Before blast furnaces, wood and charcoal were often put into copper and brass because it prevented the bubbles. The bubbles are dissolved oxygen that come out of the copper when it solidifies. Maybe use some artcivated carbon or charcoal sticks in the molten copper?
Nice little furnace. I built one similar a few years ago and it worked great for Aluminum. I melted some brass and bronze, but the wire oxidized so bad, I only got about 4 bronze melts until the wires failed. I would be interested in how long this holds up. Some charcoal will keep the O2 level down and help with oxidation of the wires and with the copper.
Do you know what wire you used? My experience with low grade nichrome wire was the same, but this Kanthal wire is just night and day difference when it comes to corrosion.
Its very feasible, I bought the cheapest controller, so Im not sure if it can do the ramp up and ramp down temperatures you would want but if you find a proper controller I dont see why you couldnt use this kiln body for ceramics
Steel would be very tricky to melt in a kiln depending on the alloy. As the carbon content of steel rises, the melting point lowers. So ill probably try melting cast iron, but steels with a lower carbon content (softer steels) would be much more challenging because Im at a higher risk of simply melting my heating element. Im planning on making a waste oil furnace for melting steel anyway and might just wait until that point to do further experiments on melting steel
Before blast furnaces, wood and charcoal were often put into copper and brass because it prevented the bubbles. The bubbles are dissolved oxygen that come out of the copper when it solidifies. Maybe use some artcivated carbon or charcoal sticks in the molten copper?
“I dont think a diagram is necessary here”
You underestimate my lack of confidence 😤
This is probably one of the most comprehensive kiln builds I’ve seen with the exception of the PID electronics construction
Very interesting experiment with flour!
Nice work!
This is a epic video. Idk why it has not got more views
Nice little furnace. I built one similar a few years ago and it worked great for Aluminum. I melted some brass and bronze, but the wire oxidized so bad, I only got about 4 bronze melts until the wires failed. I would be interested in how long this holds up. Some charcoal will keep the O2 level down and help with oxidation of the wires and with the copper.
Do you know what wire you used? My experience with low grade nichrome wire was the same, but this Kanthal wire is just night and day difference when it comes to corrosion.
@@SciCynicalInventing They may have been NiCr, it was a while ago. I still have the furnace. I may get some Kanthal and try it. Thanks.
Is it collstly running the furnace 1 hr than furnace running on propane?
Instead of burning flour, you could pipe CO2 or Argon in from a tank to avoid smoking out your garage
Thanks
How feasible is it to turn that inner chamber with these same elements into a kiln for ceramics?
Its very feasible, I bought the cheapest controller, so Im not sure if it can do the ramp up and ramp down temperatures you would want but if you find a proper controller I dont see why you couldnt use this kiln body for ceramics
very cool. will you attempt melting steel in a later video? that would be interesting
Steel would be very tricky to melt in a kiln depending on the alloy. As the carbon content of steel rises, the melting point lowers. So ill probably try melting cast iron, but steels with a lower carbon content (softer steels) would be much more challenging because Im at a higher risk of simply melting my heating element. Im planning on making a waste oil furnace for melting steel anyway and might just wait until that point to do further experiments on melting steel
We have a waste oil foundry, and the only time we melted some copper we made the steel crucible a blob of steel in the bottom of the foundry.