Molten Aluminum Anthill Casting #20 (4K)

[@bigemugamer]

The nation is falling into turmoil and this guy's like, "I'm gonna melt me some ants!" =D

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Hahah, 2020 was so bad that when I came inside after finishing up the recording to an attempted insurrection on the news I wasn’t even surprised.

[@bigemugamer]

@@NolansAnthillCastings Omg you didn't even know till after your recording! pretty weird for you after that you got to see a second anthill swarming with even angrier ants. lol =D

[@madman-oc1jh]

@@Burnttoastwithvegemite When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty

[@DarknezzMadnezz]

@@madman-oc1jh tyranny became law the moment citizens united was passed. lets not even start on the bullshit revolving around electoral collage.

[@simonpetrikov3992]

@@DarknezzMadnezz I might need to review citizens United

[@parker73711]

i too would enjoy watching you melt down metal...these castings are pretty neat

[@elizabethdaniels3127]

Nice pile of scrap Can a person buy your casting?

[@redbeardsteelskin6723]

I actually watched that video prior to this one lol

[@richberryhill4179]

REALLY nice piece!! I like the way you explain when melting the aluminum. SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY!!! I too would enjoy seeing how you melt down the scrap to make your aluminum bars.

[@averyhill615]

Seeing a scrap melt down/clean up video would be really cool!

[@MARVELOUSMETALS]

Dude your channel is blowing up! Congrats and nice progression with your casts

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Yes it is! thank you so much.

[@productjunkie9235]

Someone driving passed your house probably thinks...”Man that guy has a severe gopher problem.” 😆😆😆

[@apossessedwarlock-4386]

I always wonder how people do this kinda stuff and don't get hurt so its cool to see you explaining everything :)

[@Joe.Rogan.]

6:38 Man... Get yourself a face shield or at least some safety glasses bro. No hate, but your face was like 2 feet away from that pour and I've seen my share of metal casting mold explosions to seriously hope you see this comment. You're pouring into moist ground with no vent holes.. which is a recipe for something bad to happen. It's a cool hobby and all but nothing is worth going blind over... if you don't believe me just search metal casting explosions on KZbin. Good luck dude.

[@mysticalfitzy9844]

Shop teacher always said "I can hold a beer with a wooden hand, walk on a wooden leg, bit you cant see out a wooden eye. Wear your damm googles!"

[@nhwilkinosn]

I agree. I also believe safe handling practices are far more important than just PPE alone. PPE isn't too protect you from being an idiot(this guy isn't being an idiot, in my opinion) but for when crap goes sideways. I got a piece of metal in my eye about the size of a bold ball point pen ball from grinding, and i had a face shield(it bounced up my shirt, i remember seeing the spark) and had i followed the advice of my welding teachers, i wouldn't be seeing a faint spot whenever i focus on things within normal reading distance. I am lucky it's not worse though

[@MyLooneyBin]

man that is scary when they explode like that! - turned out great,

[@enugomontoya6050]

Short sleeves.... Ouch!

[@DougPoker]

Fun fact - the fire ants don't die in the molten aluminum, they are simply trapped until some poor sucker melts it down again and they can escape to seek vengeance.

[@NovoAnts]

I’m an ant keeper and it’s always sad to see and ant colony destroyed but I can understand an invasive colony being destroyed, they cause lots of ecological damage. So interesting to see how ants tunnel.

[@eds6755]

watch out this guy's gonna put you out of business

[@chrisvinicombe9947]

I like the bit where the ant hill fights back 😁

[@Thewulf56]

Still turned out really good, even with all the steam. We have had so much rain, I can't even think about casting an ant hill.

[@JimBeshears]

Id like to see how you ingot all your scrap.

[@AshlynnTheFennec]

always love these types of vids, the castings look like coral from the ocean

[@johnphillips5188]

Why are there never any ants walking around the entrances, are these abandoned nests or do you somehow kill them before casting?

[@DougPoker]

They all headed inside to put on fireproof suits

[@hayuseen6683]

I’d guess it’s early morning and too cold still.

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

It’s because it’s cold out right now and also as long as you don’t touch the nest itself they won’t be angry and swarm.

[@pedrovargas2181]

@@NolansAnthillCastings Hello, new subscriber. Meaning, Does the casting contain the remains of the ants? Cool.

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Yep, sometimes you can see ants preserved in the aluminum since they burn without oxygen they stay as charcoal.

[@JimBeshears]

How do you determine the volume of molten aluminum you will need, and is a bubbler caused by material filling a nest, or is it from moisture?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

I determine the amount of aluminum I need in units of crucible fulls. It’s very hard to tell how much aluminum it will end up taking but I base it on the size of the surface mound. The reason this one popped on me and bubbled is due to steam getting trapped. Steam expands at a ratio of something like 1:27 and when you pour molten metal on water it’ll do that very quickly acting almost like an explosion. Where I was pouring was pretty wet ground usually but it hasn’t rained in a couple weeks so I figured it wouldn’t be bad, I was wrong lol.

[@JimBeshears]

@@NolansAnthillCastings oh man don't I know it. I worked in a steel mill and one of our steel making furnaces had a cooling water leak in the bottom. They poured the molten iron in it to get started and it just kept exploding, what a night.

[@christiandietz6341]

Dude melted a bloody airplane and poured it down the anthill! 🤣 Thank you for the video.

[@aalikane]

How long after pouring do you start with the hose? Im assuming it has to cool a little otherwise it'll explode?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

I let it cool for about 5 minutes or until I know it’s solidified. If I pour water on it when it’s still liquid it could pop some aluminum and also mess up the base. After its solid though Its fine to douse in water.

[@crego00]

Why did the aluminum blow up and out like that? Was the ground moist or was there water in the ant hole?

[@tRRickedOut]

I would like to know this also please

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

The ground was slightly wet but apparently that was enough to get an explosion. Another difference was a clay layer in the soil. Normal sand/dirt is very porous which lets the steam escape through the ground instead of building up pressure but clay is too fine and doesn’t let steam escape. My best guess is the explosion originated in the clay layer due to normal amounts of ground moisture. We havent had rain here in probably 2 weeks.

[@crego00]

@@NolansAnthillCastings thanks for the explanation. Your channel is awsome, each casting is a different peice of art. Keep going and you'll be big.

[@tRRickedOut]

@@NolansAnthillCastings that's really good to know. This is on my todo list and being here in South GA, we have huge fire any mounds but we also have a lot of clay

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Yeah I’d be careful about pouring in clay soil. If you have anywhere around you where it’s a bit more soil than clay then I’d give it a go. Just be careful and wear your ppe, face shield is probably your most important. I use a cheap plastic one but that’s enough to save you from aluminum in your eyes. Also don’t wear polyester when melting. If some splashes on you it will melt your cloths onto your skin and burn you worse than if it just landed on your skin bare.

[@hungryjack8032]

Try using a campfire cooking tripod over it and tie the base to it to support the weight while you dig.

[@dontask8979]

I was thinking the same. Push a steel ring into it while its melted and you would have something to tie it to.

[@paulsilva3346]

Make a pair of tongs so that as as you pull up the tongs grab the base that you poured

[@roxxannebautista8778]

I like how clean and organized you work.

[@michaelerway5243]

Always fun to watch things melt

[@aalikane]

I greatly enjoy watching things get melt down and then formed into something usable. I think ive watched about every beeswax melting video i can find, it'll be. Ice to branch out.

[@budgiebreder]

Meltdown videos are just as good at these. We love everything!

[@tristenshumway6999]

Im a new sub and would love to see more of the process, melting scrap.. Thanks for sharing brother much love and respect from Colorado!!💪👊🍻

[@GabrielDungan]

Is there any kind of prep you do to the ant hill other than putting a sand collar around it? Do you wet it?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Nope, just the sand. I pulled a leaf off the top of the mound before recording and that’s why the tunnels were exposed. But normally I don’t even expose the tunnels since the aluminum is dense enough to punch through the surface of the mound.

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

When I was younger I would help our survey crew as a rod man. It never failed I would always stand right on top of one of these nests.

[@Tammissa]

Who thought of even trying this, the sculpture is beautiful.

[@bmbirdsong]

Just found your videos. Good job. I like the way you explain things.

[@treytyer1629]

Where’d you get that aviation stuff... are you a pilot? Do you work at an airport?

[@austinbanttari]

I illegally sold it to him on the black market

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Yes and yes, my buddy works next door at a maintenance shop so I got some scrap off of him.

[@brendawalker5644]

Absolutely beautiful!👍👍👍👍

[@steven2212]

The casting turned out pretty well. Work on your editing, the hill prep work was good. The more you cast, the better you'll get.

[@BCM1959]

Still like these and would like to make one but I don't think we have any big ant nests here. So watching you do it is good enough.

[@cheekymonkey666]

ive done a few of these ant hill castings and i found using extra strong hair spray works great to hold the more sandy holes open while pouring...

[@frannyfisher8734]

That’s beautiful!

[@geohazelman7039]

That's a yes from me for casting ingots. Don't forgot a bucket of water to cool them down in. We like the sound of it.

[@chiraz111]

I'm surprised they weren't swarming all over. Did you do something to keep them down? or are they not active for some other reason?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

All the ants in my yard have became much less active since it started getting cold out.

[@ItsJeromeme]

The only thing I can think of is "Fire, hot"

[@doncarleone973]

Wow bro, that's another beautiful one! Great job man! Fire ants huh... Either South Georgia or Florida would be my guess✌️

[@enugomontoya6050]

Wow! When the metal splashed up during the pour I thought hmmmm, short sleeves. Very cool stuff. Fire ants are no joke.

[@imarriedabrkfsttaco3737]

Super slick graphite molds make a lot of sense. Guitarists use graphite pencil shavings on the guitar to lubricate plastic or bone nuts. Graph Tech makes self lubricating graphite nuts so the strings won't bind at the nut causing tuning issues.

[@eric131313]

I bet those ants appreciated purity of that aluminium

[@lorenrobertson8039]

Is there a safe distance that the propane tank needs to be away from the crucible or whatever you call the aluminum heater? Nice to see you re-purposing aluminum that might otherwise just end up in a landfill or worse. Thank you! I love your sculptures and hope one day you get discovered and have your works shown in an art show or museum.

[@lorenrobertson8039]

I noticed in later videos of yours that you let them sit hot without cooling them with water. Is that to kill any remaining living ants in the dirt surrounding the casting?

[@lorenrobertson8039]

Oh that is beautiful!

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Thank you, the propane tanks actually get very cold as you run them so there’s not a risk of them building up pressure. I just keep them away to keep the line from bundling up and tripping me. The ones that I just let cool on their own is just because I didn’t have a hose that could reach far enough at the time.

[@patriciahazeltine9986]

I watched another site that used a support above the casting with a rope attached to a fused loop. Hope this info helps. Really cool results!!

[@MegaEricPham]

As someone who plans on own ants as pets and love animals, I feel bad for the ants But as someone who cares about Environmental sciences, I know what must be done to those invasive species. Another part of me plans on also blacksmithing and ant casting so this is always fun to watch.

[@AshleyMires]

Lot’s of plans! Good luck :)

[@elysehernandez9861]

So amazing! They are like snowflakes...no two will ever be alike! Beautiful!

[@Aby7799]

"to fight fire with fire", fits good to explain this scenario.

[@BenNawrath]

How much of a tank or propane do you go thru in a typical melt?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

One tank lasts me probably 6-8 melts. I get it refilled for 13 bucks so my propane usage is super cheap

[@BenNawrath]

@@NolansAnthillCastings that’s awesome.

[@tonnasaunders1980]

It looks like a sea sculpture. One of my faves

[@asiablack1968]

What do you do with them? Do you sell them?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Yes, I sell them locally at farmers markets

[@riandietra1280]

This is the best one ever i rekon

[@mightyryan1456]

Thats pretty cool. I also flinched when u started pouring and it shot up.

[@MnasonMarlatt]

We need to get this guy to 5k subscribers!

[@productjunkie9235]

That looks great. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@stevebanning902]

That moment you realize the more it bubbles, the more ants are dying at the same time as their moisture is released into the molten metal ...

[@Open2OpenUT]

I would LOVE to see a video of the Polishing and Mounting of the sculptures please 😃👌. Watching from Dublin, Southern Ireland 🇮🇪☘️☘️🇮🇪

[@piratetaylor29]

Totally amazing and a stunning piece of art.

[@egchaos]

Good job. Wish I could have a 360 view of the finished product. One after it’s been finished being “display level” cleaned.

[@richardsanchez9190]

For your million subscriber mark you should make an ant mold out of 24k gold.

[@yb6825]

Wow that looks beautiful

[@grape808]

yes i would like to see an entire video of melting metal

[@patrikwilliams9639]

I would love to see the recycling of aluminum parts. What are the challenges, how to deal with the slag, and what about the different alloys of aluminum?

[@rimacoates6532]

really enjoy your videos. You work safely and clean. Some of the other 'casters' could learn a thing or two. Watching from Canada!

[@raymondcoggins297]

Nature's awesome art

[@jennifergray5499]

...6:40.....shitteree..... I about crapped myself.......duuuude. lol. be careful 🤣🤣🤣

[@PartridgeFamilyProspecting]

Ok im hooked i gotta get the equipment!! That is so cool! And heck ya id love to see the melt process of the scrap!

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Awesome, I use a devil forge 10kg furnace but you can easily do some research and make your own better furnace for a little bit cheaper probably.

[@PartridgeFamilyProspecting]

@@NolansAnthillCastings thanks for the info! I love watching all of it and the end result is just as amazing as the process!!

[@ADIYHD]

Is this an ancient volcanic eruption site? Why does the soil look so ashy?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

I’m in Florida so we have sandy soil. The dark color is just from the decomposition of plants.

[@JayMeLen]

Do you sell any of your castings?

[@BIG-DIPPER-56]

SO BEAUTIFUL!!! 🙂😎👍

[@reedpiersons177]

What made it explode like that? Does that happen often? It was a miracle you didn't get burned. I'm glad you didn't. Great job buddy!

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

I think it exploded due to a clay layer in the soil. Usually steam can escape through normal dirt since it’s pretty porous but clay trapped it causing a small explosion.

[@ChrisBeardsley]

What do you do with them when done?

[@RecMan2010]

How did you learn how to do anthill casting?

[@Anathryn]

Just stumbled across this channel.. and I wonder can you cast an anthill with resin?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

I think you can but I’ve never seen one done that way. The other ways I’ve seen is with plaster and silicone but you always have to rebuild the casting like a 3D jigsaw puzzle because they break apart super easily.

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

I’d think so, but most good resins are pretty expensive. I know you can make a casting with plaster and with silicone but both of those ways break apart super easy so you have to rebuild them like a 3D jigsaw puzzle.

[@kathleenharrell9317]

Beautiful!

[@runnikee6986]

Do you sell these after you make them?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Nice name man, I only sell them locally.

[@runnikee6986]

@@NolansAnthillCastings Haha! That’s why I was interested. I know the name stands for quality!

[@piratetaylor29]

It does look like underground earth coral. Wicked nice.

[@Acecombatfighter]

Would you maybe be willing to sell any of those? Because I would wholeheartedly love to purchase one since I don't have any of the equipment or know how to smelt metals, and cast them.

[@billytiradojr.6652]

Yessir I would enjoy watching you melt all that cool scrap metal please!

[@novallasuter8197]

Many years ago I saw ant hill casting in National Geographic. The casting (if I recall correctly) were given or sold to the Smithsonian.

[@Lucifurion]

Protecting the environment by killing bastard invasive vermin and making beautiful art at the same time.... Nice work. Subbed.

[@moimeself1088]

I would be interested in the melting of scrap. These videos are fascinating.

[@lovejcdc]

Very impressive and very satisfying to watch. Especially when it comes to killing fire ants lol I really hate those suckers.

[@budlvr]

Dude; you have A LOT of Fire ants in your back yard ! Do you sell these sculptures?

[@kristinebailey2804]

Do you ever sell the castings?

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Yes but only locally in central Florida

[@DreidMusicalX]

Do you sell these? and how much if you do?

[@gifthorse3675]

So satisfying

[@onetoeinthegrave6506]

looks really cool mate well done great job

[@hmroque4382]

Yes, that would be very interesting to see how you melt them.

[@beebob1279]

I think melting down the scrap and demonstrating how you clean it up while molten would be great

[@tawnihaynie1065]

Hi Nolan. Beautiful. Exquisite. Educational. Great video. Please stay safe and healthy and take care of yourself and your family members. To all members also. Talk to you later my friend. ☺☺☺😇😇😇❤

[@fraclarke6523]

Ant to other ant , “ What’s that weird silver stuff coming down the tunnelllll!! aarrgghh, hiss🔥🔥

[@annewinchester6945]

Yes, please do a meltdown video.

[@chrislnflorida5192]

I'm in South Florida and infested with Fire Ants. Me experience, the mounds u can't even get water down their holes. I'd like to see how u open their holes to pour into them? Cool stuff??

[@NolansAnthillCastings]

Aluminum is denser than water and punches through the top. This anthill had a leaf on top of it that I took off and that’s why it was opened up so much.

[@mrkrakychen5325]

i love the chrome liquid

[@charitybrown4274]

Nice job!! 👍

[@Murph_.]

This one is very interesting. Looks like they basically just started their nest.

[@MrMartinSchou]

I'm now imagining what it would look like if you had a thin flowing and long time to set resin. You might be able to see how many ants are in each chamber.

[@annotten7413]

When you first pull it out of the ground put it in a large bucket of water and let it soak before washing it off with the hose - it will break less of the small pieces and make it easier to clean off

[@CowenJE]

That steam was most likely the boiling of the ants when it hit the nesting area.