Metal Casting Zone

Sonotube, Is that the cardboard tube they use for concrete pilings?
Use about 3 layers of wax paper so it can slide on itself to get you started. Don't use Al foil, it bonds to the refractory.

Exactly. I used a 12" diameter piece to make the bore for my big furnace. You can get it in smaller sizes, the smallest I have seen is 4". Just check in the concrete section at your local big box building center.

I think I'll stick with the PVC with wax paper. If i can find the right size(bout 8"

I have another use in mind for the rest of it.

Make sure the end is a smooth cut so it won't anchor in the bottom. So what happened to the Mach1? Did you bust it out?

Ok.... I'm no longer stuck. I got home yesterday ... grabbed a pair of vice grips and just muscled it out. I slipped and cut my finger on the sheet metal ... just shy of stitches. My wife just winced and shook her head. (heh...stubborn Marines)

Anyways ... I reshaped the inside to round it up some. Worked out great. I started a charcoal fire and let it burn all night. Got up this morning, (replaced the bandage on my finger) and added a little more charcoal to the still burning embers... Turned on the blast and Viola! I likes!

I ran the blast for about 30 min before work this morning.
Cant wait to get home!

Oh yeah? How much charcoal should I use to finish curing the refractory. Not only that, how much should I use when melting Al ?

whoa up a bit. dont hurry the curing. we have bbq "heat beads"here they are mostly charcoal. one small bag is about a 2 gallon bucket full. it takes about 3/4 of a bucket/bag for a melt. the down side to this is that the melt will be done and there will be plenty of heat and glowing coals left over. in my eariler times i used to have a wire grate i put on top and cooked a bbq meal on the left overs!!!i also made a spit and rosted the chicken on it all on the left over coals. after a while you will want to add gas to your furnace as its a bit cheaper to run. if you throw water on the heat beads (you also run the risk of damageing your lining) they just go to a slush and you cant reuse them. by using small bits of wood while you are getting it going will cut down on costs and you will get 3 melts to a bucket.

bbq beads? Where are you located again?
This is what I'm using.



Plus I think my blast is a "little" strong.
This is what I'm using. http://tinyurl.com/aurhhj

Where can I get a good variable speed blower? ... uh and cheap.

if there is a haurbor freight tools near you go in and pick up a router speed controller, I think they are like 20.00. if not you might be able to wire in a light dimmer switch but im not sure it will handle the amp rating of your shop vac