Melting Aluminium in a home wood fired furnace - plus making a jib crane from scrap metal items!

Here's my first attempt at melting aluminium in the backyard with a view to regularly melt aluminium scrap and start casting items for sale in my shop.
I used a washing machine outer barrel and had to make up a suitable jib crane to lift the metal pot from the furnace. Of course I didn't want to buy anything for the job, so I made do with what I could find in my yard! An old frame on wheels, a child's bike, a large pole and some clamps - yep, that'll do! 😁👍

[@starlight4649]

Seems like you could make a way more efficient system if you fill that drum with play sand and put a narrower chimney down the middle, so the fire would be hotter and burn more evenly, and you could get way more mileage out of the same wood

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Yes true SK. I had plans of trying lots of mods, but have never had a chance to get back to it! One day.. 🙄

[@haveyoulostyourcircusmitch248]

Surprised you got enough heat for that. Not much limit to what you can copy now.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Casting is the tricky bit Mitchell! I'm not going to muck around with casting sand at this stage - just using the kangaroo mould I have 😊

[@bruceconley3387]

Yea I cringed a little worried that pot was going slide back on you down that tube when you lifted it lol I wanted scream stop 😂

[@bruceconley3387]

I love this kind of makeing own things vids loved the dryer drum idea

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

@@bruceconley3387 I enjoy making do with what I can find in my yard for projects - it's quite satisfying! 😀

[@earthwalkerquilting]

How cool is that....can't wait to see your kangaroos and further experiments.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

I can't wait to keep experimenting! Thanks for your comment EQ

[@ScrappingwithGrandpa]

Interesting very cool

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks Grandpa! 👍

[@kdegraa]

A great result. How much is clean aluminium per kg? Not much I guess but still a good result.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Prices have dropped quite a lot at the moment Karl - but usually around $1 per kg.

[@wyattnixonlloyd8570]

looks good! I noticed you ended up not using your hook on the end of your pole, did it end up making it too low?

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Yes for the large pot Wyatt. The smaller pot hangs nicely from the hook 👍

[@bruceconley3387]

I would put another clamp on other side that hot pot handle so that pot can't slide back at you if lift little to high will slide back and burn you up

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Fair point Bruce, I certainly want to stay safe!!

[@bruceconley3387]

Anyway keep up the vids keep grinding them out takes time build your channel more vids get out more viewers you will get

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks mate! 👍

[@marvinh7352]

All the dross as well as the scrap you pull out of the melting aluminum can go into scrap steel.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Yep, sure can Marvin 👍

[@slaplapdog]

I love the diy crane.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks Ronyon - it's a bit rough 'n ready, but it works! 😁😁