Metal Casting Zone

Scottydawg wrote:
Dono. I am just tryin to figure out why not just cut a lid about 3 inches from the top? Would three peices give you a benefit?sorry i didnt mean to cut it into three bits . its a quick rule to help decide measurements. i am thinking about an adjustable furnace where i would be cutting it into three and stacking the three or four section together to form a furnace but still be able to break it dowm so ican shift it! similar to what donna has on her website www.foundry101.com/search.htm

OH! Yea, I like that. I may go for that.

donna is one of our newer members here so she might be able to give you measurements

Well, I finally got in the shop and cut the top off the tank today. I have a question for all of you though. Let me preface this by saying that I realize there is no really good substitute for commercial refractory, but right now, there is no real substitute for paying my bills either. That being said, How do you think a mix of perlite, carbon, bentonite, and cement will work? Also, if it will be decent, what proportions would you guys mix it?

Leave out the bentonite and carbon. Regular old portland/sand/pearlite will do up to brass temps, but will crumble with continued use. Up much past brass/bronze temps you will get a puddle of black glassy goo instead of a furnace. There are those that don't see any use for portland cement in a furnace, but A: if you have no budjet, B: have it on hand or readily available or C: are just starting out and really need a furnace, hey, go for it, it's better than nothing. Portland, bentonite and pearlite are all fluxes at higher temps, and will melt together rather easily.
If you can, find a pottery supplier and see if you can get a bag of EPK clay, or similar. A 50 lb bag will be maybe $20.00 or so, and is enough to line a furnace, and if done correctly will go up past iron temps. Make the hotface out of clay/sand, about an inch or so thick, and back it with the portland/sand/pearlite mix. This will last a bit longer and still be pretty cheap. You don't want to add carbon to the furnace liner, you want material that will reflect the heat back to the crucible, and the carbon will just help the liner absorb heat. Great if added to a crucible mix, cuz the conductivity is what you are looking for.

Here's the progress so far. The line about half way down is where I will cut another section to be able to make it short and tall.

this will be excellent.

Well, it's been a while, but I finally am making some progress. Yesterday, I cut the body into two pieces casted the lid. Today, I casted the bottom half of the body. I had to change my plan a little bit. I will be moving soon back to GA, so I need to finish it as quick as I can so I can pig my scrap before I move. Otherwise, I have about 5 grills, 2 lawnmower engines, and countless other pieces of misc scrap that will have to go to the trash.... That ain't gonna happen! I was going to build an oil tank, a mount for the blower, a lifting system, and all sorts of stuff, but I will have to do that stuff after I make the move. For now, its the bottom half, the lid, and fire it up baby!

looking good dawg