Hobbies And Interests
Furnace
Casting aluminum requires a hot furnace for melting the aluminum before molding it into a shape. It is possible to construct a homemade furnace from refractory mix. Refractory mix is a combination of cement, clay and perlite. Similar to creating a clay sculpture, you can mold a furnace to the desired shape with the refractory mix. Make sure that the furnace is large enough for holding the intended aluminum container. Construct a lid that tightly seals the furnace opening. This will help keep the interior extremely hot.
Fuel Supply
Gas, wood and charcoal fuel supplies are the most inexpensive choices for effectively melting aluminum. However, those using gas should have experience with gas assemblies since they can be difficult to control. Hardwood charcoal is the best choice for a charcoal fuel supply, as ordinary charcoal briquettes do not produce enough heat to melt the aluminum.
Crucible
The crucible holds the aluminum while it is heated into a molten state. You can construct a sturdy crucible from ceramic or thick steel. It is possible to use thin-walled canisters, such as soup cans, but these containers typically only survive for one casting project.
Mold
You will need a sturdy mold for holding the molten aluminum during cooling. Construct the desired mold shape out of a mixture of silica sand and bentonite clay. Although there are many mold recipes, a basic mold mixture should be approximately 5 percent clay and 95 percent sand.
Benefits
Homemade casting systems can produce just about any aluminum shape you desire. Raw aluminum is inexpensive to purchase, and aluminum also offers high strength combined with consistency in pouring. A homemade furnace works well with aluminum, since aluminum has a low melting point compared to many other metals.