Metal Bars: Casting

[@TheWhitefisher]

likelikelikelikelike. I don't know what was with me as a child, but I used to just fantasize and imagine holding ingots of different metals... picturing their weight, and texture... yeah. Okay that's enough about me as a child, but this video REALLY hits the spot.

[@mrhomescientist]

Thanks! I'm glad I'm not the only one out there in love with metals :)

[@bugs181]

mrhomescientist Nope, definitely not the only one! Count me in this (what seems) relatively small group.

[@colehellwig838]

Add another.

[@jadghalayini1446]

***** don't forget me :D.

[@foolishly2284]

SAME.

[@picturemantv]

I've been talking about melting tin and aluminum cans for years but never have. You've inspired me to make that simple charcoal furnace. This weekend.... I've got a new hobby. Big Thanks.

[@Dragon.7722]

It has something incredibly satisfying watching those ingots being created...

[@Radstah689]

I've worked with aluminum a bit in a more properly built foundry; its usually best to wait a couple minutes after it starts to melt before you take it out. I just use a pair of steel tongs, and that makes it a lot easier to transition from removing the crucible to pouring. Best results come from moving as fast as possible.

[@meantwhale6457]

Watching this sorta stuff is strangely satisfying.

[@x9x9x9x9x9]

I love doing this! I can only do it with lead and zinc as they are both easy to get and melt at a low temperature, low enough I just use a propane torch and no furnace. Every winter I set by my fire place with it on to act as a fume hood and play around with melting metals.

[@mrhomescientist]

You should get some bismuth - it melts at a lower temp than lead and you can grow some amazing crystals with it. Rotometals is a good source for low-melting metals and alloys, or check on eBay.

[@x9x9x9x9x9]

I really would like to get some gallium of fields/woods metal

[@mrhomescientist]

x9x9x9x9x9 Gallium is an amazing metal. I used it to make a room temperature liquid metal alloy in another of my videos!

[@MSteamCSM]

Nice melting method. Thanks for sharing.

[@beinbrek]

Dad and I used to reload bullets in my youth. We cast our own bullets out of melted down and cleaned up used wheel weights. Dad stressed safety for good reasons, but those were some really great times!

[@hyperhektor]

One trick i found for aluminum cast is, avoid contact to air. I mean the housing for the mold should be closed on the upside to, with only 2 small holes. One for air out, one for aluminum in. Also before you cast, it is good to fish out some dirt which might be floating on the molten aluminum (some bunred colors, or hard oxides)

[@Tyler_255]

I think ur channel is so cool. it encourages me to get into this stuff. keep up the cool vids

[@AnDyity]

Cool vid, I'd like to see some alloys of bismuth.

[@loialtreesinger]

Your videos are very interesting. Been subscribing for a while now. I suspect you probably have a lot more on your plate, but I'd like to see these videos increase in frequency.

[@mrhomescientist]

Hey thanks a lot for your support! I definitely have a lot going on right now, but I always try to put more videos up on a semi-regular basis. I tend to go through spurts of lots of activity followed by a long downtime, as I'm sure you've noticed :) Hang in there, there's always more to come!

[@elrictraver8275]

Amazing, love your videos, I wait for more :D

[@geniusdude8975]

I have a idea to melt metal without getting slag. Pour some oil into the metal before melting then heat it.the slag will disolve in oil.which really work with Zn, Sn, Pb

[@piranha031091]

You should try melting copper. And making some alloys!

[@MylesJP]

Awesome video! I would love to have your setup at my house.

[@mrhomescientist]

Thanks! It's all very easy to make - my small furnace is just a stack of firebricks and a propane torch fed through a hole in one brick, and the aluminum furnace is just a charcoal chimney and a hair dryer!

[@GaryLiseo]

What would you recommend as a cheap, non toxic, durable, metal that would have little flexibility? I'm thinking of making a custom mold for handles that are part of a demonstration we do with the public because the previous (plastic) handles broke after only about 5 or so years. I couldn't use lead because it wouldn't be safe for hands on use of the public and I don't know if I could get a hot enough furnace for aluminum

[@mrhomescientist]

+Gary Liseo Zinc might be a decent substitute. It depends on what your requirements are re: strength, toxicity, corrosion, etc. Aluminum would likely be your best bet, really. Making my "very simple aluminum furnace" (see that video) is easy and cheap!

[@blackbird1234100]

+mrhomescientist i havent seen your video, but i know there are plenty of tutorials on the internet that work well. i made Grant Thompson's and im 15. as far as zinc, it creates toxic fumes in melting. i wouldnt reccomend it, especially to a beginner

[@silvermediastudio]

Lead not only holds a lot of impurities but also oxidizes quickly above 750°F.

[@andromeda1892]

nice video. if you add a bit of table salt to the molten aluminium it flows better when pouring it.

[@WhatAreYouBuyen]

The tin looks the best or at least the most shiny :P

[@MindMash5647]

I love your videos. Keep it up!

[@99Chemicals]

Cool video, Were you using a propane or some sort of other torch for the furnace? Also, where can you get firebrick?

[@mrhomescientist]

Yep: propane for the little firebrick furnace and charcoal to melt the aluminum. I got my firebrick online from the Home Depot website. Luckily I got free shipping - they are super heavy!

[@96d96]

If I wanted to make the same setup you have but smaller would I be able to use a mini blow torch

[@attack125]

01:54 for the people who are wondering what "utensil" or tool he is using. that's a shoe horn XD people use it to aid their feet into a shoe.

[@unpairedelectron2886]

Actually thats a scoopula used for transferring chemicals.

[@amanullahsayed4024]

Hi how to melt MS (iron) Tin, Scrap our bars, what melting powder you used? what is your melting bucket metal?

[@smmoom1212]

what's the bar mold made of? do you have a vid on the creation process? or did you buy it?

[@mrhomescientist]

Graphite, bought from eBay.

[@rickeymack8045]

+mrhomescientist can u send me a aluminum bar

[@Vitaliy711]

How do you clean your crucible between melts? Are you able to get all of the metal out of the crucible when pouring?

[@Daniel_Scott89]

Wow I love your vids, new subscriber here! You should show your furnace setups! Please! And go over what equipment you use :)

[@HuMaHuMHuM]

what's wrong with me?! I can't help myself laughing in a perverted way when you poor the metalls in bars. I think it's beautiful - But I can't understand why - hahaha

[@onxiaftw]

u got to lower the drugs intake i think

[@tforrester94]

Very cool!

[@brunnermetalwear]

Hello, I'm curious as to how to build your little brick oven there. What did you use to bring fire into the 4 surrounding firebricks you had?

[@mrhomescientist]

It's just several firebricks placed in that arrangement (not mortared or anything). The brick on the bottom has a hole drilled through it that a propane torch fits into. I've talked about it a bit in some of my other videos.

[@banama1758]

looks pretty fun

[@Quantum813]

Hey Mrhomescientist, how did you clean your crucible between melts? I have a bunch of aluminum slag at the bottom of mine, and I've tried concentrated HCl but there's still quite a bit left over

[@Jordophskii]

You need to use soft firebricks instead of hard firebricks. The hard fire bricks absorb heat which makes it much more difficult to melt metals. Soft firebricks insulate and are rated up to 2800 F in some cases so you should have no difficulties in melting aluminum and maybe bronze.

[@patr7289]

where did you buy your small set along

[@melaronvalkorith1301]

I love this, metal is so awesome.

[@joeymaximus8146]

Does the metal come out of the graphite easily once it has cooled?

[@mrmuffins1961]

Hey, can you tell me where you source your chemicals from? I'm interested in setting up a home lab but can't find any well rated sources.

[@mrhomescientist]

United Nuclear is a good company that caters to the home scientist, though some things can be expensive. eBay is a great source for just about everything too - check out Avogadro's Lab Supply there.

[@philfount10]

Perhaps you could put the metal bits in the molds as you put them into the fire? Or maybe just the Al?

[@watchme2day]

How do you remove metal that is stuck in the mold. I was creating an alloy of various metals and poured into a graphite mold but now it's stuck.

[@mrhomescientist]

Weird. I've never had anything stick in graphite molds. Maybe your mold doesn't have draft in the walls. You could try cooling the mold since things contract when they get cold, and that might loosen it a bit.

[@billjoe9017]

Nice! when I tried to melt zinc though, it caught on fire and it all burned away :(. I was using a coke fired furnace though, which can melt steel.

[@punishedexistence]

Naughty naughty spraying that canned air on a red hot surface, hope you enjoy breathing that perfluoroisobutylene, HF and carbonyl fluoride...Hahah Just kidding!!! I really enjoyed this, those were beautiful ingots; I always wanted to obtain some bismuth because I am just intrigued by the element's properties. Very nice, man! You have a subscriber! :)

[@idopyrotechnics]

Where do you get mold and crucible?

[@kennydowis4200]

You should make a video of those polished

[@wesg6395]

Cool video

[@demodog5610]

What do you think you are going to do next?

[@Rusty_Fridge]

Are you using a blow torch? And what are the blocks surrounding it made of? Also do you need to heat up the mold?

[@mrhomescientist]

Yes, firebrick, and yes!

[@peteranderson5296]

What material used to make the cast?

[@ethandickman9334]

Where did u get the tin scrap

[@ScienceMarshall]

Great video as always! Where did you get the lead? I am jealous of your crucible.

[@mrhomescientist]

Both are from good old eBay.

[@seanmedic1]

you can improve your alum pore by using a MAP torch to keep it moltin during the poor

[@robertw9677]

Thanks trying to learn the diff between poured and cast bars scottsdale calls their 20 oz long cast they look poured to me cant seem to find clear explanation of diff types of bars so i guess which is not good what you making you describe as cast but looks poured to me help

[@nemeanlyan7918]

Would a different crucible work better for the aluminum? Graphite has such a high thermal conductivity that it may be worth it to use a ceramic crucible and spend a few extra minutes heating it up so that it doesn't freeze instantly.

[@mrhomescientist]

Yeah that's a very good idea actually. I need to get new crucibles anyway!

[@jacobmedley4587]

Could you do a video on how you made your furnace?

[@mrhomescientist]

It was really pretty simple, so it'd be a pretty boring video! All it's made of is a stack of bricks for height, with white firebrick for the walls of the furnace. I drilled a hole in the bottom brick that the torch tip fits through. Nothing is mortared together or anything, so it does lose a lot of heat through the cracks.

[@zuleymavasquez2084]

What did u do to all the excess metals?

[@Sir_Flopsalot]

im looking at getting a graphite crucible for melting aluminum, it says don't use an open flame. do you have problems when you do that?

[@mrhomescientist]

It does actually erode the crucible over time, so they'll need replacing occasionally. I've gotten a fair bit of use out of mine though.

[@UnregisteredSBR]

Where did you get the bismuth, tin, and zinc?

[@mrhomescientist]

eBay, eBay, and a boating store.

[@darknight9877]

Where did u get the molds from?

[@carsonfred371]

How do you clean the crucible and mold for the next metal so that nothing is contaminated?

[@mrhomescientist]

Carson Frederiksen They're graphite, so the residue just falls right out after cooling. A bit of gentle scraping with a narrow file works to clean out stubborn bits.

[@carsonfred371]

mrhomescientist oh that's why everybody uses them. I'll definitely be getting graphite tools then👍thanks

[@353films]

I really wish you could be my science teacher!!! :D

[@leonidasmiglioriniplaster]

How you find this tin.

[@RHaney2012]

What would you say is the purity of your soda can derived aluminum? I've been thinking about making this for some metal projects but wasn't sure if purity would be an issue. And, I know some places who asked to buy some bars from me once I got started if the aluminum wasn't too bad. Also, how do you clean your crucible so you don't mix the metals as you go from one type to another?

[@mrhomescientist]

Robert Haney I have another video on the aluminum forge that has the alloys listed in the description. Cans are fairly pure! After melting, residues just slide right out of the graphite so it's no problem.

[@RHaney2012]

Very cool, thanks.

[@Xanza]

The reason why you're having an issue pouring your Al is because it's not getting hot enough. Melting point of Al is 1221 F but you need temperatures well above 1500 F to get a nice liquid pour.

[@wolfmeisterschmid6269]

That's what I was going to say also.

[@johngalt5572]

How do you clean out the .. "pot"? when switching metals?

[@mrhomescientist]

The crucible is graphite, which is somewhat slippery and the contents just fall right out.

[@creepycooter9005]

I used big graphite crucibles for my castings. the highest temp I had only went to melting aluminym. I use clay crucibles now and I can now melt up to copper. not sure if it's the heat or crucible change

[@mrhomescientist]

Someone else mentioned that since graphite is conductive it draws away heat too quickly, so I can definitely see clay or ceramic working out better.

[@creepycooter9005]

+mrhomescientist but also try a sand and plaster of Paris foundry. I made one it works really great and yea graphite reminds me of silver with the low heat conductivity and clay stays at its current temp for a good time

[@creepycooter9005]

+mrhomescientist and I just want to say I love your videos and can't believe u responded I'll make sure my friends sub to

[@mrhomescientist]

Thank you!

[@thecypressstation7470]

I once casted tin, but I only had 1.5 ounces of it. Dang, I wish I could cast metal like this.

[@nateclishe622]

How many ounces is your crucible?

[@robertimmanuel577]

Lol, when he said bismuth the subtitle says business XD

[@allenthiede3050]

Have you tried using scrap steel? Will this work with a graphite mold?

[@mrhomescientist]

Allen Thiede Melting scrap steel? No, that's way beyond my capabilities, even with my micro furnace from my silver tree video.

[@needamuffin]

How big are these ingots? It's hard to get a good size comparison from this video. And how much do they weigh (on average)?

[@nemeanlyan7918]

The weight would vary DRASTICALLY based on the density of the metal, the average weight wouldn't do you much good since the lead is likely twice as heavy as the aluminum.

[@mrhomescientist]

More like six times as much!

[@amirullaahad955]

what size is that graphite???

[@Digging4AnswersOfficial]

How do you get the extra metal out of the little pot used for melting after it solidified?

[@mrhomescientist]

+Digging4Answers The crucible and mold are made of graphite, so any remaining metal just falls right out. Graphite powder is used as a lubricant after all!

[@Digging4AnswersOfficial]

Where did you get the crucible?

[@mrhomescientist]

+Digging4Answers I get this question all the time. I've updated the description with answers to some common questions.

[@Jewelrymaker]

New subscriber here. Very interesting video. I am a goldsmith by trade and am used to working with much higher melting point metals. IE. Gold and silver etc. Do you have to use any flux when melting your metals?

[@mrhomescientist]

Thanks! No flux needed here. Depending on how dirty your metals are they can develop some floating dross as you saw, but it's so little that you don't need to do anything special to remove it. I'm actually interested in using fluxes - starting at aluminum temperatures it looks like you need it. Any tips on fluxing? Do you add it before melting, and how much? I imagine this depends on what metal you're working with.

[@Jewelrymaker]

mrhomescientist When torch melting, I always add the flux right before the metal reaches it's melting point. If oven melting, then the flux is added prior to melting in the crucible on top of the metal.

[@brentwhitley1563]

why did you heat the mold? I know the answer is probably obvious but I am new to metal melting.

[@mrhomescientist]

Brent Whitley Two reasons mainly. First to prevent the metal freezing as soon as it hits the mold, ensuring a smooth and even pour. And second to get rid of any moisture, so it doesn't pop and splash molten metal around!

[@ghostprormo5656]

First mold looks like a play button

[@minimalmike1410]

is the thing you used to take out the sludge from the molten lead, a tent peg?

[@mrhomescientist]

Bushcraft Mike No it's a spatula. Basically a little powder scoop.

[@minimalmike1410]

mrhomescientist oh, good to know. It sure look like one :))

[@alexanderbistyak2310]

where did u manage to get scrap tin form?

[@mrhomescientist]

+Alexander Bistyak eBay.

[@dannymartin2755]

Can you make your own cast and stuff to shape the metals

[@mrhomescientist]

Sure! There are lots of methods that I'd like to look into. Green sand casting seems like one of the easiest.

[@MRconfusedboy]

gosh i love this stuff

[@chinguidinsky]

What did you study! I want too! when the mold was red it was a cross between energy and materia, the moment it all happened!

[@mrhomescientist]

I studied physics in college, but now I'm more into chemistry! Most of my knowledge in chemistry was self-taught, just sitting down and reading lots of material on my own time. It's fun stuff!

[@madcat789]

Would it be possible to carve out a mold of a soldier and make a Tin Soldier?

[@mrhomescientist]

Of course! They sell solid graphite blocks on eBay, which you could machine into whatever mold shape you wanted.

[@brucelevine6517]

NO ! look up lost wax casting for your answer utube or wickapedia

[@indskab]

Are you making the ring of mordor?

[@woodedairsoft]

where did you get all your tin from (main source)

[@mrhomescientist]

It was scrap tin from eBay.

[@thebeyondwordser]

where did you get the bismuth from? how much was it? it's an element that has always interested me, and i kind of want to get some. thanks

[@mrhomescientist]

Rotometals. They have an eBay store as well. Great source for metal ingots!

[@Cremis713]

Nice video, but I've got one question: What are the mold and crucible made of? At first I thought graphite, but that would burn in the open flame, wouldn't it?

[@mrhomescientist]

They are graphite. Graphite crucibles and molds are pretty common things, actually. I imagine they don't burn because it's a solid block, but graphite powder probably would. Similar to how magnesium ribbon burns easily but it's extremely hard to ignite a big block of it.

[@x9x9x9x9x9]

mrhomescientist Graphite is also used for glass blowing/shaping tools. I have a graphite paddle I use for various projects and when I have a sticky door lock I scrape some off and have some awesome dry lube.

[@mrhomescientist]

x9x9x9x9x9 I've got a little tube of graphite powder and use that in my door locks too! It works wonders and leaves no mess.

[@Cremis713]

mrhomescientist Thank you very much! I was wondering about this question for few years =)

[@mrhomescientist]

***** Ebay.

[@henrymyrick789]

where did you get the mold tongs and Crucible

[@ricardoluvscarz]

All questions i would like to know too

[@mrhomescientist]

+Henry Myrick eBay!

[@d34thang3l]

I'm a Hazmat Technician, and really hope you know what you're doing with that lead, you can cause serious damage to yourself, and people around you if you're doing things improperly, I'd suggest using a respirator with a decent charcoal filter

[@mrhomescientist]

Elemental lead isn't that big of a deal as long as you don't plan on eating it. It's the soluble compounds that are really dangerous. I'm not heating this anywhere near hot enough for it to vaporize and pose an inhalation hazard. This is also done outside, and was a one-time event in any case. Not to imply others shouldn't be careful handling it, of course.

[@lagames1265]

What is the name of the first material

[@liquidateddamages6220]

cool video! Where do you get your tongs and crucible?

[@mrhomescientist]

eBay.

[@ClanofDarkness]

Tin and zinc look nice

[@GeorgeInTheJunglist]

How did you make your forge? It's nice!

[@mrhomescientist]

It's really just a stack of firebricks, and I drilled a hole in the bottom one for the torch to enter. Nothing is mortared together or anything so it leaks a lot of heat, but it's easy to assemble and change configuration if I need to. Works for quite a few low melting metals!

[@GeorgeInTheJunglist]

Wow that is simple! It might work better with refractory caulking? I'll try it, thanks man. Love your videos by the way.

[@mrhomescientist]

Soul Garage Yeah that would definitely help hold the heat in. It's really just something I threw together pretty quickly and it's served its purpose well. I ordered the brick from home depot. They are quite hard to drill into, though - I think they make 'soft' firebrick that might be a little better suited for this. Thanks and good luck!

[@Kobalt2772]

how many Oz is the ingot mold

[@MegaScienceguru]

nice video one Q.. where did you buy the crucible and mold from?

[@mrhomescientist]

Ebay. Just about everything in my videos (chemicals included) can be sourced there, believe it or not.

[@MegaScienceguru]

thanks

[@AznRyda001]

hey how do make those bars so perfect?

[@mrhomescientist]

AznRyda001 That's just how they came out of the mold!

[@Randomyou101]

Isn't led bad and how did you make the forge

[@mrhomescientist]

Lead is a heavy metal and can be toxic, but the metal itself isn't all that dangerous because there's no easy way for it to get inside your body (besides eating it, which I don't recommend). Lead compounds, like from dissolving the metal in acid, are much more dangerous since they can dissolve and pass through your skin. The small furnace is just a stack of fire bricks. The bottom piece had a hole drilled through it and a propane torch goes through that into the chamber. The aluminum furnace is detailed in another video of mine.

[@ohraa1]

where did you get the tin? and did you get it for cheap

[@mrhomescientist]

+Rick Flores eBay. It looks like scrap from someone else's crafts. Tin is usually very cheap.

[@Krogzaxants]

I love metals! How much does it cost to make bars ?

[@mrhomescientist]

Depends on the size of the bar and what heat source you use to melt it, I guess. Not all that much though - these metals are cheap!

[@theragingcreeper9040]

Does the graphite crucible go bad after a certain number of uses...or will this be good for 100s of meltings?

[@mrhomescientist]

+TheRagingCreeper It sort of depends on how you use it. If the flame is directly hitting the crucible (which is sometimes unavoidable) then it will slowly erode the graphite. For the most part though yes, these are good for many, many uses.

[@theragingcreeper9040]

+mrhomescientist Alright, thanks. Can graphite crucibles be used in coal forges?

[@mrhomescientist]

+TheRagingCreeper No idea. Assuming a "coal forge" burns coal, the same material the crucible is made of, I would be wary.

[@theragingcreeper9040]

+mrhomescientist alright! Thanks!

[@williamela3340]

+TheRagingCreeper hey! To answer your question, I use my graphite crucible in my coal forge and I am going on over 100 melts with it and it is still going strong. There have been no issues and it works great

[@captainspaulding5728]

You can also melt pewter

[@lukezaininger637]

What material is the pot you are melting in?

[@mrhomescientist]

The crucible and mold are both made of graphite.