Re: melting aluminium

Hi Chris,

I might qualify, I have a simple 6" round base that I cast for an old
steam engine, while in H.S.! ;>)

Seriously, I have been eyeing the propane (natural gas?) fired furnaces
for a while, and found these URL's to be interesting:

http://members.nbci.com/HWilkinson/hfa/Jerryt/BYOfurn.htm

http://www.webpak.net/~rreil/design.html

http://www.webpak.net/~rreil/buildforge.html

I don't have ANYTHING yet, unless you count the natural gas piped into
the back yard for a sauna/(forge?). I'd LIKE to be able to do ALUMINUM
and BRASS.

I watched aluminum casting of some steam engine parts at last year's
P.R.I.M.E. I was impressed with how the exhibit filled the "yard"
(behind exhibit hall) with casting materials. My wife took one look at
it, and said words to the effect: "Not in my landscaped backyard!".

I would not EVEN attempt to "fire" one up on ELECTRICITY in California!
:>(

Alan KM6VV


Chris Stratton wrote:

>
> <SNIP>
>
> I recommend anyone interested in this do a deja search on the recent
> thread on rec.crafts.metalworking on this subject. The major
> highlights were that although it does not require much energy per Kg
> to melt aluminum (or even cast iron) it does take quite a bit to
> overcome the radiation losses (although less at Al temps than CI).
> And small melts have much more surface area that must be insulated
> against radiaton per unit volume than large ones, so hobby size
> induction furnaces are far less efficient.
>
> If one wants to melt aluminum to make usefull things in limited
> quantity, a couple 100 lb propane tanks are probably the way to go...
>
> Has anyone here actually used home cast aluminum parts on a machine,
> say for motor mounts or something?
>
> Chris