachable handle would be nicest.
Great little tools you made i am just trying to figure mine out, gave me some great starting points
Glad I could help
Thank you for the clarification. Grant Thompson only glosses over the fact he used a fire extinguisher and mentions nothing of the size or making handles. Thumbs up from me for this one buddy...
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 :)
I had a friend who lost 3 fingers when his angle grinder blade exploded. Absolutely a true story. Wear leather gloves, and a face shield, when using that cutting tool. That thing is spinning much faster than you think. You have been advised.
Thanks
Roger that.
Good to know. And will do, as although you may find this a bit strange but I prefer NO disfigurement over some or any.
Great vid,noshit music, simple language, direct and to the point.ty
Thanks for this!! I use those as tanks for. O2, argon, and nitrous, and now yeft
another use!
Glad to help!
great video. while on the subject of fire extinguishers, like you said, not all extinguishers are the same. Far safety reason, people should study FEs and learn which one has the rating for this kind of work. I just think safety is important. Great video again!
Thanks Michael, great point and thanks for commenting on it! :)
Just subbed 👌love the way you explain and the editing love from the UK
Thanks Zack! Cheers from across the pond! :)
Great Video man, thank you for the demonstration...
Thanks friend ~ Richard
very nice video, great info. thanks for sharing.
Thanks Rusty
Some great ideas there. Thank you sir.
You are very welcome, I hope the videos I put out are helpful to others. Welcome aboard :)
Excellent video. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks & You Are Welcome. I appreciate ya watching!
Lucky you, getting free fire extinguishers. I think I'll end up making mine from steel round or square pipe and have my uncle weld the bottom to it. Love Frankenstein bolts idea :)
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! :)
Propane cylinders work too. Be sure to empty the cylinder first!
The bottom of those extinguishers have a lip, they are not flat. A hooked bit of rod could fit in there for a pour tool.
I cut some propane cylinders in half with a hack saw, and a sawsall would work too, if you don't have an angle grinder.
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...
Super informative video. Thanks!
Thanks!
So simple thank you
Thank you for this im going to watch everything you have on this subject. Do you have the poor mans furnace?
.....this is good for beginners , thanks nice video .
Thank you :)
Just come across your channel and I love it, you earned a sub
Thanks Ethan, your subscription means a lot to me. Sometimes I question if my videos have value to others. I appreciate ya! :)
Thanks for the ideas.
Awsome, I just watched ur making of a foundry and i have been melting for a couple months now. I liked the idea of U using Perlite an Portland cement so i cut my self a propane tanke for my foundry and i used 60 percent cement and 40 percent perlite i HOPE I DIDN'T MESS UP BY DOING THAT ILL KEEP U INFORMED. Its still curring. But i like ur videos alot u explain things well u keep things simple ect not like most of youtubers on this subject. Keep making more videos say if u try to melt steel so us, just saying lol. but keep up the work dude.
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! :)
Can a crucible be made out of the little gas tank in the background i have a couple left over of those thats why im asking thanks for the help
Great vid, found this by accident. Glad I did !
awesome!
brand new to the metal melting.. so i have a graphite crucible, just wondering about the procedure for cleaning it. once i melt and pour the metal, do i clean it while ots hot or when cold and whats the best way to go about it.. thanks for any info..
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
What I use is square tubing I find then for about $3 at the junk yard works better than fire extinguisher
Sure, that would work great too. I get fire extinguishers free so.... 🤗🎉
Thanx for the great advice nice vid
YW!! Thanks for watching & Happy Holidays! 😊🎉
I have a extinguisher that feels like it has a rubber or a plastic covering so I'm not sure if it's aluminum because the magnet doesn't stick
Many thanks. Much appreciation to you.
Thanks for watching!
Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
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.
Thanks for the video.
Thanks, I appreciate you watching! :)
If I was trying to melt a little bit of gold like 5 or 6 grams can you use half inch black steel gas pipe cap as a crucible? And if you can will the gold stick to the steel cap inside?
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
Just imagine if u had a drill press. Btw You helped me out a lot thank you.
Would the crucible grave yard be slightly less populated if you were to rotate the crucibles while inside the furnace so the propane burner isn't always focused in the same spot every time? Maybe rotate the crucibles by 90-degrees per melt?
Every little bit helps! Great suggestion! : )
What would happen if i added salt into the mixture of steel making it feel like putting salt on your wounds?
Great video!
Thanks Tony! 😊
Thank you for the knowledge. I am a new subscriber. I have a question if I may? Have you ever tried to use two cylinders, a smaller, one inside of a larger, one with concrete or plaster and sand sandwiched between them to make a reinforced crucible? I would rather have you give me your experience and what may go wrong if you did then me wasting precious time making mistakes that someone already made. If you have them that you give me an answer I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much. I learned a lot today.
I have not tried that, interesting idea though! If you try it let me know the your results
Great video mate really enjoyed it
Thanks, hope it helps give ya some ideas 😊
Why not a smaller steel inside a larger steel one? Would the inner one last longer?
made it real clear thank you
Thanks, hope it helped. Consider subscribin! :)
I've used soup cans for aluminium, if you are careful with handling it you can just about get 1 pour out of it. (charcoal furnace)
yep
Simple DIY $0.00 cost
Materials required: *Rock from Pluto*
Great video
I like the extension handle on the angle grinder
Very easy to do, a bar & a bolt :)
Now that is simple and very easy to make. keep using the KISS method
I know it’s an old video, but where could I find old/depleted fire extinguishers?
Can you do brass with that in coal forge from a campfire with a blower into it. I want to try that have lots of brass.
I subbed.
Might be tough but worth a try!!!!
I like that you took a few seconds to demonstrate the mock-up.
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! :)
Interesting rig for the angle grinder @ 10:20 Maybe it is common but I see it for the 1st time. Is it comfortable for precise cuts? Isn't your left hand in the line of sight?
best thing I ever made, is awesome
Thank You Loader. I'm not free yet but I can't wait to be on my own. Now I need to know how to make a poor mans furnace and would a small propane tank or a large one when it comes to metal aluminum?
I have a video on how I made my furnace
Thanks for the video. What does eg 6-8 melts mean? Is 1 melt a single heat/cool cycle, doesn't matter how long it's hot and how much aluminum is melted while hot? What if you cool the crucible down slower, will that extend lifetime?
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
Been using old cast iron pots with the handles cut off and bolts to lift/lower. They last a decent amount of time. I've burned right thru anything less in one or two pours and it's too dangerous to risk. No welding tools so I really do make something from nothing. Did buy a graphite to do copper in. Last years cast pot is done for I think and not sure I want to try it in my newly built melter so....
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.
My extinguisher has a plastic cup on the inside should I burn it of or scrape it out
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
about how many firings can you get out of this kind of crucible? I'd be using it in an electric furnace to melt aluminum
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
I've been using a compressor I pulled for an old a/c window unit. It's about the same size as your average fire extinguisher. It has a thick centerpiece rotor which I've had no luck removing and the walls are thick. I'd say 1/4 inch. I've been able to soften aluminum but have not been able to actually pour liquid from compressor. Could it be the walls are too thick?
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 $10.00 I think if you put a lid on your furnace with a 4" hole to add aluminum and for venting you can get your metal to liquid state
Well this is the exact thing I was looking for I'm just starting and know what to do but am pretty poor in terms of making them
Thx for watching, Some steel pipe with a solid base welded on will work too, dont use galvanized tho! :)
Great video :)
Thanks!
The solid bottom plywood base would be better if left off to improve and not restrict the cooling airflow for the transformer. The base of the welder is large open screen for that reason. I do like the wheels mounted on the front vs. the back, as you can wheel it closer to the wall and easily retrieve it back out.
Good to know, thanks! My 1st welder....
what happens if you quench it in oil i mean is it possible to re-temper a crucible?
No need to quench steel crucibles, once they fail they fail....could be repaired by welding but not worth it in my opinion
great video man you saved me 60$ once again
Sweet. The aim of the channel is to do things "on the cheap" when it's feasible :)
I found a 40x40 mm diameter graphite crucible online, what exactly is the size of a 40x40mm diameter crucible? Is it the size of your hand or what and what can you possibly put in it to melt?
25mm is about an inch....so its rather small. Those are usually used for precious metals as they wont hold a whole lot
How do you heat it?
For heavy duty crucible use industrial gas tank.
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!
What's a good thickness for a crucible? I was using one of those green mini propane tanks as I have access to them in abundance. They seem as thick if not maybe a little thinner than an extinguisher...Well I got one burn out out it before the bottom flange stand started to flake and crumble. On the second burn it failed. I probably got it too full and frankly just too hot. Was glowing a lot more this go around. Went to check the level and it was all trash. A look on the side revealed a pool of molten aluminum oozing out.
Back to my question, I was thinking about steel casing, but don't know if it will be too thick and not worth the time to use and maintain a good internal temperature. I want it wide enough to scoop the trash out while I'm working so I don't have to do several pours on one ingot. And as I'm using a lot of aluminum cans, there is plenty of trash in my first burn.
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 :)
How could you add a spout to it?
I have a ton of brass shell casings, will that work for brass??? J
all day long
Frankenstein bolts hey... nice ty good idea
Thanks!
how would i make a lid for this
crucible. great vid!
have never seen a lid used on a crucible, it is not needed
thanks this helped! :)
I have a new & improved video on these uploaded just 2 days ago :)
wonderful video and description. did you cast that grinder handle bar yourself ?
nope, made from materials from a baby carriage someone was throwing away
Awesome idea. One thing I might do differently, well actually just add to what you've done. Would be to hit one end that's 90° out from the bolt holes outward. That way you give the molten metal to sure path from it. Would just allow for easier and more accurate pouring.
How would you add a spout?
Genius. thanks I'm doing that tomorrow
how do I discharge the extinguisher? i have one i'm looking to turn into a crucible but don't want it blowing up in my face. any help would be appreciated. thanks
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 th-cam.com/video/1Jn6VJq9my4/w-d-xo.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
I love the video, but where/how do you get your free fire extinguishers? I watched the video through and through, but I haven't seen any free ones near me.
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...
Is a sizzling plate(made of cast iron) good enough material for crucible??? Plus its thick.
It should work ok, give it a try :)
thanks
Have you tried the frying pan yet?
Good to know, thanks
Thanks for Watching Grant
good job!
They get the job done! :)
Very cool. I'm hoping to cut open some old big 20-25 gallon propane tanks to make a smelter. We have an old extinguisher that I have to check to see what it is. I'm thinking of making mine as long as I can so I can melt cat food cans at a time. How many melts can I expect to get out of one crucible? Also, do I have to add any sand/plaster to the propane tank walls or can I just use them as is? Thanks.
How many melts depends on thickness of the extinguisher as well as how much heat you expose it to. You only need enough heat to melt the aluminum, no more...no less. I generally get a minimum of 8 melts and have gotten as many as 14 or so. My worst was about 4 melts but I cooked the crucible melting brass...LOL
I have a vid on how I lined my furnace if ya wanna check my other videos....I dont use sand/plaster in my aluminum melting furnace
Thanks, I looked at the video and as you said you did line it. I was hoping to not have to do that so I wouldn't have to spend to much money, as I have all the other parts just laying around here and I don't know if I have any drill bits big enough to get through the lining for the pipe. I guess I'll have to open my wallet a bit =)
Dont get me wrong....you CAN use an unlined furnace...it will work but wont be as efficient on propane fuel usage, melt times will be much longer. Also, it wont have any protection from the heat and will eventually destroy the furnace over time :(
What kind of bolts do you use? Stainless grade 8 or just steel?
Any type of steel bolt will do
Will an old empty propane tank work too?
sure, the small ones will work as well, not as thick as extinguisher tho
Very nice.
Thanks Luke :)
I'd be curious as to the reuse ability ratio (per pour) between aluminum and a higher melting point metal like copper or brass with these extinguishers as crucibles. Essentially, is it worth trying these crucibles with copper or brass pours or would you stick to aluminum?
I have melted brass in an extinguisher crucible that was new but it truly cooks them good. You may get 2-3 melts if lucky. They are good for aluminum if you dont go overboard using forced air with your propane...I avg about 8-9 melts doing aluminum before needing to replace them
That is helpful to know your experience with some of the other metals. It looks like it may be more economical to reserve these to strictly aluminum and save the copper or brass pours for maybe a graphite purpose based crucible. Enjoying your foundry videos. Thanks for sharing.
You took the words right out of my mouth :)
Thanks for watching!
@@MakinSumthinFromNuthin Can you coat the FE with graphite powder and high temp expoxy mix to extend life? Cost a little more but if it doubles the life, you end up with less work and cost less. Idk
6-10 uses for aluminum
1 or 2 for brass/copper
Thank you I was all ready to go whene I realized that I didn't have a visible so thank you for your time
What about 1/2 inch thick pipe for brass melting? How long would that last?
Longer than an extinguisher!! Depends on the heat its exposed to! Thanks for watching & Happy Holidays! 😊🎉
@@MakinSumthinFromNuthin Yes Merry Christmas to you.
I love your frugality. So, what can you do with the top of the extinguisher?
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 you tried coating inside with boron nitride it will protect the steel from corrosion
Nope, never tried it. Sounds interesting tho 😊
How can i build one to do iron? I have an induction forge
I would purchase a clay/graphite crucible to do iron
Cool. Thanks.
YW!! Thanks for Watching. Consider Subscribing! :)
Hi! Thanks for this simple but great video. I am about to buy an electric furnace. The reason i would like to use a crucible like this is because the volume. I am not sure, but i guess there will be less damage to the crucible compare because in the electric furnace there is only heat, no flames. Funny thing is that, the graphite crucibles here are not very expensive, but we can not buy propane furnace here, and i am not confident enough to build on my own yet. So my question is do you think this kind of crucible would stand longer in an electric furnace?
For the reasons you stated I think these would fare better in an electric since you can dial in an exact temperature. Propane furnaces can get up to 2000+ and overuse of propane can cook a steel crucible quickly. I have videoes on making furnaces and burners if you care to take a look. Where are you located?
Thanks a lot. Yes the e-furnice comes with a thermostat, which is indeed a nice feature. However the max temp is 1200 celsius. Its gonna be ok up to aluminium and its alloys, but copper and brass?... i am not sure if it will be very efficient. The 2000+ you mentioned is F or C regarding the Propane?
Fahrenheit is what I was referring to. Your furnace seems good, only use whats needed to melt the metal you will be working with. 1300 F is a good pouring temp for aluminum. Best of luck, consider subscribing :)
:) yep, i did. I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of question later, because i like to know and understand what i am doing.
I reply to all comments so feel free to ask! :)
i melted a crusible made out of a THICK extinglisher and it melted through. i found a automatic water bowl for cattle made of cast iron and thats what i use now. i use a 55 gallon barroll use wood and a shop vac
Glad U found what works for ya. Wood or charcoal combined with forced air generates way too much heat to simply melt aluminum. Thats why blacksmiths using coal can forge weld steel cause it gets so hot. Can melt aluminum without the air with wood or coal. Thanks for tuning in! :)
Cast iron 2 gallon pot works for me.