Very Simple Aluminum Furnace

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ค. 2024
  • YES I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE WORN SHOES. Any shoe-related comments will be deleted so don't waste your time.
    In today's video I'll show you how I built a very crude aluminum-melting furnace. I generate a lot of aluminum soda can waste (as you may have seen in my video on making Alum), and I've always wanted to have the ability to melt them down into ingots. Why? No real reason, I just thought it would be cool!
    I was actually making another video this weekend, but ran into some problems at the end. So instead I bring you the aluminum forge :) Once I figure out what's going on with my other experiment, I'll certainly be posting that as well.
    Since I've gotten this question a lot, I'll post this here: Soda cans are made from two different alloys of aluminum. I did some digging and found what these alloys actually are:
    Aluminum alloys used for the walls of the can
    3104-H19:
    www.matweb.com/search/DataShee...
    3004-H19:
    www.matweb.com/search/DataShee...
    Aluminum alloy used for the lid
    5182-H48:
    www.matweb.com/search/DataShee...
    (this is for H32 - all 5182's appear to be same composition)
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  • @PoppaBlue59
    @PoppaBlue59 9 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Al melts @ 1220 F. Good job. I did this once, with my Dad's brand new grill and a shop vac/blower. Bad idea, since the grill was made of thick cast aluminum. Not only did I blast furnace a hole in the back of the grill, I set the back yard on fire to boot. However, it did guide me towards a career. I have been a firefighter now for 28 years. I fixed Dad's grill with a piece of metal road sign and some self-tapping screws. He was still awful pissed off at me though. There is just no pleasing some guys. Cheers from Texas.

  • @bigbadgerz3006
    @bigbadgerz3006 9 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I've just gotten interested into melting metals and making ingots and a lot of the videos I've seen have made it look really hard. This video on the other hand, made it look very easy and actually possible, so thanks!

  • @Eytaris
    @Eytaris 9 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    Nice try ;) I've worked in aluminium casting industry, it's pretty fun^^. For safety, I strongly recommend to dry the cans before melting them. a single drop of liquid in the crucible can make it explode (it happens at my work once in a 40 tons furnace, over 6 months of maintenance stop for the furnace, the loading machine and some equiments around. 14 years after the accident, you can see some marks on the walls and the ceiling of the foundry, but fortunately no one had been injured).

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Yikes! Sounds like a fun job.

    • @Eytaris
      @Eytaris 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      mrhomescientist I am a maintenance tech, so I don't work directly in the process. heavy industries like this are heaven for techs, even with the risks. these accidents are very rare, they happen usually when somebody unaware of safety directives throw an empty can, but still wet, into the dried scraps boxes just before the loading. If you like big machines and technologies and if you have the chance to visit an aluminium industry plant, take it, you can learn a lot^^

    • @mr.gabriel382
      @mr.gabriel382 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Same thing happened at a Alcoa plant in AZ. Blew the whole building up.

    • @Fyredrake0470
      @Fyredrake0470 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Learned that one the relatively hard way. I have a tiny bucket forge and was melting a can that still had some soda in it. It was cool at first, until a tiny bit of the hot liquid landed on my forearm. Never again.

    • @leofuckar9964
      @leofuckar9964 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Did you wear shoes there?

  • @TheBackyardScientist
    @TheBackyardScientist 9 ปีที่แล้ว +124

    Very cool crystals on the aluminum. I really like your videos. I hate all the people worried about safety... Just a bunch of unadventurous people scared of their own shadow!

    • @btonkini
      @btonkini 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I totally agree!

    • @prof.esrever7823
      @prof.esrever7823 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Hey it’s the back yard scientist

    • @offroadz4861
      @offroadz4861 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Safety is good for dirt biking and stuff like that but not all

    • @maizedong9729
      @maizedong9729 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Wait till you spill on your feet

    • @brianrausch7757
      @brianrausch7757 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      No we just like making fun of stupid ppl. We would love for u to keep talking too.

  • @campingequipmentcentral505
    @campingequipmentcentral505 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Amazing - never thought about it with the amount of cans we use at my house. Thanks I am going to give this a try!

  • @johnnybolla
    @johnnybolla 10 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    In my experience if you sorta skim off that slag periodically you get a better ingot at the end, I used a steel spoon for that. However, that stuff is protecting the rest of the molten metal from oxidation, so leave a layer on there until it's time to pour. Fortunately it floats.
    I NEVER do this because I HATE safety dinks, but brother, you gotta wear some shoes. Sometimes it pops and little (or not so little) bits of molten aluminum go flying, and if that hits bare skin you'll be very unhappy. And sometimes you dont see where the drops land, and then you step on them in the grass, and well, it hurts.
    Ask me how I know this.

    • @clayyoung6369
      @clayyoung6369 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's late but how do you know

    • @gaburieruR
      @gaburieruR 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      How you know this?

  • @fireandcopper
    @fireandcopper 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    For just slapping some things around the house ya have, it worked surprisingly well, I love things like this where its barebones but effective for some experimentation

  • @zepal76
    @zepal76 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This the best TH-cam video. Who would of thought something this simple
    could cause a riot, must be all the positive energy.
    Keep up the good work.

  • @ocayaro
    @ocayaro 10 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Nice work. You should mention that aluminium melts at 660.3°C or 1220.54°F

  • @pathosbedlam6293
    @pathosbedlam6293 10 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    If you use the metal tubing and the silicone hoses and hose clamps from a front mount inter-cooler setup for a turbo car as the pipping it will be a lot more secured to the hair dryer, and a lot more reliable. Other than that good idea, it seems to work really well. As for what shoes to wear, Mack Boots are awesome, and I've had the pair I'm wearing now since 2008. They still have plenty of rubber grip left, nearly like new actually, and I did security in them for 5 years. They breath very good, and I never get sweaty white spots on my feet from them, but as soon as I wear cheap sneakers for a day it's another story. I love my Mack Boots. Totally worth the $140au I paid for them.

  • @n3rdst0rm
    @n3rdst0rm 5 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    Wife- Honey what happened to my hair dryer.
    Husband- nooooothing

    • @24KGarbage
      @24KGarbage 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      that's exactly what happened with me :)

    • @dioni82
      @dioni82 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.

    • @doirlin9470
      @doirlin9470 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      By far more dangerous than the "clothing issues"

  • @eranxlevi1fan211
    @eranxlevi1fan211 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    you are so creative by using a hair dryer. AWESOME!!!!!!

  • @12101DyM
    @12101DyM 8 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    If you pour the aluminum while it's still hot you get much more turnout. What you said was slag looks like it's mostly cooled aluminum

    • @user-ye2xq6zn2p
      @user-ye2xq6zn2p 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thats what i thought

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Technically it's dross, aluminum that's oxidized in the air. There was a lot of metal still stuck underneath it, though, so a higher temperature and skimming that stuff off would definitely help.

    • @daniellynch7464
      @daniellynch7464 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Reluctant Couch I done this once and I got lots of cooled down aluminium wich I thought was slag
      but was pure aluminium

  • @novaflareq4788
    @novaflareq4788 10 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Dink enough soda cans, and make enough ingots, and you got yourself a house made of tin.
    The world's financial crisis is solved!

    • @PapaFidgey
      @PapaFidgey 10 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Not if you have to buy all that soda just to live in your house of diabeetus.

    • @ABioluminescentRavebat
      @ABioluminescentRavebat 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      agent475816 or scrounge for it around America, we waste so much shit anyway so it shouldn't be hard to find a shit ton of tin Cans

    • @Kirito-tz6fi
      @Kirito-tz6fi 10 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      It's "Aluminium", not "Tin". Tin is completely different than Aluminium.

    • @ABioluminescentRavebat
      @ABioluminescentRavebat 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      Kirito2272 who cares

    • @Kirito-tz6fi
      @Kirito-tz6fi 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      covenent200 I do. I have OCD for words being spelled improperly AND I have Misophonia, so I am even having trouble typing this message.

  • @pointlinesquare
    @pointlinesquare 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Well done capturing this first experiment on video and achieving some melt. I love how every back yard melter invents a slightly different setup based on what's lying around😁. I've been using an air mattress inflater with limited success, I need a hair dryer!

  • @ohmynoun
    @ohmynoun 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As kids, we had many regular campfires into which we'd toss our soda cans and watch them melt. We always thought that was super cool.

  • @joeyhunter...1493
    @joeyhunter...1493 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I have been looking into metal smelting for some time now, and your video has helped me out a lot. Even giving safety tips and precautions (like shoes). Also have you considered cast iron cup in place of steel?

  • @OtisShantyOfficial
    @OtisShantyOfficial 10 ปีที่แล้ว +58

    How the hell did i get here?

  • @Hibbo89
    @Hibbo89 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Im with you lot, I'm so making one of these on the weekend!!

  • @mcguiretime
    @mcguiretime 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    man what a cool video you have here, thanks. As soon as I leave this apartment, Im going to be doing this for sure. Dont worry bout the shoes man, people get to excited over any little thing these days. Take care!

  • @charliewood4158
    @charliewood4158 8 ปีที่แล้ว +119

    Safety 3rd

  • @chaytonruijsenaars3971
    @chaytonruijsenaars3971 8 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    every time we go camping (every once or twice a year) i get all the soda cans in a pile and feed em one by one into a steel soup can and when it cools i usually find that its just a stack of crushed cans that can be pulled apart with a tiny bit of melting going on at the very bottom, I'm thinking about taking an air mattress pump and a steel pipe and feeding it some air, bellows would be way cooler and wouldn't need batteries or be loud as shit, lol I'm the type of guy who will hand make my own bellows out of whatever, car tires and stuff, that should get that camp fire aluminum ingot i wanted all along

  • @robinisrobin3327
    @robinisrobin3327 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    Glad I found your video! I am doing the same thing, just a little different setup. What got my attention was the camping cup. I wasn't sure it would be thick enough but bought it anyway just to try. I know now it will work. Thanks for sharing!!

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Good luck! Mine didn't last all that long, though. It became perforated after just 3 or 4 aluminum melts. It goes with the 'cheapo' theme of the video, but there are definitely better crucibles to be found/made!

    • @MrAmpuja
      @MrAmpuja 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Robin IsRobin I would recommend you to make something like Grant thompson did, with the sand and plaster of paris.

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว

      MrAmpuja I tried making that refractory mix but I didn't get it to work out. It just cracked and crumbled on me!

    • @MrAmpuja
      @MrAmpuja 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      mrhomescientist Did you try to add more plaster of paris? Cement is also pretty good as a substitute.

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว

      MrAmpuja Nah I just tried the one time. Definitely worth revisiting.

  • @cantekdemir1972
    @cantekdemir1972 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    me in summer : Im gonna do this
    me back from summer: What a minute..... i forgot to do something

  • @myriadcorp
    @myriadcorp 10 ปีที่แล้ว +332

    When making a fire hot enough to melt aluminum always wear shorts, sleeveless shirt and bare feet. :)

    • @alecsantoyo3324
      @alecsantoyo3324 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      Lol ^

    • @Leo-pd8ww
      @Leo-pd8ww 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Yolo

    • @driver4562
      @driver4562 10 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Bare feet plus molten metal = hot foot.

    • @cjfata4515
      @cjfata4515 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I know u

    • @danielbandera5070
      @danielbandera5070 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      que saben ustedes!!!!! se hace la fundicion de aluminio en verano, totalmente desnudo!! no arruinar la vestimenta jajajaja

  • @mrspacecase
    @mrspacecase 10 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Also be careful with the fumes. Aluminum Oxide is not something you want getting into your lungs! That, plus the other unknown fumes from the surface of the can - paint, plastic, etc.
    Also, try this with copper and see if you can get an ingot. I suggest getting strands of wire from any nearby construction project.
    Cheers!

    • @axeman2638
      @axeman2638 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      copper's melting point is quite a bit higher than aluminium.

  • @KennethScharf
    @KennethScharf 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I'm amazed that this worked because without any refractory your furnace has zero insulation, most of the heat is probably wasted leaving little of the energy to actually melt the aluminum.
    As far as safety goes, I'd suggest long handled tongs to keep the heat away from your hands, thick gloves, a full face shield, maybe a welders helmet with a good dark visor to protect your eyes from the glare, and that makes it easy to see how the melt is going on. Perhaps a leather apron (like a blacksmith might use), well you get the idea.
    Oh, make sure your mold is sitting on dry sand. If any molten metal falls on a wet surface the resulting steam explosion will send hot molten metal flying, that's when that leather apron will come in handy!

  • @richardbryce4162
    @richardbryce4162 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love the shoe disclaimer/warning in the description :) I like your style.

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks! It's a shame almost nobody reads it.

  • @yorickmori7509
    @yorickmori7509 10 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    Ever since the beginning of the human race, we have been fascinated by fire...

    • @walruzz6299
      @walruzz6299 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wow 5 years ago how you doin now

    • @daffy7313
      @daffy7313 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      azz boi fr

    • @TvConfusionn
      @TvConfusionn 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      How are you doing

  • @jarrettwattenburger1272
    @jarrettwattenburger1272 8 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    You should cover the top of the device. It will melt your aluminum faster by trapping heat.

    • @antonhelsgaun
      @antonhelsgaun 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      would make it less simple

  • @knivesknivesknives
    @knivesknivesknives 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    probably the most simplest method I've seen thanks M8

  • @MicahBurginGTVPO
    @MicahBurginGTVPO 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for telling us about those alloys! I was always wondering what the crap I kept getting from my aluminum was. And you really don't need shoes for this, I think that you'd burn right through them if you touched any of that stuff! Water soaked rags work WAAAY better.

  • @willythemailman3911
    @willythemailman3911 8 ปีที่แล้ว +105

    your feet will heal, if you burn up a good pair of shoes, that's a hunnert bucks.
    I do everything barefoot

    • @megamind_994
      @megamind_994 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      May*

    • @lorigagliano8384
      @lorigagliano8384 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Well when you work with melting lead that isn't a good idea lol proper foot wear is always key even if it means throwing them away after constant use

    • @JAYWLEE
      @JAYWLEE 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      uh no if you get burned the scars won't heal

    • @JAYWLEE
      @JAYWLEE 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      uh no if you get burned the scars won't heal

    • @slevinhyde3212
      @slevinhyde3212 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Actually burns can be way worse if plastic melts on your skin...
      You'd better get your skin to touch lava directly.. Counter intuitive but clothes dont' protect from burning except clothes that are specifically made for that.

  • @Christophersanchez1326
    @Christophersanchez1326 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I made something like this at home and it works. computer hard drives melt down well in this setup.

  • @8188bsck
    @8188bsck 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    That giggle was worth watching the video alone.

  • @zx_burton_xz6017
    @zx_burton_xz6017 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    By far the best smelting video I've seen and u also said how it was made

  • @potheadpickle
    @potheadpickle 9 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    03:13 His happy Evil Genius laugh... Lmao...

  • @bobbrueckner7498
    @bobbrueckner7498 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Try building a rocket stove out of some cinder blocks and put your charcoal chimney on top of it.You may get enough draft through the rocket stove and you may not need the hair dryer.Or you may be able to eliminate the charcoal chimney altogether and melt the cans right on top of the stove.

  • @beefmeats4870
    @beefmeats4870 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks so much for the help I went and bought every thing I needed for this design and made it then I went to the local school dumpster and food a TON of cans so far I have about 8oz of aluminum Thanks again bro!!!

  • @msramakrishnarao
    @msramakrishnarao ปีที่แล้ว

    As you said at the end, I really enjoyed your video throughout. Thank you very much.

  • @maksphoto78
    @maksphoto78 10 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    Ah, molten aluminum. Perfect for pouring into ant nests.

    • @Tom-no4jm
      @Tom-no4jm 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      And onto Madagascar cockroaches

    • @bluehernandez3594
      @bluehernandez3594 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bad waste of metal if you ask me

    • @marionunez9516
      @marionunez9516 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You wasted my time! I wanted back! No design, no creativity, nothing useful.

  • @pingapang8155
    @pingapang8155 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    3:13 the can spat on you for putting it there!!

  • @agrxdrowflow958
    @agrxdrowflow958 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I can't believe the PVC elbow didn't burn up more! I love it. Simple.

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Scott Wolford Yeah it was actually a fair distance underneath the coals, blowing up into them from below. I don't think the video made that very clear.

  • @DIN_NER
    @DIN_NER 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hey man. I love how simple your thinking. Spot on with the hair dryer. heres a vid that I used to make this Furnace last longer :) Blacksmithing Part 18 Making a Brake Drum Forge

  • @RayMAKES
    @RayMAKES 8 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    I like the cobbled together nature of your little foundry. Screw the safety Nazi's, i get them all the time. the reality is the safest thing you can do is NOTHING at all. Your feet, your choice. keep up the good work!!

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      +Ray Pena Thanks! I sort of regret that this has become my most popular video. It was really a last-minute thing that I shot only because the video I wanted to do didn't pan out, so I didn't think things through as well as I should have. I plan on making another aluminum-related video in the future to address the safety issues that 80% of people comment about.

  • @justinryan5433
    @justinryan5433 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    when i was doing this i messed up and had my tongs touch my elbow and left a pretty cool burn mark

  • @Working_Man
    @Working_Man ปีที่แล้ว

    The laugh is the best. Love the video. I have tried this before and I can tell you it works better than you think. Aluminum has 1221F melting point which you can easily accomplish with oxygen force. Anything above that I think you would need other chemicals to get to higher temps.

  • @androidgaming8476
    @androidgaming8476 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is the simplest melting video I have seen that worked

  • @eujeeves
    @eujeeves 9 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    don't forget to inhale this stuff.. aluminium particles is really really good for the brain

    • @bernardosax54
      @bernardosax54 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It'll mainly be carbon and ash since the aluminum doesn't expel into the air. Still not good for you.

    • @eujeeves
      @eujeeves 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bernardo Buttler Haha and I always shake my head at people who wrap fish or meat in aluminium foil and cook it on bbq, all that toxic going into the food.

    • @bernardosax54
      @bernardosax54 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Shame Shame Shame. smh.

    • @bernardosax54
      @bernardosax54 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm talking about how breathing in the smoke isn't good for you.

    • @eujeeves
      @eujeeves 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm talking about how aluminium in everything is just bad in general

  • @NMonterosso
    @NMonterosso 10 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    I donno if anyone has said this yet but you really need to wear a filter mask when doing this aluminum fumes are very toxic I know this because I am a welder and I have worked with aluminum for years. Go to a hardware shop and ask for a mask that is raited for aluminum welding.

  • @daveys
    @daveys 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great test of the low cost, simple concept. I’d like to do some smelting and casting for machining.

  • @elcochipit
    @elcochipit 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    nice and simple experiment, good results! I want to try it...

  • @largol33t1
    @largol33t1 8 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    4:30 - but you forgot to spray the the cookie sheet with Pam!

  • @fixitsamo
    @fixitsamo 9 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    goo job

  • @MrOner07
    @MrOner07 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    3:14 his laugh made me smile...lol..great video sir.👍🏿 will try it out myself

  • @codyterrill5947
    @codyterrill5947 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Next time I would suggest having two furnaces. One for meltdown, the other for the mould. After each melt, I'd suggest transferring the molten aluminum into the 2nd preheated mould furnace held at a higher temperature so that it will stay molten. I was aircraft metals tech in the Air Force. One thing I can say is that what happened to those cans is a reaction called eutectic melting. Basically, 90% of applicable aluminum is an alloy called copper aluminide, or AlCu. The aluminum is trapped inside a matrix of copper which is what gives it its strength. Kind of like microscopic honeycombs or a cobweb. Now what you're seeing when you quenched it is an uneven and rapid cool down. If you insulate the 2nd furnace with firebricks somehow, you'll get better results with the finished metal, especially if you can control the cooling more gradually by turning down the air supply for several minutes. It won't be perfect but it'll be better. By quenching the aluminum, the copper and aluminum rapidly trap in place. The copper has a lower melting point than the aluminum, so if you cool it gradually, the aluminum will set in and harden and allow the molten copper to re-matrix, and you'll end up with a better, more consistent product throughout. Happy moulding!

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Cody Terrill Great info! One correction though: copper's melting point is higher than aluminum. Maybe they behave differently in an alloy. From my research, though, beverage cans contain very little (if any) copper in their construction.

    • @codyterrill5947
      @codyterrill5947 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      mrhomescientist right! It's been a while since I've had my nose in the books. Sorry if I let off some inaccurate information. However it doesn't take too much copper to create that alloy. It's less than 3% in base form I believe. Usually pure aluminum is only found in lab-grade specimens when being tested for other applications. I'd say the majority of other aluminum alloys is AlCu. Since copper is expensive, I believe they may add other alloys into the AlCu, such as tin, in order to create a cheaper cost to produce. Which in turn, will lessen the percentage of copper in the alloy. Now that you mention it, those flakes could be solidified tin. I believe tin is slightly more dense than aluminum which would explain why they sank to the bottom of the melting pot. Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't have my periodic table available :p

  • @twinsmm1
    @twinsmm1 10 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    imagine how much aluminum foil is in land fills.

    • @stargazer7644
      @stargazer7644 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      8.1% of the Earth's crust is aluminum.

  • @jasonwright2641
    @jasonwright2641 9 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Lol i was just about to comment "Man you should really have worn shoes" but then I noticed OP will delete shoe related comments

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Thanks for actually reading!

    • @jasonwright2641
      @jasonwright2641 9 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Hey man ya didnt burn your feet so its all good, if you ever make a video and you want to know if you did anything wrong just put it on youtube. People on youtube love to point out mistakes, yet look at them they are sittin on their computer, NOT making an aluminum furnace which I think is really badass btw

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Jason Wright Yeah no kidding. Nobody reads descriptions or turns on annotations either, which I use all the time to update videos when people point out things I could have done better. Appreciate the comments!

    • @jasonwright2641
      @jasonwright2641 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Id like to make a furnace after making a clay mold so I can make an aluminum paintball gun, didn't think it was this easy so I'm stoked to try it!

    • @millerman33
      @millerman33 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      It was still shoe related oh shit I mentioned shoes

  • @custombikedesigns343
    @custombikedesigns343 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Why so many haters!if he choses to lose his eyebrows in the process of making a TH-cam video that just increases ratings anyhow! Nice video!

  • @fatbongripz4207
    @fatbongripz4207 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    i find it hilarious that this man has been looking for comments about shoes and deleting them for almost a decade

  • @theologyoverwhiskeyandmayb5634
    @theologyoverwhiskeyandmayb5634 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I weld barefoot in my shorts. No problem that keeps you safer anyway. Lol.

    • @eggrollsoup
      @eggrollsoup 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The Hillbilly Home Coffee Roaster yeah its actually safer without shoes because if the molten metal hits your foot it will burn you and also roll off but if there is shoes it will get trapped and cause a major flesh wound

    • @mrrees7076
      @mrrees7076 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      i use safety boots and get zero burns.

    • @isaacthomson683
      @isaacthomson683 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Leidenfrost effect

    • @megazab13
      @megazab13 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes I agree, I've seen very bad burns from welds that when down into your safety boots.

  • @r.livingston7745
    @r.livingston7745 7 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Why not just crush the cans first. One at a time placed in to gradually soften and collapse, seems inefficient.

  • @4WorldPeace2
    @4WorldPeace2 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cool looking glob.
    A shorter extension cord with larger gauge conductors might also be helpful to compliment the hairdryer's cord length so your blower stays efficient.
    Maybe weigh the glob to see what the net weight is per the gross amount of cans?

  • @mrcesarm1031
    @mrcesarm1031 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    that's awsome man!
    Nice job.

  • @CrimsonSkyz500
    @CrimsonSkyz500 10 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    You have the crystals because you didn't remove all the slag.

  • @MrFoniek
    @MrFoniek 8 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    nuuuuuuuuuh not the mtn dew m8

  • @paulgriffin6709
    @paulgriffin6709 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is a great video. Along with melting metals (which is always fun), it reminds me that I still need to get chemical glassware for home use. Anyway, I noticed that you seem to have aluminum oxide (or remnants of the alloy, I'm not sure which) and am curious if you've tried a Hall-Héraolt cell to purify the sample.

  • @DLITT1011
    @DLITT1011 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    very nice :) my furnace has an inflatable bed pump instead, using a solar panel as well as the power source- it doesnt work as well as yours though as mine takes way longer to melt aluminum, great video!

  • @markem9415
    @markem9415 8 ปีที่แล้ว +230

    I'm not sayin' wear shoes next time, but.........wear f*ckin shoes next time!

    • @compoundxzero
      @compoundxzero 8 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      So you are saying wear shoes next time •_•

    • @markem9415
      @markem9415 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Cameron Damon What made you think that?

    • @JANFU_Nova
      @JANFU_Nova 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      +Cameron Damon No he's not. He just said he's not saying that! ;)

    • @hossy540
      @hossy540 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      ha!

    • @tequiladidgeridoo9985
      @tequiladidgeridoo9985 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Mark EM Ban him)))

  • @Submanca
    @Submanca 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I think it would work much better if you used a ceramic crucible and it fit closer to the size of the opening so not as much heat got past the crucible

    • @chevygirlx517
      @chevygirlx517 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    • @daviddawson8406
      @daviddawson8406 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      If it fits closer to the side I think it would allow less air flow which is feeding the high temperature.

  • @bryandrushel1704
    @bryandrushel1704 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the simplicity. keep it up.

  • @jeff1865
    @jeff1865 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    to reduce slag, add common table salt. I found that it reduces the slag tremendously.
    I am about to rebuild my furnace ( old 20# LP Gas tank, past its last fillable date) with 1-inch thick fiber fire blanket (2600F) from amazon cost $7.00. cannot wait to start casting stuff ... and who care what people say about YOUR SAFETY. its YOUR SAFETY not theirs !!! you want to wear shorts, or be nakid so be its YOUR FREEDOM to do so !!! OOH RAH !!!!
    Your idea of the hair dryer is pretty good, I will have to add that to my rig! (thank you for the idea)

  • @jamesnw
    @jamesnw 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The hair dryer was free!? Good find :)

    • @firefox00-7
      @firefox00-7 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yeah he stole it off his Missus bahahahah

    • @gj9617
      @gj9617 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@firefox00-7 only fair, she nicked his shoes for one of her dumb arse projects!! 😁

  • @Landaux
    @Landaux 10 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    its a good thing it didnt splash out of there or POP and burned your bare feet. Safty first dude.

  • @bikingmnviking3801
    @bikingmnviking3801 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    BTW I had heard of this ton in the back pages of popular mechanics... using an old furnace blower. You should be able to score one at a thrift store like axman surplus (rheem has speed control on some of theirs). Squirrel cage fans are also in some air conditioners which would be all over and less power than the furnace but probably more than the hair dryer.

  • @ojol_gameing3849
    @ojol_gameing3849 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    IT WORKED!!!!
    awsome thanks for sharing it

  • @paddyoclown
    @paddyoclown 10 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    i like burning thing too 0o

  • @cfjulian1225
    @cfjulian1225 10 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    The plastic gloves you are wearing are a bad idea is is the idea of no shoes. If you splash aluminum on those gloves, they will melt and stick to your hands, causing a much more severe burn than if you had no gloves on. You should stick to all leather gloves for handling aluminum. No shoes is probably better than laced up shoes. Metal down the laces can really burn you because you cannot get the shoe off easily. You will get a better yield on you aluminum if you crush the cans first. The method you are using exposes the surface to the air as it melts and allows it to oxidize. Crushed cans will allow you to put several cans in at the same time. A top on the melt pot would help keep oxygen out. It would be a good idea to use a refractory coating on the steel pot you are melting in. That will stop the aluminum from sticking to the steel and eventually eating a hole through it. Lacking real flux, you can use table salt on top of the metal to slow down oxidation, just skim it back before pouring or use a skimmer and remove it first. The salt is lighter than the metal and will float.

  • @kevinaldcroft6291
    @kevinaldcroft6291 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I used my garden blower and a metal pipe to put air into an old potbelly stove. Worked well.

  • @jhonunderwood5975
    @jhonunderwood5975 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We had a charcoal grill with aluminum grates. I did a cookout. When I was done I closed the lid on the grill and left it. The next morning there were chunks of melted aluminum under and the in the grill. The grates were gone. I didn't intend to melt them. I don't remember how the wind acted during the night. I'm sure it played a roll in the melting of the grates.

  • @Rusvi1
    @Rusvi1 10 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    I'm gonna try it naked.

    • @PastorMetraiadora
      @PastorMetraiadora 10 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Like HOW TO BASIC?

    • @Rusvi1
      @Rusvi1 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Gabriel Machadi
      Exactly.

  • @Naudrim
    @Naudrim 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    you should have had a lot more aluminum, keep the fire going longer next time

  • @josharchibald1712
    @josharchibald1712 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    One thing i can suggest is changing your setup so that your blower goes into the side of the can instead of the bottom. That way if your crucible fails you wont have bits of molten aluminium spraying into the air. Its also a lot less messy, i used to have mine set up like that and there would be flakes of wood and other stuff flying everywhere.

  • @keith1542
    @keith1542 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I like it, even without your shoes. very easy and rewarding, thanks

  • @Spl1tSouls
    @Spl1tSouls 10 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    how much mounten dew do you drink man

    • @Spl1tSouls
      @Spl1tSouls 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Seth Powell dude why be a dick maybe he drank them on that day

    • @Spl1tSouls
      @Spl1tSouls 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      Jamie McCullough
      good for you

  • @cootjans12
    @cootjans12 10 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Seems you are well protected incase accidents happen

    • @grabba73
      @grabba73 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      y u bein sarcastic. thats rude.

  • @sirdanielsmalley9657
    @sirdanielsmalley9657 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love your approachable style bro.

  • @leshall4063
    @leshall4063 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wicked Cool! Thanks and well made video!

  • @thanhchiem5761
    @thanhchiem5761 10 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    and this video is sponsored by Mountain Dew

  • @jeffreydan
    @jeffreydan 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    just curious, what would be the purpose of doing this? thanks.

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Some people cast scrap aluminum into useful parts. I just did it for fun! Now I have a sweet brick of metal that used to be 40 soda cans.

    • @jeffreydan
      @jeffreydan 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +mrhomescientist lol that's awesome!

    • @waleedcj991
      @waleedcj991 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +mrhomescientist how much time please tell me

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +kate jackson I don't know the exact time because this was a few years ago, but it wasn't very long. Things started melting within minutes of turning on the air supply.

    • @bikingmnviking3801
      @bikingmnviking3801 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Jeffrey Dan Aluminum is super easy to tap and work. Plus alloy some copper in there and you have pretty close to aircraft grade aluminum. Be nice to be able to lost-wax cast a custom bike part... like I need a camera and/or LED light mount to my rockshox because the handlebar stuff gets in the way.

  • @elijah7171
    @elijah7171 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Why is it so satisfying to watch aluminum melt

  • @We_are_the_light
    @We_are_the_light 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    That was amazing.. thanks for posting...

  • @bimey386
    @bimey386 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    put a full can in!

    • @Gwynbleiddsanity
      @Gwynbleiddsanity 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      it's gonna explode and very hazardous

  • @alexchatfield6380
    @alexchatfield6380 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    brah get some shoes nah just joking good video keep it up subscribed ;)

  • @llmwall7
    @llmwall7 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you! I love the simplicity

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Very simple indeed! Just make sure to wear your safety gear like I didn't 👍

  • @squallreviews788
    @squallreviews788 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I need to give this a shot. Too bad I didn't see this like a month ago when stores stared clearanceing summer grilling items. I might be able to find something for cheap.

  • @MrDjvance
    @MrDjvance 9 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    the 2015 ford trucks will be made out of aluminum maby you can melt a ford truck in 2015.

    • @FreedCornet743
      @FreedCornet743 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      wouldnt be worth anything 2nd hand after the depreciation, so he could definatley

    • @rock3tcatU233
      @rock3tcatU233 9 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      And the funny thing is, the melted goo will be worth more than the truck.

    • @theluisanator
      @theluisanator 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      The planes you ride on are made of aluminum and plastic too

    • @tacesinclair9008
      @tacesinclair9008 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Luis Valenzuela The are made from tempered stell lol

    • @tacesinclair9008
      @tacesinclair9008 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Tace Sinclair Steel*

  • @PartykongenBaddi
    @PartykongenBaddi 9 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Shouldn't that be done in a low-oxygen enviroment to prevent it from being turned into aluminumoxide? Aluminum oxidizes really easily, but when in a solid state, it will form a protective layer on top of the pure aluminum and the oxidisation will stop. Because of aluminums low melting temperature, pure aluminum is the most enviromentally friendly material of those used widespreadly, but because stripping oxygen from aluminum takes a shitload of power (about 10 times more than remelting), remelting should be done in a big facility where the conditions are controlled. :)

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Sure, and I lost a lot to oxidation there. Crushing the cans first would help minimize that.

    • @samurphy
      @samurphy 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Good point. CO2 is pretty easy to obtain, and it's heavier than air, so you could fill the crucible with it, though one this small might be harder.. if it were deeper, it would probably hold CO2 better.. You could even generate CO2 at home with Baking Soda + Lemon Juice/Vinegar, capture it in a balloon use that to fill your crucible to keep O2 levels down.

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sean In this setup, it gets difficult because just pouring CO2 down into the crucible would extinguish the coals! You'd need to build some sort of enclosed setup where you could deliver a constant stream of inert gas to the reactants only. I'm actually working out how to build something like that for another project.

    • @samurphy
      @samurphy 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      mrhomescientist The crucible is the bit that the metal is melting in, not where the coals are. If you had a piece of pipe with a valve on it, and a balloon filled with CO2 on the end, you could insert the free end into the melting pot then open the valve. the heat currents would probably keep the air mixing a bit, but if you kept injecting it, and if the melting pot was deep enough, I bet it would settle in there. Just an idea, I've never tried it, but I will next summer when I get to melting. Or it might all be just a waste of time because once a layer of oxide forms on top you usually don't get much more than that. The trick is to get the new additions submerged asap so they don't have time to oxidize in the heat. Crushing cans and having a tall skinny melting pot to minimize surface area exposed to air would help.

    • @mrhomescientist
      @mrhomescientist  9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Sean I know what the crucible is, but if you just pour CO2 into the open crucible it would overflow and spill onto the coals outside it, extinguishing them. Plus the high heat would make it prone to escaping faster. Despite being heavier than air, these cover gases (CO2, Ar, etc.) will still diffuse away fairly quickly. I've seen it with SF6 - even though it is 6x heavier than air it escapes containers surprisingly quickly. So, you need a constant flow of gas to replenish what escapes. As I said above, you'd need an enclosed crucible with a gas inlet and outlet, to which you'd supply a constant stream of inert gas. It sounds like you were heading towards that idea in your last post. Experiment with it if you get the chance!

  • @b86yates
    @b86yates 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    cool test run. thanks for the tips. keep it up.

  • @Myopinionjustsaying
    @Myopinionjustsaying 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome choice of drink, could not do any better