I've found the best way to overcome a fear is to educate yourself about
what you fear. I've gotten a lot of good advice from the group, and
most of it seems pretty consistent. I'll take your advice though, as it
ends up being convenient that I have a couple of popcorn tins here that
would make for an excellent "first time" foundry. I'm going to also
hold off on the build until I can get a decent crucible and make sure
that the fit is good before I start packing in the refractory cement
(have some in the tool shed from an old BBQ build).
I never fabricated a burner before, so it's kind of fun to see the
designs and to get feedback on what has worked well and why. I know
I've made something similar to the oliver upwind burner, I think I have
enough parts to put this one together at a minimal cost.
I appreciate all of your advice David,
I hope to have pictures to post by the end of the year of a completed
foundry.
Clane Kaluna
Honolulu, Hawaii
On 10/22/2010 05:57 PM, David Frantz wrote:
>
> First rule of survival, don't do something you are terrified of! There
> may be a rational reason for that fear or not but it is silly to jump
> into things you don't understand well enough to feel safe about.
>
> As a side note, I believe locally we had another incident where
> somebody cutting up a barrel blew himself up. It is an unfortunate way
> to die.
>
> David A Frantz
>
> websterindustro@mac.com <mailto:websterindustro%40mac.com>
> Sent from my iPhone.
>
> On Oct 22, 2010, at 11:10 PM, superclane <gear@hawaii.rr.com
> <mailto:gear%40hawaii.rr.com>> wrote:
>
> > Howdy all. Two questions here:
> >
> > 1. Can't seem to find any metal 5 gal+ buckets (and honestly didn't
> expect to) for the container for the foundry, but I did see a cheap
> ~10 gal galvanized steel garbage can at City Mill that might do.
> That should do if sized right for your foundry needs.
> > But my question is, given the choice of materials that you could use
> for the container for the foundry, what do you prefer?
> Stainlees steel. Only slightly kidding here. People have built
> successful foundries out of all sorts of scrap, from coffee cans to 55
> gallon drums. The trick is the furnance has to be able to contain the
> largest crucible you will use along with the insullation. In industry
> everything from welded up frames to rolled and riveted steel have been
> used.
> > (Oh, and I am terrified of cutting into spent propane containers,
> but if instructions are included to ensure that it is safe to do so,
> I'd give it a try)
> Then don't do it! I'm certain there are safe approaches to doing this
> but if the methods don't settle your fears then don't do it.
>
> I look at it this way if any described method is rational it ought to
> make you feel safe. If not then either you don't understand what is on
> offer or the method is faulty.
>
> Of course there is going overboard to irrational fear but considering
> the number of people that die every year doing things like this i
> think you are smart to have reservations.
>
> Also realize that metal recyclers often have chunks of pipe for sale
> that are easy to work with.
> >
> > 2. I'm sold on the propane foundry, but as far as burners go, the
> two that seem to keep popping up are the Oliver-upwind burner and the
> Reil burner. Both seem do-able. I haven't worked with gas before, so
> I'm fishing for advice on plans or instructions for a novice.
> The best suggestion here is to look online! In the foundry I worked in
> every thing was fired with natural gas. A variety of burners where
> used from fan driven units to compressed air supplied torches. It is
> noce not to have to use a blower as then you don't need electricity,
> but I wouldn't dismiss the use of a blower either. At sealevel though
> you should be able to get buy with one of the gas only burners.
>
> I mention online because you can find a huge number of different
> burner designs described. Some of them very similar to commercial
> designs. For the most part making fire with propane is well
> established technology. The trick with burners is to increase O2 flow
> into the burn area. Every atmospheric burner strive to optimize air
> flow with the gas.
> >
> > Thanks guys!
> >
> > Clane Kaluna
> > Honolulu, Hawaii
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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