Is it possible to melt cast iron with propane?

[@FredMiller]

Absolutely outstanding video. Finally someone shows melting cast iron with propane.Thank you!

[@zuzuniagrikubanos6473]

2 days ago I melted bronze and while the first cast melted quickly the second casting melted too late ,, today from your video I understood what was going on,, respect and thancs !!!!

[@mevk1]

This and furnace build are the two best backyard foundry videos I have seen. Thank you !!!!!!

[@pierremarcoux886]

It's always a pleasure to watch and learn from an expert like you. Best Regards

[@zvonibab]

Thank you kindly Mister for teaching me something new I did not think that was possible! Cheers

[@TomMakeHere]

Awesome I've got a small dead pottery kiln at home. Tempted to set it up as a furnace Awesome seeing that you can do cast iron

[@Eisenmann86]

Thank you for great video!!!, why do you use ferrosilicone to get the slag out of iron ?

[@swdweeb]

Fascinating, I had never noticed the "burner" you use before. Am I correct in understanding that the propane is essentially fed into the furnace through that little pipe and air is forced in through the larger pipe? And... does the propane and forced air mix in the furnace or just prior to entering the furnace? The only time I tried cast iron, the end of my burner melted during the process. If I'm understanding your furnace design correctly, that would eliminate my problem. I might have to make a modification to my furnace.

[@luckygen1001]

Yes and yes. The propane and air mixes before entering the furnace and burns in the furnace. If the end of your burner melts you are doing something wrong and a lot of your heat energy is wasted heating up the end of your burner which should be heating up your crucible. I never have any problems melting cast iron but sadly so many youtubers do have problems because they copy unsuitable designs and wonder why they do not work for melting cast iron but it will still melt aluminuim and bronze.

[@creast56]

Super demonstration! I have yet to do CI but will probably use waste oil as Propane is pretty costly for this. Really appreciate you doing this to prove a point it is possible. Cheers!!

[@luckygen1001]

That is why I only melt small amounts of cast iron with propane it uses less that melting large amounts.

[@illumiNOTme326]

Lucky you consistently put out very informative and helpful videos that are much appreciated. Thank you.

[@nicholasbarba3022]

Lucky, enjoyed. Another good way to prevent excessive freezeup is to simply turn the propane bottle upside down. this worked for me when I converted my car to propane and had freeze problems when bottles where positioned rightside up,

[@tjkirkpatrick9451]

Have built my second burner this time out of 2 inch exhaust pipe and a 3mm nozzle with a hair dryer blower and wow does it go... dialled the gas reg to get a good burn but after 10 mins in this weather she froze up and i was having do much fun hoping to cast iron soon.. thankyou so much for sharing your information 10/10 cheers tj👍

[@luckygen1001]

That is a problem with propane so to fix this use a larger plastic tub than the propane bottle and pour in some hot water.

[@tjkirkpatrick9451]

@@luckygen1001 will test this as soon as this low pressure system goes by we are in Tassie so its a bit chilli at the moment.. 👌👍

[@amishmilitant4618]

When casting something out of cast or gray iron, do you have to add anything? Like borax?

[@davidnaomi5092]

If you want cleaner iron use borax.

[@jimburnsjr.]

Thanks Again Lucky :D ... there is no tv program or movie star that I'd rather see than you.... thanks for another lesson. ...a while back i saw a video of some guys casting bronze in a similar set up... they put a piece of cardboard box between the crucible and plinth before lighting the furnace and kept the crucible from sticking to the plinth... and of course they used another piece to put on the plinth outside of the furnace for moving the crucible between tongs... worked flawlessly to keep the plinths from sticking... if you're interested in trying it. ... nothing special about it.. just a piece of an average shipping corregated cardboard box, big enough to cover the plinth to act as a table cloth of carbon between the crucible and plinth. very glad to see you are well... have a goodn

[@luckygen1001]

I will try using cardboard next time.

[@jimburnsjr.]

awesome... hope it works out... still haven't set up my own furnace yet... only a forge so far, and a lack of a quality anvil has me set back a bit... one day i sure hope to get the great feeling you must have to see that nice consistent cast iron from your own hands... Clearly the only thing stopping me is a lack of will... every time i turn around you're showing it is easier than i thought lol... thanks again.. have a great one

[@123kkambiz]

Me too.

[@hare911]

Bonjour, pour que le fromage ne colle pas au creuset, je met du carton sur le fromage avant de poser mon creuset dessus. Cela marche très bien

[@jafarhabibilivar1385]

So inspiring! Your videos are Tempting me to setup my own backyard foundary

[@peterjones6945]

That was impressive. Not only melting cast iron but how quick it was, around 45 minutes? The only thing is, you make it look so easy and I'm sure there is a lot of preparation beforehand? I want to try casting now (no idea what but I want to try it)

[@gayledent5245]

What is your green sand made up of? Looks like silicon carbide , ,

[@gayledent5245]

Just read someone else' comment, Bentonite,

[@gwheyduke]

sure you can ! Good job. I solved my cold tank causing low pressure problem by using a 100 pound propane tank.

[@JlerchTampa]

I've no idea why I haven't scratched this off my bucket list yet, seems "so easy" watching a skilled craftsman do it! :)

[@ScottTurnerformeindustrious]

Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed the process.

[@diabolic1899]

Is there any way to make cast iron ductile? Adding other element? would adding magnesium improve it? Or bubbling oxigen...have you tried making it ductile?

[@luckygen1001]

Magnesium will make cast iron ductile.

[@aubreyaub]

Small amount of copper. But not sure of %.

[@767HALHA]

@@aubreyaub Copper not! Small amount rare earths element's (La, Ce) help to stabilize graphite spheroid . Mg is the right choice (Mg wire or Mg alloy). foundrygate.com/upload/artigos/Summary%20of%20the%20Elements%20Effects%20on%20Ductile%20Iron.pdf

[@JaapGrootveld]

Tanks, this is verry helpfull. Is it possible to use an blacksmith blower instead of a vacuum cleaner? Or the pressure is too low?

[@luckygen1001]

Pressure is too low.

[@sandrammer]

If you're using an Acetylene regulator what do you have the regulator set at? Working pressure that is, not bottle pressure.

[@Puffie40]

The main way to fight freezing propane tanks is to increase the surface area of the propane liquid being evaporated. This is where larger tanks or even several smaller tanks connected in parallel come in handy.

[@southjerseysound7340]

I use heated mattress pads for a bottle warmer and they work like a champ. By keeping everything warm it prevents freezing but they don't get hot enough to cause a problem either.

[@luckygen1001]

That is a good idea to keep the bottle warm.

[@ludditeneaderthal]

You can use almost any fuel for almost any purpose. The "magic" is the delivery of the proper potential energy and proper amount of oxygen to support the combustion. You should theoretically be able to melt iron with shredded newspaper, but the mechanism that would allow it would be a practical nightmare. Propane has more heat energy per unit of mass than acetylene, so, as acetylene can melt iron, so must propane be able to

[@luckygen1001]

That is true but heat conservation in the furnace makes it run hotter.

[@josealdringata6482]

Sir can i use wood to in iron casting thanks..because that all i have..

[@luckygen1001]

Turn the wood into charcoal and then it will melt iron.

[@MrZhefish]

Very nice. I got a question tho regarding the ferrosilicon, how much do you actually use? well, i guess it needs to be tested with every raw material you use, but you must have some idea you'r starting at from? i read some books suggested by myfordboy, but unfortunatly, those outline the general operations and examples, specialy moldmaking and such, which are ok. but the composition of alloys and metals is what i want to read up on, and i would be very thankfull if you could point out some good sources.

[@luckygen1001]

I start with 0.25% and increase it if I have a hard iron.

[@JacksonDunnoKnows]

Nice. I have a 10kg furnace. Been debating on trying to melt iron. And possibly even steel. If I could I'd like to give a go at a small striking anvil. And if that works a swedge block. I mostly Smith, but I like messing around with melting. Got a ton of little bronze and copper coins/mini bars. Made Nordic gold before. We have fresh water snails and the cone shells make cool casts. Stuff like that. Good work unknown friend🍻

[@missingthe80s58]

You'll want to line your crucible with a few painted on layers of something like 3200F cement or similar material, Satanite, Hellforge 3000 ect. The crucible will act as a carbon donor to steel and do unwanted things. Painting the inside fixes that issue.

[@FarmCraft101]

Do you have the propane tube all the way into the furnace when you are firing it, as you show in the video? Or do you draw it back so the tube is not in the combustion chamber? Thanks for the lesson Lucky!

[@luckygen1001]

The tube is not in the combustion chamber.

[@MegaPoxie]

I bought the same burner set-up and similar sized furnace but the hole in the top is much smaller. Is there an optimum size or just a matter of being able to feed in more ingots and allow viewing and slag removal?

[@luckygen1001]

I have always wondered why they use such small exhaust vents but you are right you can put in larger pieces of metal and makes slag removal easier.

[@TheRealCreepinogie]

If you put a sheet of paper or cardboard underneath the crucible it's form a layer of carbon and the plinth won't stick to the crucible when you pull it out. I use propane too for cast iron.

[@luckygen1001]

Are you still on the yahoo casting forum?

[@johngunn7087]

Thank you for another excellent demonstration. Since you are mixing fan-forced air instead of compressed air or compressed oxygen, would it be safe to say that a flash back arrest valve is not necessary on the propane line?

[@luckygen1001]

There is no need for a flashback arrester valve because propane pressure is always higher than the forced air.

[@christheother9088]

Any predictions what would happen if you lost a full crucible on to that concrete floor? Nothing? Explosion?

[@fundidor64]

Excelent video, Thanks for Share, what is the work butane gas pressure you are using.? I meant what gas presure are in the burner. All the Best and thanks in advance ofr your answer

[@luckygen1001]

I use 55 kpa propane pressure at my burner.

[@fundidor64]

@@luckygen1001 Many thanks luckygen, excuse me y I made more question but your furnace really works well, you explain that the oil container is presurized, how much pressure is in it.? Kind regards

[@fundidor64]

Please accept my Apologies Sr. you said about the oil tank presurized in other video... Sorry

[@luckygen1001]

The oil container pressure is 300 kpa.

[@Migueldeservantes]

I feel so much envy....I have this really stupid question... I know that you don't do that much cast Iron but I guess that I don't have nothing to loose asking about it.... when you have done cast iron smelting... do you need high pressure on the air feeding blower to the furnace?? I mean I have a really nice smelter... but my air blower probably is not capable to put more than 2 psi... as the temperature rise.... thanks in advance.

[@luckygen1001]

I use a vacuum cleaner as a blower and gives the highest pressure of the easy to find blowers for home made furnaces.

[@hosseinhossein5827]

i have a question : can we do that using natural gas? i hope you answer me . thank you for the video.

[@luckygen1001]

I have never tried natural gas so I can't answer you.

[@DudleyToolwright]

I was looking for a video on cast iron melting, excellent. Is there any way for a home gamer to make nodular or ductile cast iron. Add magnesium in some form?

[@andreswalterbrana974]

How many castings does the crucible last? saludos Argentina

[@luckygen1001]

About 25-30 melts.

[@l.c.9524]

Another possibility is to flip the bottle and litteraly spray in liquid lpg. Of course using high pressure pipe, but probably is just better go with oil

[@rabihhachem4813]

Thanks for sharing Regarding welding does it need to add magnesium to the cast iron or it can be weld ?

[@luckygen1001]

Cast iron can be welded but you do not need to add magnesium.

[@rabihhachem4813]

luckygen1001 thank you

[@michaelh7411]

I have a stove with two broken legs on it. and two good ones. where can I find someone to recast them for me?

[@michaelennen3432]

I was wondering if it would be possible to re-melt continuously cast grey iron (it has the trade-name Durabar) and use that (as opposed to your recommendation of using cast iron disc brake rotors, for example).

[@luckygen1001]

If you are buying it not such a good idea but if you can get it for free.....

[@michaelennen3432]

So nothing technically standing in the way, only a cost issue. Got it. Thanks a lot.

[@luckygen1001]

Any cast iron can be used but it depends what the end use is. It can be trial and error to find a cast iron that is suitable for your needs and how available it is.

[@waqasshamas]

what material is used to make the bowl, how we can get this from market

[@michaelclark2840]

You sure know your stuff. Thankyou for sharing. That propane was really firing well. Just curious, can you recall the flow rate on your acetylene gauge?

[@luckygen1001]

That gauge has not got a flow meter. The pressure was 70 kpa.

[@ogaugeclockwork4407]

Brilliant information! Thanks so much!

[@hkkhgffh3613]

Do you have an estimate how much kg you burn per hour? Thanks!

[@facesmasher4216]

incredible demonstration procedure with cast iron and propane👌 now, can you cook a good piece of t-bone steak on top of that furnace while it's on fire? ❓

[@luckygen1001]

If you held it a good distance away so it would not burn.

[@berkahmulia7801]

@@luckygen1001 applaus 👍👍👍

[@betbrokerinversionesdeport6307]

@@luckygen1001 Hi. A query, what material is the crucible you use?

[@احمدالبنا-ز6ز]

best way to use propane is to turn the propane cylinder over and use the needle portal with a regulator for control of the liquid pressure this way from egypt

[@alt-w7130]

Thanks I enjoy watching your videos it's very Informative. I would like to know if I can make casting sand (green sand) with play sand and clay and what percentage sand to clay. It very difficult to get green sand where I live.

[@luckygen1001]

I use 7.5% bentonite clay to make green sand but using ordinary clay you will need well over 10% clay.

[@alt-w7130]

luckygen1001 Thanks for sharing.

[@tippojee1491]

Sir what is the formula for piston rings casting?

[@luc4sj3]

How cool is that! I've recently acquired an small injector based propane furnace and was intending to use it for making some aluminium bronze parts. Just wondering, it's possible to smelt cast iron without forced air?

[@MatthewTinker-au-pont-blanc]

Very interesting, I have a natural gas supply in my workshop, I was wondering about using it with a blown burner. If I remember correctly, the Natural gas jets are smaller than Propane ones, I was wondering what diameter to make the jet tube! Thanks for all your interesting videos, a mine of information!! Regards, Matthew

[@luckygen1001]

30mm plus or minus 2mm will work with most small furnaces.

[@MatthewTinker-au-pont-blanc]

Thanks for your reply, I was thinking about the gas tube size, yours is 5mm. Thanks again, Regards Matthew

[@shauntucker5145]

new subscriber. can you melt cast iron using the ventury type of burners or does it have to by forced air?

[@luckygen1001]

Venturi burners will very slowly melt cast iron but may not get the iron hot enough to pour.

[@markschulz3547]

Do the finished pieces require post treatment of any sort?

[@luckygen1001]

Maybe a coat of paint but that is the only thing I can think of.

[@JustinCoutarel]

Thanks for sharing your knowledges. Very nice parts

[@charlieszablewski830]

wow what a skill you have do you teach at all

[@robcrawford9657]

Excellent! how much ferrosilicon roughly?

[@luckygen1001]

0.25%

[@nicholashullander7211]

How did you package the vacuum cleaner motor to quiet it?

[@luckygen1001]

Yes they make a lot noise but it can be reduced using a wood frame with lot of foam on the inside to deaden the noise.

[@khosrosadi5196]

The best clip i ever seen.

[@AbbeyRoad69147]

Hi. I see no videos casting stainless steel on youtube. GM casts a stainless exhaust manifold --- can you demonstrate melting and casting stainless?? Thanks!

[@luckygen1001]

Too difficult to do.

[@rickolson9011]

Excellent!

[@roberthorn4496]

Rick Olson ,

[@sblack48]

Why does the sand look so much different i.e. Dark grey vs red from the other videos? Does cast iron require different sand?

[@luckygen1001]

Sand for cast iron needs coal dust to give a better finish on the surface of the casting.

[@khawk7365]

Is the furnace still kicking. If so what shape is it in? H0w many melts have you done in it?

[@luckygen1001]

Yes the furnace still works. I have done about 20 iron melts in it and plenty of aluminium and bronze melts.

[@khawk7365]

@@luckygen1001 thank you gives me a little more confidence about my build. Watch "Part4 of casting aluminum at home furnace build out of 55 gallon drum. Insulation is installed" on KZbin kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH_Jo3d4nst4pdU

[@FKreider]

Fantastic instructional video!

[@keithjurena9319]

Proper preheat of combustion air is how to get higher temperatures. Preheat of fuel also helps but to lesser effect.

[@luckygen1001]

This furnace gets very hot without preheating the combustion air.

[@rescobar8572]

What percentage of ferrosilicon do you add to your melt?

[@luckygen1001]

0.25%.

[@rescobar8572]

@@luckygen1001 Thank you Sir!

[@JBFromOZ]

Aother great video thanks mate! any idea what temps you are at prior to pour?

[@luckygen1001]

1350 - 1400C.

[@JBFromOZ]

Cheers mate

[@bitmannz]

Hi, Thanks for another video. Do you make your own greensand? Do you have a 'recipe' for the mix with the coal dust in it? Also does chill matter in a cast iron part if you aren't going to be machining it? Thanks

[@luckygen1001]

Have a look at this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/aamXd6NuappsasU If no machining is required then chill does not matter.

[@theghostofsw6276]

So....what temperature is this at then?

[@fredrickrari9338]

Can you make cast iron from regular iron n steel scaps?

[@luckygen1001]

Yes you can and that is how cast iron is made now. Foundries in the past used pig iron.

[@awldune]

Outstanding

[@Landrew0]

Easy-peasy: Wrap plastic tubing around the tank, and run hot water through it periodically.

[@luckygen1001]

I don't have source of hot water in my shed.

[@damirdze]

@@luckygen1001 perhaps you may use the exhaust flames to heat the water and use it ... Just a thought.

[@Chan-rc8oh]

Cast iron melt at what degrees...?? thanks...

[@luckygen1001]

1150C

[@halamkajohn]

i was going to try 2 large propane torches. 1 large propane torch melted brass

[@5thDragonDreamCaster]

Here's a link to a video related to the propane tanks. It's about storing liquid butane in a soda bottle. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXXJkHWKf86de5o

[@plasmaguy5]

Awesome work

[@michaelclark2840]

Amazing stuff!

[@stevesyncox9893]

Very cool

[@leonmarut917]

good job mr

[@backyardmetalcasting]

Nice video, thanks for sharing this. I think you are brave to pour over concrete...I know I would have drips!

[@luckygen1001]

When cast iron spills onto the concrete floor it goes like buckshot and nothing else.

[@AlecL]

I could be wrong but I think metals with lower melting temps are worse to spill?

[@backyardmetalcasting]

Alec L I spilled pewter once and it bubbled and spit a bit...poured aluminum into a metal muffin pan on a drippy day once and it exploded...went up the side of my house the whole way to the gutters

[@AlecL]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnKroJ-rpah4ocU I've seen a few videos like this and just made the assumption. I've had aluminium do that too. But nothing like the extent that's happened to you.

[@MarksGoneWicked]

+1 for proper footwear!

[@aubreyaub]

chuckle. For a bit of excitement, sit your gas bottle on top of the flame, shouldn't freeze then. lol @ 7.31 on the clip, molten..? taking of slag..? not bad at all. Pump valves.? I buggered around for years, trying to get an oil burner going, finally got it. Never tried with propane. I may now go to it.?.!.? and well done. Ta.

[@luckygen1001]

They are well pump parts.

[@wesleyweldon1980]

What type of crucible are you using?

[@luckygen1001]

Clay graphite crucible.

[@wesleyweldon1980]

luckygen1001 thank you.

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@Engineer_Stepanov]

What you think about diesel fuel?

[@alexandrevaliquette1941]

Taste like chicken.

[@robertschaeffer5861]

AND THANK YOU...

[@lvd2001]

Is it possible to melt STAINLESS STEEL with propane?

[@luckygen1001]

You could try it, I have tried it

[@lvd2001]

@@luckygen1001 I could just just manage to melt brass...4-5hr..dare not try cast iron..may take 10hr..you did it with ease..Which makes me wondering if you tried ss....just normal propane..no special tricks?

[@markneedham8726]

@@lvd2001 FWIW If it takes that long, for brass, then somethings wrong. More heat, ie, more gas, more fan, or even less fan. ( fan could be making it cold) Red brass @ 1025C, Cast Iron 1204C, Stainless steel 1510C. As you can see brass is/should be easier than cast Iron.

[@lvd2001]

@@markneedham8726 you are right, there was something wrong, I found out later with luckygen... my propane tank froze up.. reduced the propane out put..I ahve not tried again..yet.. as I was melting about 5kg of brass at the time

[@PSUQDPICHQIEIWC]

I'm far lazier than you are. I learned two lessons tending a big coal-fired furnace. 1: it's hot work, so it's actually nice to do in cold weather 2: tending the furnace and blower distracts from tending the melt Accordingly, I made my new gas furnace more convenient and usable in freezing weather. The new furnace runs off the intermediate-pressure line (~10 psi) from the yard bomb with its own 500k BTU/h regulator. It runs fine in cold weather. The gas line solenoid, blower, and electric pilot are all toggled with a foot pedal. Instant on / instant off, all hands-free. That said, I still sometimes miss the coal furnace.

[@luckygen1001]

That is why I rarely do iron melts in summer.

[@TangoCharlieAlpha]

Could you just wrap an electric blanket around the bottle in order to keep it warm?

[@luckygen1001]

Yes you can.

[@RagingShrimp67]

What about steel?

[@aubreyaub]

Bessemer process, check it out on web. So you purge the molten "cast iron/ductile iron" ( steel with an excess of carbon) and burn the carbon out. Wots left is Steel.That's it. Easy hey!. Oh, rots of ruck.

[@RagingShrimp67]

I know the process in industrial setting, but what about melting and recasting steel scrap at home?

[@ashkira2]

RagingShrimp67 I think it's possible for small castings, but is much more difficult... Regular quartz sand can't withstand temperatures of liquid steel. Zircon sand with potassium phosphate binder must be used. Also molds must be preheated to red hot to get rid of water before pouring.

[@joandar1]

Unless I am mistaken Steel has a lower melting temperature than Cast Iron, Iron being the Element and Steel being an Alloy of Iron. Please correct me if I am wrong, I am here to learn. It is to do with Eutectic temp. Link to explain. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutectic_system Edit; Cheers from John, Australia.

[@ashkira2]

joandar1 Cast iron - 1100-1200C, steel - 1400-1500C. www.engineeringtoolbox.com/melting-temperature-metals-d_860.html

[@gwcstudio]

Molten iron on concrete: no bueno

[@jacksonlee4200]

yes

[@سليمانسلمان-ط1ج]

معلم نته معني مش فهم نقليزي

[@halamkajohn]

drill regulator

[@kemet-son]

😍😍😍😍

[@WorksopGimp]

I bet Jet fuel would melt anything

[@patrickjobling8676]

Fabbo . 😁

[@seekingtko3146]

oilburner..so this is where you went, hhhhh