Hi Clane-
I made a charcoal furnace and used cut up chunks of oak firewood for fuel. It was plenty hot and exciting to have sparks fly out but had to dodge them. I quickly went to homemade oil burner but most my oil ended up being synthetic oil and I found it would not burn. So no I ahave went to diesel fuel.
I use a tree sprayer at low pressure and a 3/16 brake line and valve to trickle fuel in the torch and a shop vac to blow air in through the torch and try to burn a slightly rich mixture to keep high carbon and low oxygen.
I made a tilt pour furnace which elimnates the need for a crucible but still requires some effort to hit the sprue and not pour all over top of sand mold. I pour outside of course in gravel driveway and wear welding gloves and long pants and shoes or boots and always have clear path of retreat planned in case anything goes wrong to be sure metal does not run to my shoes if there is an escape. And make sure I do not have anything to trip over. My mold is set in a box with sand that captures any over flow or misses when I pour.
So far all has went well and I have not had to go to work with my eyebrows singed off... which
I went cheap and used sand and cement and fireclay. The furnrace has lasted a year and I am half way through making a shaper. I figure every 2 or 3 years I will replace the lining if needed. I dont cast a lot, just to build the machines so far. I hope to make a larger furnace with real refractory in the future and cast iron and steel and brass.
My furnace is a chopped propane tank and welded it up with a pivot on a cart so I can move it round with my riding lawn mower and store it when not in use. Somtimes I jsut smelt whole lawnmower engines on it and pick out the steel then pour aluminum ingots for remelting into castings.
Post pictures of your frunace when you get it goin and keep us updated. Remember there is more than one way to skin a cat most ways work alright you jsut got to find the one you like best with what resources you are willing to invest. my castings look kind of crappy but they do work so I am happy with that and hope to improve over time. Some guys make real works of art but I think you may need really good process and experience to make it always come out real nicely. I ws just tickled to actually melt metal mower engines and rough cast shaper parts so it has been a blast!
Regards
BRadley
--- On Thu, 9/9/10, NELSON COLLAR <ncollar@bellsouth.net> wrote:
From: NELSON COLLAR <ncollar@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: [gingery_machines] Getting Started - Book 1
To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 8:49 PM
Clana
Welcome, you have the best opportunity to just put all the books on a shelf in
your bookcase. If not, you will be over come by the sandcrab syndrome. This
ailment when exposed to it, it open up the world of liquid metal. At that point
you may have gone too far. There is no chance for turn back, just addiction. Do
your self a favor and read as much as you can and believe all safety rules. The
worst thing is to get water or any liquid in the molten metal. It will create
something that looks like the volcano you have down yonder. Molten metal has no
respect for the human body. At 1200 degrees it will burn a hand off in seconds
and the bad thing with water, it causes it to fly at will and where it splatters
it holds to. Other than the most dangerous described it is a hobby you will
enjoy for years to come. I built my first furnace in the 90's and did not fire
for over ten years. After firing it, I can not tell you how much pleasure it is
to see a wood pattern turned into metal. Now do not expect to master the first
time. The more you work with it the more skill you will gain. The nicest thing
about making your own parts is that, you can make the things you dreamed about.
Best of luck and many enjoyable pours. Just remember be safe.
Nelson Collar
PS: Go with propane or electric. Charcoal is expensive and it is dirty. Also
when working with charcoal do it outside the fumes are poisonous. Charcoal when
burned robes the oxygen from the air and our body needs all the oxygen it can
get.
________________________________
From: Clane Kaluna <gear@hawaii.rr.com>
To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, September 9, 2010 8:22:55 PM
Subject: Re: [gingery_machines] Getting Started - Book 1
Hi Ron,
It would be a lot easier to use propane as a fuel rather than charcoal.
I saw some links here and there on the web on propane blast furnaces;
I'll look into them to see about getting plans for construction.
Performance wise, doesn anyone know if there a big difference?
Thanks all,
Clane Kaluna
Honolulu, Hawaii
On 09/09/2010 01:57 PM, Ron Thompson wrote:
>
> Most people skip the charcoal and go straight to propane. Much less
> mess and easier to do. If you decide to go charcoal, it might be a good
> idea to build your furnace so it will be easy to upgrade to propane later.
>
> On 9/9/2010 6:52 PM, gear@hawaii.rr.com <mailto:gear%40hawaii.rr.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Howdy All,
> >
> > I've been pouring over the Gingery books for the last few months,
> > getting my bearings as to what to expect and prepare for. I'm looking
> > forward to the projects to come.
> >
> > I'm about ready to start putting together a bill of materials to build
> > the charcoal foundry described in the first book. I got lucky and
> > gained access to a heap of scrap metals (aluminium mostly ... not
> > cans, lol) I wanted to draw off of the collective experience of the
> > group to see if there was any advice, tips etc that you think might
> > help save me from blowing myself up.
> >
> > Long time member, first time poster :)
> > Clane Kaluna
> > Honolulu, Hawaii
> >
> >
>
> --
>
> Ron Thompson
> On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space
> Center, USA
>
> Sometimes you just gotta do what makes you smile.<GRIN>
>
> http://www.plansandprojects.com My hobby pages are here:
> http://www.plansandprojects.com/My%20Machines/
>
> Visit the castinghobby FAQ:
> http://castinghobbyfaq.bareboogerhost.com/
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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