Portable alloy furnace

[TwoSeven]

Has anyone on their travels seen a portable alloy furnace. Or even know who does casting supplies in this country. I'm looking for the kind that look like large rice cookers that can be plugged into an LPG cylinder. Must be capable of 1600C. Want to be able to melt 1kg of aluminium or so.

I'm just trying to get an idea of price and availability.

[speedpro]

Has anyone on their travels seen a portable alloy furnace. Or even know who does casting supplies in this country. I'm looking for the kind that look like large rice cookers that can be plugged into an LPG cylinder. Must be capable of 1600C. Want to be able to melt 1kg of aluminium or so.

I'm just trying to get an idea of price and availability.

I think the crucible is the only bit you "need" to buy as they are a bit special. At least two other people I know have created kilns out of 20L tins and the like. One tip - make sure you have about twice the amount of lpg you think you need. If the local foundry can't help with where to get supplies I could call a few people to see where they get their stuff.

I got a few alloy bits cast years ago. I made the plugs, gave them to the foundry who then made the moulds and poured the alloy. They just melted a bit more alloy on their next job for that particular type of alloy. Once heat treated it all machined beautifully. Very reasonable cost as well.

[TwoSeven]

Thanks for that. I've thought about making one but I'm a bit nervous with do it yourself gas kits - figure it might be easier to get an off the shelf kit that I can pack away when finished.

I might just go thru the ropes and use plaster instead of alloy (then I can just use beach sand or something for practice) till I get the technique right. Then if it works out that I can actually achieve something - will spend money on it.

Another thing to add to my project to be done in the future when I have money list.

[geoffm]

I used to do a bit of ali casting. What is it that you are planning on casting? If it is mission critical, large, deep or has no draft on it, you may be better off taking it to a commercial foundary.
Other than that, they are easy to make.
http://www.reil1.net for burners, http:///www.backyardmetalcasting.com
Buy the sand from foundary suppliers or (as I did) get a bag from a foundry. Beach sand generally won't do - to corse and no clay in it to hold it together. You will need to make flasks. If you were in Auckland, I would say come around and borrow mine for a weekend...
I used a welded pipe for a cruicible. According to the experts, the iron will dissolve into the molten ali and weaken it, but I never had any problems. Old mower bodies and engine and transmission cases make good material.
Geof(Currently in Christchurch...)

[geoffm]

Has anyone on their travels seen a portable alloy furnace. Or even know who does casting supplies in this country. I'm looking for the kind that look like large rice cookers that can be plugged into an LPG cylinder. Must be capable of 1600C. Want to be able to melt 1kg of aluminium or so.

I'm just trying to get an idea of price and availability.

Electric Furnace Co, Manakau City, Auckland make them.
http://www.lindsaybks.com is a great site for "stuff" like this. Look for the Gingery series of books - i think he had plans for one called "big Bertha". I have some plans for an electric firnace at home from Popular Mechanics c1950
I used gas because it was easier and cheaper to run and build. Make it properly, and you can do brass as well.
Geoff

[Ixion]

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http://www.lindsaybks.com is a great site for "stuff" like this. Look for the Gingery series of books - .. Make it properly, and you can do brass as well.
Geoff

Arrggghh - Hand scraping Babitt bearings. Arggh the memories - make them stop. Hmm - brass founding would be nice though.