Easy Metal Forge at Home - Melt Aluminum - Bend Steel - Blacksmithing

Here, I made a forge at home with my old grill and a blow dryer. Hot enough to melt aluminum and soften steel enough to work with. Easy and cheap.

[@Masterpj555]

Metal casting is awsome. Making forges yourself is enjoyable as long as you do it safe. One thing you might wanna note is the hazard of moisture/water with molten metal. Like for instance you are working next to a pool... one bit of water in that molten metal and you have the same effect as detonating a pipe bomb in front of you on top of molten metal shooting everywhere due to the immense quick expansion taking place on contact.

[@PixelPariah]

Not true.

[@Masterpj555]

Pixel Pariah Why would this not be true? These warnings are to be found everywhere it's the same reason why some people have had exploding concrete as it can holds moisture compared to fire brick after a rainfall. Hell even the backyardmetalcasting site mention it which seems to be a recommended site among many metal casters at home.

[@nrdsutton]

Pixel Pariah You can't just make claims like that and offer nothing to back up your claim. It is in fact very true. The water, which is less dense than the metal sinks to the bottom of the container. When it gets there it flash boils and undergoes massive expansion. This is what causes the explosion. Because it's under all that molten metal, the expansion pushes it out with great force. And you lose a face.

[@Masterpj555]

Eurisko Great comment and thank you for going against his claim. It's really dangerous and when someone is misinformed some really big accidents can happen.

[@LifeBuzzN]

Yes, I agree......safety should always be the priority.

[@Smacker3801]

Yer good stuff.....your shoes are just like the "crocs"us Ozzie guys wear...your humor is good also...tks alot...

[@LifeBuzzN]

john McIntosh Thanks John, we live on humor, it keeps us feeling good and young. Take Care.

[@na1948is]

So this is how retirement looks like- I'm Loving it..! (-:

[@LifeBuzzN]

Retirement?? I wish......I'm far from it and still have a full time job, but I also dream.

[@josephbascetta2338]

Now this is the best redneck thing I have seen yet! Good job man!

[@shawnriddle2726]

love this concept, I've tried building more then a few foundries all fairly complex and none of which that worked.

[@TRprepper]

Seen others build similar type forges but this one was the cheapest and easiest to make, thanks.

[@LifeBuzzN]

It's an easy and cheap way into the hobby, that's for sure. Thanks TRprepper.

[@PlazMoify]

I dig ya humour and I got the same hobby. Of course I'll do all that stuff that makes you happy!

[@The_Heartless_Empath]

I like the stadium seats on the patio. Another good idea.

[@LifeBuzzN]

That stadium seat is out of Thomson Boling Arena......The house that Pat Summit and the Tennessee Volunteers built. We have 2 sets......both very collectible now.

[@edtherockhound9944]

Good idea . I live in Massachusetts and it gets a lil cold up here. I sell Christmas trees and we have a oil tank cut in half and get a nice fire going to keep warm . We stay open late so it’s a long day and the bosses leave early it gets cold a night and burn everything haha. Last year we started melting anything we could find that would melt and used the terracotta pots and melted a few aluminum knifes and that was it we where hooked and now it’s our thing lol sorry had to share I was looking for ideas and you had some good ones thanks

[@LifeBuzzN]

Awesome.

[@krisraps]

I Wanted to see all that stuff goes to melt, i would love to watch this all my moorning man, Thanks for the video

[@LifeBuzzN]

KrisRaps Isn't it awesome, I love it also. Thanks Kris

[@yothegearzz]

I just made a forge out of an old bbq, I layered the bottom with concrete and clay to help make it last longer.

[@LifeBuzzN]

Yothegearzz Good thinking. Have you fired it up yet....made anything?

[@yothegearzz]

yeah I've quenched a few knifes and have so I've probably fired it up about 10 times total. still in perfect working order. I just used clay from mud to layer the sides.

[@ConstantKouakou]

This is a very compact and usefull forge; and I think there is sufficient security and mobility with it. Thanks to you LifeBuzzN being present with youtube world. have a succesful week end ...

[@LifeBuzzN]

Thanks for the nice comment,

[@pidner]

I did mine out of an old grill I got from china mart,it wouldnt cook worth a damn so I used first an 1 1/2 strainer where you drilled your holes.I put down about 2 inches of clay/mud,then 4 fire brick on top,the piping for the bottom,I used a 1 1/2 cont.waste,and used a raft pump as my bellows,one can use an old wheel burro to make a longer lasting,bigger forge.Good job on yours by the way.

[@LifeBuzzN]

Nice!

[@relaxation_therapy]

Awesome video....love your channel... Please keep posting those great stuffs!

[@eatsleepheal4420]

That's pretty darn cool turning beer cans into a presious metal I hope I can do this I got 400 cans so I reckon I got this

[@godfere]

i made the same forge and it lasted me a about 10 good uses before the bottom fell out, so for the next one i will reinforce it with some metal( i was thinking a flat cast iron grill then mix the sand around it.) thanks for the video

[@LifeBuzzN]

godfere ali-el Thanks for the update.

[@DiesInEveryFilm]

Did you use tea bags or just leaves?

[@LifeBuzzN]

Onur Caglar For what?

[@TheGr0nch]

LifeBuzzN whooosh

[@insanejake2407]

@@TheGr0nch Ew, you’re from Reddit? Yuck.

[@Speeder84XL]

Nice and easy way to melt aluminium and heat steel bars. A good thing with that design (other than that it's simple) is that you can easely stand close to it and grab that "crucible" by it's handle without set the glove on fire - most of the heat stays inside the pile of charcoal. I recently built an electric furnace and havn't got any long tools to put in and out stuff. The heat radiation no joke when opening the lid at temperatures above 800°C - If i have a black shirt, it starts smoking in a few seconds if I stand close :)

[@LifeBuzzN]

Sounds good. Thanks for the input.

[@jahblah90]

Awesome video! Learning has occured

[@LifeBuzzN]

jahblah90 Goal accomplished.

[@beccasbeauty22]

This is SO AWESOME. Maybe my schools shop teacher can help me do this...

[@LifeBuzzN]

+Becca W It's so much fun, but be safe.

[@DavidWoroner]

Thanks for this. What do you do with the alum. ingots?

[@PomskyPower]

Thanks for cooking that up, cuz

[@gmantd]

Try brown beer bottle glass to remove impurities from aluminum.It will melt and latch on to the bad stuff and float to the top. Simply spoon off and your metal is clean.

[@GTFour]

safety crocs :D

[@LifeBuzzN]

+Pingman The best.

[@TisFenton]

Loving the safety Crocs...

[@LifeBuzzN]

sparten11794 They were my favorites.

[@hallofo8107]

"Liked" for the concept and execution, "Subbed" for the shark potholder.

[@LifeBuzzN]

Hallofo Ha....That's funny. The other one I have is a bear. lol

[@lankey6969]

"All those idiot kids at home" Hahahahahah Nice crocks

[@juliocavalera9293]

Hello thanks for video, how to unite the plates of ex-plane exhaust and a hundreds electrik guitar string waste made from nikle and leaf spring or bearing how to joined that layer by forge???

[@JTBivens]

lol West TN here Great video :)

[@LifeBuzzN]

Hey, thanks!

[@Rickugg]

Hello: If you clean out the grill and mount a break drum from a car over the holes you may get more heat because of smaller area for heat to dissipate. It also may last forever compared to plain metal grill.

[@LifeBuzzN]

Rickugg Great idea.....I was originally going to make a brake drum forge, but couldn't find on cheap (free).

[@sjeverett75]

LifeBuzzN try a wrecking yard or recycling yard. A brake drum probably wont cost a few dollars.

[@casper1240]

No animals were hurt in the making of this Video lol

[@erinwhite7964]

This is really cool great job

[@thisandthatliving6529]

I freakin love your channel.

[@LifeBuzzN]

Awe......Thanks Steven.....we'll try to keep it interesting for you. Please subscribe if you haven't. Thanks

[@Quartermileauto]

Do ya know if it'll get the same results with wood burning or wood coals from a fire

[@LifeBuzzN]

Probably. Wood coals would probably burn hotter for you.

[@SouthpawDavey]

Wanting to make a forge love the glove man. Like and subbed Dave

[@LifeBuzzN]

Thanks Davey.......make one.....great fun.

[@SouthpawDavey]

Yep I made one its fun I posted a couple of vids on it well got a bee in my bonnet and went and did it thanks for the inspiration not quite like yours though.

[@harikrishna69]

Not sure that you have the best footwear for this job!

[@LifeBuzzN]

Yeah, you are correct, probabbly would be better to wear boots or better foot protection. : )

[@MadScientist_01]

can u list the items in a comment? it will really help a lot, i have some problems understanding when you talk about sizes, my main language is spanish btw

[@billtheboatman]

It seems like your fan may be blowing too hard. How about a waste gate or lower setting?

[@LifeBuzzN]

Yeah, it's a crappy old blow dryer, it kinda only works when it wants. Ha.

[@Quartermileauto]

I tried it and it worked with wood coals but it took a lot longer and needed to be fueled regularly. Worked but charcoal is better

[@LifeBuzzN]

I agree. Thanks for info.

[@bjornnjordson2986]

Works better with lump charcoal. Gets about 500 deg hotter. But would melt the bottom out. Lump Charcoal burns with forced air well above the 2100 F point at which Iron melts. 1500 to 1700 is a good forging temp. Aluminum melts at 726 according to my shop thermometer. You also shouldn't put cold metal into your crucible. It can cause explosions. The dross in this case is not impurity in the foil, it's from having the crucible open and carbon getting into it. A tight cover and a ceramic crucible would eliminate most of it. Ceramic contains no carbon, while cast' iron and steel both do, and so do the graphite crucibles, so you gotta avoid those too. Same goes for silver casting.

[@squareco4818]

I`m according to this video an "Idiot kid" who does this at home :) But I found out that when I use ingots that I made from scrap alluminium, and melt those, they create next to no slag/dross, but when I melt scrap metal, it creates loads of slag. But the ingots are also being melted without a lid so.... Why does the ingots don`t create slag while the scrap does? They`re both melted in a open steel crucible! Often I hear stuff about Oxide layers....? (I`m sorry for my English, I`m not only an idiot kid, but also a Dutch kid :P)

[@bjornnjordson2986]

I'm only speaking from experience. I use only scrap and never have a problem with dross. But maybe standards for aluminum are lower in Europe? I thought you were in Canada or the North-East coast LOL. Really, Your English is quite good.

[@squareco4818]

Bjorn Njordson As far as I know, aluminium scrap (pipes & stuff) are made from good quality without impurities. so because they are so pure, they create not much slag. I think our definition of scrap differ, mine is OLD cans that I found everywhere and some scrap that I found on the scrapyard, and those have been exposed to the wheather creating impurities on the surface of the metal. Yours is problably, as I mentioned, Aluminium pipes. Which are very pure. So they don`t create lots of slag. And once you`ve melted it once, and you handle the ingots well, it should melt without that much slag. What do you think?

[@andresalles6627]

Where did you get all those hardrives scraps ? You are awesome man, love to see the things you can make with simple stuff laying around

[@LifeBuzzN]

Andre Salles Thanks Andre. I've collected them from friends and families over the years. I'm always afraid to just throw them away. Thanks for checking it out.

[@ThePortecos]

you could make the hair dryer run out of a peltier cooler generating the power from the fire.The hotter it gets the faster it runs

[@easttnoutdoors9336]

I live in East TN as well, great video

[@LifeBuzzN]

Thanks Randall.

[@barflordlord9273]

So a pound of aluminum is worth a dollar how much aluminum can u melt i to ingots with a bag of charcoal this definitely seems like the most efficient way

[@sathancat]

@ approx 2:55, dogs begin to steal the show.

[@LifeBuzzN]

He stole the show and stole my heart. Thanks for watching Patrick.

[@sathancat]

Thanks for sharing! I love your videos and your attitude towards your endeavors, keep it up guy! :D

[@kengilbertiii1453]

Hi, Why are you melting aluminum? I think you were safer than most, you parked your forge right in front of that giant fire extinguisher (Pool).... Thanks! Ken

[@LifeBuzzN]

+Ken Gilbert III (Ken The Mailman) Just because......

[@rizalinobaylan5180]

how long it takes to melt aluminum sir is 1 bag og charcoal is enought

[@LifeBuzzN]

Just a few minutes.....One bag of coal last for several burnings.

[@rohontsiawaks]

awesome video, keep up the good work.

[@LifeBuzzN]

Thanks.

[@yeoman2551]

guess what tried it at home ... my age? 14!

[@khengowikoh794]

Samodus chronicals well im 13

[@adamdunn8049]

@@khengowikoh794 i am also 13 and have done this a few times

[@alionofengland4059]

you all want medals or some shit?

[@kommando1476]

Look at me I'm a lil girl that like to do man stuff. I'm not like other girl's. . . . LOL! We don't care at all kid's!

[@EASsirenVids01]

You don’t sound like you’re 14... you don’t seem as smart as a 14 year old.

[@TheEpicElectricsz]

but how does it get hotter. like whats different than a regular grill?

[@LifeBuzzN]

I'm adding oxygen by introducing the blow dryer. Makes it burn much hotter.

[@drew1drew1]

Loved the video!

[@georgeskvortsoff6264]

Life is busing all right I like the simple approach, but when I was apprentice saw some explosions melting aluminum due to contaminated aluminum chips from the lathe. that t is explanation I got this why the room where melting was done is closed and only people who new what they doing is allowed inside.

[@LifeBuzzN]

+george skvortsoff Safety First.

[@cabotbluegill]

great idea what are you building

[@peteschmidt1585]

Nice video bro!! Thanks for sharing

[@LifeBuzzN]

Thank You Pete!

[@PsychoticBovine]

pretty impressive.

[@LifeBuzzN]

PsychoticBovine Thanks, it's a great little project.

[@cjdavis825]

can you pour that into a water soaked wood template for sword blades ?

[@LifeBuzzN]

I wouldn't, it might be dangerous. I would use casting (green sand) sand or use the lost mold way with styrofoam and casting sand. Be careful!! Here is how I made green sand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoKXnn-artVgkNk

[@DREW15BD]

Pretty awesome!

[@LifeBuzzN]

Drew Grayson Thanks Drew.

[@creepscast]

This is cool :) you have earned a subscriber :)

[@LifeBuzzN]

***** Thanks, glad you're stickn around.

[@jasonfoster5560]

I'm only 2 and a half years old and I like to play with fire, fire, FIRE!!!! I just realized how immaculate my spelling is for my age :)

[@LifeBuzzN]

I agree, and very well formed sentences also.

[@Jshaun]

Could you line the inside of the grill with plaster of paris to make it last longer?

[@LifeBuzzN]

JShaun I wouldn't. Maybe with refractory cement.

[@Jshaun]

+ LifeBuzzN Thanks, I'll look into it! Lookin forward to more vids!

[@amyrutherford4121]

I had a fire but let it get down to a lot coals put log and stuff on to keep it going stuck mufler in fire up a hair drier on mufler I was melting can in a stanles steel pot an melted the pot the fire was hot

[@levicuellar4476]

I tried it at home and if been doing this for a while now and I'm 13

[@carlmalone8507]

Is that a no stick pan? Need some icing on them aluminum cup cakes!

[@jonathancaulder5232]

my question is since that is an aluminum grill won't it melt?

[@LifeBuzzN]

The grill is steal, not aluminum. The bottom will eventually rust out if you don't add some extra support, however, mine has lasted for years without issues. Thanks.

[@brotanknife]

great vid bro

[@namingsway]

Buy a steel plate and replace the bottom of that grill . make is a REAL forge. Also would be a good idea to move it away from that pool .

[@LifeBuzzN]

namingsway It's lasted several years as is, so I'm glad not to spend any money adding a steal to the bottom. What is the definition of a "real" forge vs a not real one?

[@dominicbeasley1446]

After watching other videos on KZbin I am lead to believe that the hard drive stuff you were melting wasn't all aluminum. The cases are but the lids are stainless steel which is also not magnetic. When I started to scrap hard drives I just shoved it all in the same box and took them to the scrap dealers who just took my word for it it was aluminium before weighing it. I'm wondering if I'd of known and separated the stainless would I have got more cash!

[@LifeBuzzN]

You are correct, not all covers are aluminum, but some are. Thanks

[@dominicbeasley1446]

Really! That's good to know. How do you tell the difference then?

[@bradleyhamilton4409]

Dominic Beasley You can probably tell by the sound it makes when you hit it.

[@waynation9142]

Hit it with a grinder. As I remember SS will spark. Aluminum won't.

[@dominicbeasley1446]

Thanks

[@skar603]

have you had issues burning through the pot?

[@LifeBuzzN]

Michael Siegel Eventually, yes. I now use a cast iron kettle.

[@davidsteen4606]

KOOOOLLL !!!!!! Now I have fantasies of Kustom parts dancing in my head next to the strippers !!!

[@hypera1r]

How do you control the temperature to avoid melting the pot?

[@tasteofmyscythe66]

The pot is probably a steel one, which requires a much highter temperature to melt, just like the steel bar, it can get orange, but that's still quite a long way from actually melting. You can judge how hot it is by its colour.

[@LifeBuzzN]

***** I don't control it. It won;t get that hot

[@rizalinobaylan5180]

thanks sir for the info

[@LifeBuzzN]

My pleasure.

[@AnubisJuice]

Glade the zinc didn't burn off and poison you with all that galvanized steel you have there

[@LifeBuzzN]

I'm ok.

[@skunkhollow1]

whys many hard drives?

[@maxroman1198]

I was thinking of buying some fireplace bricks and just stacking them (no mortar) to make a charcoal forge has anyone ever tried that??

[@LifeBuzzN]

There are a thousand different ways......fire brick would definitely work. Around here, they are so expensive. I used fire brick when I made my adobe oven.....check out that vid if you get a chance. Thanks

[@maxroman1198]

LifeBuzzN Thanks I will

[@MegaGooRan]

Have you tried to melt bronze?

[@LifeBuzzN]

Not yet. But I want to. This should melt it.

[@thrivingscout8404]

Too late, I have already tried blacksmithing

[@7egb]

good ceep up the hard werc

[@stayfly1977]

ive seen ppl makem with the starter

[@TisFenton]

But seriously though, great video

[@LifeBuzzN]

sparten11794 Thanks

[@creasedjoker9996]

East Tennessee?! I'm live in Johnson City

[@LifeBuzzN]

Yep.....I'm just down the road. Thanks for checking out m channel.

[@AppalachianProspect]

Can you melt gold on it?

[@LifeBuzzN]

I don't think it get that hot....

[@TheGr0nch]

LifeBuzzN Gold Melts at a lower temperature than Alluminum As it is the softest elemental metal. Yes, you could, and while it is possible it would likely ruin the purity of the gold.

[@justindann3845]

What do you mean by this "No kids thing"

[@LifeBuzzN]

My way of saying if you are a youngster, this is very dangerous. Adults should already know better.

[@torturegamerx4816]

Cool

[@LifeBuzzN]

Thanks.

[@seanshymkiw2826]

Is that my hairdryer?

[@ChuckRichardsHandmadeKnives]

Whatchya makin?

[@miguelcastaneda7236]

hmm watching....am thinking old empty freon tank/washed out....thrift store small cast iron dutch oven...bone yard fan motor housing 50s..60s car

[@mattdollars7257]

I'm trying to make that for gold

[@CharisWilliams]

Great!

[@LifeBuzzN]

Thanks

[@jitomingo2000]

you should use natural charcoal , it burns hotter

[@LifeBuzzN]

I agree, but use what's cheap at the time. Thanks for the comment Jona.

[@jitomingo2000]

No problem.but ive found natural charcoal cheaper in some stores. And if u think about it u also get more for your money. Burns hoter and last longer in some situations

[@JackCarver10]

Huh. Nice.

[@tyleralbrecht6015]

I've been melting metal sense 12

[@Newbie_Assassin]

i love how he says idiot kids when im only 14 and im not bad at blacksmithing

[@AuricGodShawk]

that means you're not one of the idiot kids. you're one of the smart ones. he's talking to the idiot ones.

[@ramonvelazquez1974]

3:58 whhhhhaTTt are thooooseeeee

[@DrB00tySweat]

so did anyone else notice the crocks? not the best shoe for this lmao

[@LifeBuzzN]

They are my Safety Crocs

[@GratefulMeds]

You look like a woodworker on youtube named steve ramsey. check him out

[@LifeBuzzN]

GratefulMeds Or........does he look like me?

[@IrfanullahJan]

2:40 Camera person laughs :)

[@LifeBuzzN]

Irfanullah Jan She never know what I'm going to say. lol

[@likeit292]

So this is what old people do in their freetime .-.

[@LifeBuzzN]

likeit292 Depends on what you call old.......I think I'm pretty young still.

[@claymiller8438]

I live in k town to go vols

[@mr.l2871]

👍🌟🌟🌟

[@LifeBuzzN]

Thanks

[@justinestell2333]

im not a stupid kid im a welder and im 19 been welding since 17 or 18

[@LifeBuzzN]

Then I wasn't talking to you. Keep up the good work.