Melting Aluminum Cans

Melting some soda cans into an ingot, full process explained with detail, feel free to ask questions, subscribe, comment, like, dislike, and check out my Instagram page, 809_Creations!

[@YourOwnWay]

This is the most straight forward, cost effective method for someone getting into casting. Awesome process and video.

[@1gallimaufry]

One thing that anyone trying this needs to know. Make absolutely sure your cans are completely dry and free of any liquid inside before adding them to molten metal. Once you have molten metal in the crucible, if you add another can that has ANY liquid, it will explode and sent molten metal flying. Best to use something large enough to hold all the cans you want to melt for one pour. That way any fluid will burn off before the metal melts.

[@lgrdiesel9655]

Thank you so much it indeed helps. I have one more question please.. Can use beercans molten meltal to cast some shape? 🙏

[@1gallimaufry]

@@lgrdiesel9655 Yes you can!

[@lgrdiesel9655]

@@1gallimaufry Thank you

[@leshemby9430]

Absolutely correct at the very least por everything out and set next to coals or put in the oven to make sure it's dry even a drop of sweat will make bad things happen. And you will have no safety suit or anything. Unless you know what your doing I wouldn't try this at home. I've worked melting steel an aluminum. People die every year from it and no telling how many get hurt

[@augusthawks6576]

Nice job. I like watching videos where the author is inventive.

[@midwestemo_fishing]

i turned my backyard campfire into a forge! i found these tips very helpful, thank you

[@809creations5]

Glad I could help! Well done!

[@rogermabry2816]

That was great . I was looking for straight forward , simple . Good job .

[@ralphmourik]

I just ran into this video now, nice job on the ingots, a very simple and easy setup. I have been metal casting for about two years, for little over a year on KZbin now too, I hit you buttons, I'm gonna be watching more of your stuff 👍👊

[@809creations5]

Ralph Mourik thank you very much! I look forward to seeing your work! I plan to make a follow up video to this one. I made this a long time ago and have changed my techniques quite a lot. Let me know what you think when I post it! :)

[@CarlosOnCall]

Gonna start casting tomorrow and your videos are a great help!

[@809creations5]

thats awesome man! let me know how it goes/if you have any questions! Thank you btw!

[@eatsleepheal4420]

Man this can get me trough another shitty winter thanks bro I'll like an sub fo sho

[@GenaroMontalvo-hc9wb]

Good Job 809!

[@mybestpartnerofficial9760]

Awesome work!!

[@owenquiles683]

keep calm and make more videos man your good at this embrace your blacksmith talent and make something great you will do great i know u will many people will like the stuff you do 😃

[@809creations5]

+Owen Quiles Thank you so much for your very kind words! If you would like to see the projects ive completed currently, check out my facebook or instagram pages, 809 Steel. I do intend on making more videos and the will be uploaded very soon. Thank you again my friend!

[@dhyankechamatkarmantrakishakti]

Great work

[@josemendoza7269]

Great idea..thank you for sharing

[@eddyoddrod]

Good job. Keep creating. Your young with nothing less than potential.

[@809creations5]

Thank you so much!! Sorry for the extremely late reply.

[@lionkingchannel1448]

I am your 809th subscriber

[@msramakrishnarao]

Very nice video.

[@gekkegeit5083]

Thanks for the tip. its really helping me out :)

[@809creations5]

Glad to hear it!

[@sircrispin9109]

this is cool im gonna do this soon

[@mwfarmer321]

Thanks man very helpful

[@tedleephillips1257]

Thanks dude that was awesome

[@crazydino3048]

Nice video. Very helpful

[@809creations5]

Glad you think so!

[@sydneynice8483]

Way to go! :-)

[@j.w.m.rhynejr9766]

Great info! Thanks for sharingyour simple techniques to melt Aluminum! OldGeezer71

[@809creations5]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching! New videos are coming out very soon and some include more smelting. Stay tuned!

[@juliemueller9087]

Cool vid, you should definitely make more videos.

[@809creations5]

Julie Mueller Thank you very much! More on the way soon.

[@SnipersamuriMartin]

That was so cool ima start 😭at the end of the month I just ordered stuff

[@amanofmanyparts9120]

I cast a metal melting furnace from mortar into a metal cube made from an old washing machine casing. The crucible is the bottom of a non-return helium cylinder. It worked fine when heated by wood and an old hairdryer as a blower, but the first time i added charcoal the bottom of the crucible burned out. When I get around to doing some more smelting I'll chop the bottom of an unused, empty larger cylinder or look around for a cast iron pot. In terms of the mould; putting a couple of screws or bolts in the top surface will aid in removing it from the sand more cleanly.

[@randyearles1634]

good video, simple

[@809creations5]

Thank you!

[@shep6123]

That was awesome

[@lgrdiesel9655]

Can we use those ingots for casting ( use as it is or need to add other chemicals when casting?

[@filmdabossfilmdaboss8546]

Cool I did it but it burned my finger earned a like!

[@809creations5]

Thank you! Wear gloves next time :)

[@cheskydivision]

You make it seem simple.

[@809creations5]

Just like everything its all about practice :) happy to help if you need.

[@SFBagpipes]

Great video, youre very easy to listen to because you speak so well to your viewers without the normal pitfalls others encounter: basically be you're a great public speaker, you don't resort to the usual "um's"or pauses, non sequiturs or inaudible mumbling, which so many other amateur videos suffer from. So now saying that: I have one (two) questions and one tiny suggestion. First the suggestion: when outside, to make your voice more easily heard, try using a earbud/mic connected to your phone, the mic will pic up your voice (obviously) or in the absence of such an accessory, try covering your face with a loose fitting face mask (think Chinese people when SARS was everywhere) basically a medical hospital mask, or even a bandana a la bank robbers during the days of cowboys and Indians. Ultimately what you want is some way of reflecting your voice back towards the mic on your phone so it picks up your narrative a bit clearer. Even a piece of cardboard taped dangling from your nose in front of your mouth works in a pinch. ... Now my questions, if you part of the borax still in the aluminum, how and in what capacity does it still filter impurities before and as you're pouring it? Second, you mentioned hairdryer towards the end, for what reason? Surely the heat of a Conair hairdryer isn't enough to melt aluminum. Is it something having to do with stoking instead?

[@809creations5]

Thank you very much for everything you said! I have been trying to make time to create more videos but find that to be rather difficult. However, once I do finally get around to it I will be sure to take your comments and suggestions into thought and action. As for your questions, the borax pulls impurities to the surface, its best to mix it into the metal with a spoon or something of the sort for a moment to really make sure your material is acting with it. It stops filtering after you scrape the slag off the top. It is best to leave a small amount of slag on the surface because this will actually act as a second filter when you go to pour. I hope that answered your first question. The hairdryer is what I use to supply a constant air flow through my forge. Because I use a hard fuel forge (coal, coke, charcoal) It requires a constant feed of air. I have found that attaching a hairdryer to a light dimmer gives me optimal control of the fire. Feel free to try it out! I will make an updated aluminum melt video shortly as I have found new information and techniques to improve quality and efficiency. Hope I helped!

[@afolayannikeflorence9786]

Please apart from the cans put in fire did you put anything on it to dissolve the cans

[@rosehep3301]

Hello! I'm only just starting to research DIY aluminum recycling since foil is a popular material in my mixed media/sculpture class. This is only the second video I've watched. :D Right around 5:30 mark, you say not to put too much in, but the reason why isn't very clear verbally and the auto closed-captioning doesn't know either. Did you say it could deform the crucible?

[@navagatingthroughthebeasts2908]

Think you can do copper or brass casings like that ?

[@elsenorc4551]

Good video.

[@809creations5]

Thank you!

[@SonoraSlinger]

Great way to make flint knapping billets. Imma try it out.

[@thehost9817]

Nice pot. I got a old steel ladle I found by an abandoned general aluminum factory

[@809creations5]

Nice find!

[@DeltaDJ2006]

very cool bro

[@809creations5]

Thanks dude!

[@elonworld9253]

Hello, is that charcoal ( wood)?? or the coal ( stone kinda) ? ?? its so beautifully lit, sorry what are you using that is lit so firy good? Thanks a lot

[@brianjordan3460]

It's called Lump Charcoal. It burn at a much higher temperature than wood or charcoal bouquets. Also, for the same size bag, it less than half the cost of charcoal bouquet's, about $5 at Walmart. I use it myself.

[@chriswatson432]

Very good you did not go on and on about things that have nothing to do with the project in hand some of them do and tell you nothing so well done my question is if you take questions can I make money out of this do you get more at scrap yard in ingot from

[@809creations5]

Well thank you! Glad I didn't bore ya :). At the scrap yard Im not sure, it would make it easier to transport more weight for sure! I know doomsday preppers will pay more than scrap prices for ingots. Really the money from casting comes from casting molds. Whether its something decorative or functional. Its much easier than you may think and once summer comes I think Ill be making a video of it. Hope I helped!

[@seansean7643]

How's borax clean it? What is sand casting and what's the point? Like if it's making a shape why do you have to cast the cans into ingots to do it, couldn't you just cast straight from the can?

[@faithwaipouri8472]

Great vid & some good advice in the comments, I collecting Alli can's to melt, just want to know, do I need to take out the rubbish in them or will they just burn off, like smoke Butt's etc

[@809creations5]

Youll hear people tell you to make sure they are dry and youll hear some people tell you not to worry about it. Im right in the middle. A few drops of pop left over will instantly turn to steam, but a few sips will instantly send molten metal on your sleeves and in your face. The plastic/wax or any other junks in the can will burn away with the paint but residue will be left in your pot which will need to be scraped off. All in all, just pour out any liquid left in the cans but I usually dont worry too much about it. However, the drier the better. Do your best to place the cans into your crucible right side up. Hope I helped!

[@TheHopson]

I need a block to machine on my lathe, will this aluminum have porosity in it from the impurity’s?

[@ZenithClarity]

Process it twice would give you a much cleaner ingot i would think. You will lose a little more material but should be much cleaner. I know this is a six month old post. So what did you come up with?

[@Mrcheekymonkeyisback]

Subbed:D

[@amirshehzad5582]

What is name of white powder u through on it

[@afolayannikeflorence9786]

When l put my cans on fire it dry up not dissolve to liquid at all what can l do ,also can l use paint container to dissolve my can or not, please help me

[@freedomone549]

I watched your whole video and i do have to say when you said that you saw or whatever people use the bottom a fire extinguisher i do have to add a comment about that, I myself used that and it was aluminum itself so it melted as well but also do make sure what metal it is before you use it, most likely just put a magnet up to it or whatever but not all fire extinguishers are usable for melting down aluminum. But i did like your video and i was thinking to myself "wow that guy is really unsafe" but then again when i did that before it melted the extinguisher i wasnt that safe but cool video!

[@809creations5]

+Freedom One I'm very happy you said that! I was unaware that fire extinguishers were sometimes made of aluminum. And yes a magnet would be the perfect tool to check for that. Of course safety is number one, but often over looked, above all, always remember to wear safety glasses!

[@mr.l2871]

👍🌟🌟🌟

[@MrJohnv8386]

How do you get the fire hot enough do you have a trick? Or will a simple campfire melt the aluminum cans?

[@809creations5]

Air! A campfire will work but you have to make sure your getting enough air to it. For my forge and my old foundry I use a blow dryer connected to a light dimmer so I can control the heat. Using hardwood charcoal, not briquettes, will reach a higher temperature than wood as well. Hope this helped!

[@MrJohnv8386]

Gotcha ok I'm going to give it a try build my own little set up I'm going to use the aluminum heat and air ducting and an old weak leaf blower

[@809creations5]

@@MrJohnv8386 hmm, ducting may not work for you very long. I would suggest an empty paint can. You can get those at any hardware store. However if the duct is to channel the air then you can ignore all that. Old leaf blower is exactly what I first used. Good luck! Let me know how it goes!

[@EHFEntertainment]

How many cans to make one ingot??? How strong is it???

[@knutewales1171]

What kind of table is that you're working on with the fire?

[@809creations5]

Its my forge! I have since built a new one that is much larger and better. This one, the body was an old lawnmower shell, an aluminum frame, and a rotor for the fire pot.

[@MrBobity]

I would love to do this, I am retiring soon, need a hobby. Is there a market for this right now?

[@wolfcat1998]

Doomsday preppers will buy ingots for well above scrap prices.

[@809creations5]

The market is in casting molds, not just ingots.

[@etchisinoga8593]

Hello Sir, I am from the Ivory Coast in West Africa. I live in another country called Mauritania. One of my activities is to buy used aluminum cans, plastic cans and bottles with a view to sell them to a Chinese company, which transforms them into various finished products. I want to become like them and like you by making large-scale finished products myself. What advice can you give me to achieve this?

[@saheedadewunmi6784]

How can I get that pot

[@KeepItSimpleSurvival]

Aluminium for Breakfast........😅

[@ClashWithTech]

what is the material of the vessel. is it metal or wat?

[@809creations5]

Mine are made of steel or cast iron. Those work best for aluminum. Dont buy a graphite pot unless you plan on doing precious metals or structural projects with your aluminum.

[@otispugh8162]

Try a old junky dutch oven, when melted use old junky dipper.

[@chriscole6668]

How many cans to make a bar and how much do you get for a bar?

[@809creations5]

Id say it takes around 15-20 cans for an ingot. If youre looking for bulk there are much better resources out there for aluminum. If you mean how much $ per bar Im not sure, I know its not a lot. I use mine for sand casting not to sell.

[@knutewales1171]

Great vid. That ingot is 20 cans, did you say?

[@809creations5]

Thank you! Give our take a coke or 7 up :)

[@WKZulu]

you still forging?

[@afolayannikeflorence9786]

What is boras

[@frankdavidson9675]

harbor freight has nice big welders cloves about $ 5.00 leather insulated

[@809creations5]

Im on the glove train now. Wish I could go back to when I made this video and slap myself for not :)

[@GhostShadowML]

Make more videos

[@blhachemmiloud7052]

One for ACDC

[@809creations5]

Absolutely!

[@rguy2684]

Can use salt as that is what the recovery industry uses.

[@megametal9034]

thanks friend i will have jobs to translate, but ok thanks!

[@jcpark7242]

Instructions unclear. Boiling coke make big mess!

[@BestoftheBeast33]

It can also make lots of money 😅

[@xtazy1337]

hello , so I've tried this today , but i wasn't able to melt the beer and soda cans that i have. maybe it was too cold outside .... I used a vacume cleaner with a blower function to boost the wood's temperature and i've tried to melt the cans inside of an iron bucket, the bucket got red hot on the bottum and the cans would light on fire for a bit but after that, nothing! it was dissapointing, what am I doing wrong? anyone?

[@809creations5]

Hey! Im so sorry for the late reply. If you still need a bit of help I'm happy to provide. If not, how did it go??

[@xtazy1337]

I havn't gotten arround to it again since but i'll give it another go in a couple of months.

[@809creations5]

@@xtazy1337 Great! Keep me posted

[@brianjordan3460]

Use Lump Charcoal instead. Burns at a much higher temperature than wood or charcoal briquettes. About $5 at Walmart.

[@everydayliving3495]

To me you're acting like you're doing it just on a fire, with some bricks but I hear your propane torch going in the background oh, do you have a propane torch going on your crystal ball or not? Or your frying pan rather?

[@809creations5]

Nope, thats not a propane torch. What you're hearing is the sound of a hairdryer feeding air into the coal fire. So it is "just a fire" but with a little more to it. Its not a frying pan, its a sauce pan lol.

[@keithstegall1961]

Noisy birds.

[@AndreJuilland]

How does the fire get so hot

[@809creations5]

Its quite simple really. Just like when you're camping and your fire starts dying you add more wood and blow on it. Here, instead of using wood we use either coal or charcoal, I suppose charcoal could be viewed as wood but its "cooked" wood, and instead of blowing with our lungs we use some kind of machine. I use a hair dryer with the heating function turned off. I do this because it saves a lot of energy and the fire doesn't need any extra heat haha. I have also attached a light dimmer to the hairdryer so that I can control how much it blows. Because of the constant flow of oxygen to the burning fuel, it gets really hot. Going back to the campfire, instead of short blows with your lungs, imagine putting a leaf blower up to it. If you really want to learn cool applications of this chemical reaction, look up how oxy/fuel cutting works. Hope this helped!

[@megametal9034]

if you can send a translation to Portuguese I'm happy😁😁

[@megametal9034]

amigo perdoe-me a confusão que eu causei ao mandar uma mensagem para você utilizando o contexto brasileiro até porque algumas palavras que eu digitei você não conseguiu entender me perdoe Espero que possa ser perdoado

[@lieutenantpliskin]

WHO THE HELL CAIRS? me

[@809creations5]

Ha!

[@lieutenantpliskin]

@@809creations5 lol! 4 years ago i was 14 now im 18...dam

[@809creations5]

@@lieutenantpliskin Ill be 22 next month, time flys huh?!

[@megametal9034]

friend forgive me for the confusion I caused by sending a message to you using the Brazilian context because some words that I typed you could not understand forgive me I hope you can be forgiven

[@809creations5]

Não se preocupe meu amigo! Espero que você esteja bem. Peço desculpas se parte deste texto se perder na tradução. Se você tiver alguma dúvida, fico feliz em ajudar em inglês ou português

[@megametal9034]

@@809creations5 tankyou

[@mushyroomsathotmail]

someone say mold ?

[@wolfcat1998]

That was in very spore taste.

[@shazzamconsta7325]

You're very cute!

[@809creations5]

Shazzam Consta well you just made my day :) I made this video a long time ago and I plan to make a follow up very soon. Let me know if I’ve held up to the compliment :)

[@RedoxEngineering]

Cool video! I also built a furnace similar to yours! It's on my channel if you wanna check it out and let me know what you think... thanks!

[@809creations5]

Thats great dude! excellent! I would recommend insulating it somehow so that you can trap more heat and use your fuel more efficiently. Plus you may even be able to melt different metals! I would recommend looking up recipes using refractory cement or you can go the cheap route and get yourself some kaowool insulation. Keep it up!

[@alan30189]

Something tells me inhaling even a little bit of fumes from that melting aluminum cannot be good for your health.

[@809creations5]

Theres a lot of facts and discussion around that. From what I am aware of and in my experience, the fumes are really no danger to you unless the metal is boiling. Then, just like water, the metal is literally evaporating and being put in the air on a molecular level. Now, it takes a heck of a lot more heat to do this. Aluminum melts at 1220 degrees F, thats 660 C. In order to boil aluminum you need a temperature of at least 4,473 degrees F or 2,467 degrees C. Those are pretty tough numbers to reach in factories let alone in your backyard. However, thats only thinking about the aluminum. In this video I melt pop cans which have paint and often plastics which of course are hazardous to burn. Lets also not forget the coal I burn. I really don't like melting cans for that reason but more for environmental reasons than for my health. Yes if I stick my face in the plume of smoke created by the crucible and forge I could come down with cancer or some other disease but so long as your in a well ventilated area or have a form of proper ventilation there is really no cause for concern. The only time I wear a face mask when working with aluminum is when Im grinding it. When you grind or power sand aluminum or any metal you are putting it into the air. Aluminum has been linked to many diseases such as alzheimers so I am very cautious and work safe in these process. But the act of melting it does not raise alarms for me. One more thing to be warry of is that aluminum in a molten state likes to stick to things, including you. Fellas who work in professional foundries tell me they would rather work with steel than aluminum for this reason. Im no chemist but my understanding on the concept is that because steel is so much hotter in the same state it likes to flow more fluidly as opposed to aluminum. Im sorry to ramble :)

[@sleepingshepherd96]

was this video recorded by a potato?

[@lieutenantpliskin]

ZzMac1996zZhaha

[@809creations5]

A tomato actually. But you were close!

[@FreshDot1014]

That pan was from PUBG 😆