As title states...anyone build one? I am debating building one down the road here to melt down brass.. (shot out brass, 22lr, and berdan stuff). Curious what if any experiences folks have here...
Anyone build a DIY Foundry?
- Thread starter Jabroni
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@rantingredneck expertise needed......
Tim
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RR
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I built my own forge. I suppose that's pretty interchangeable with a foundry.
Basic concepts:
you need a heat source
you need a vessel
you need some way to insulate that vessel with refractory material to reflect and concentrate the heat from the heat source.
There are several ways to skin each of those cats and I've tried several of them over the years. What i've arrived at and am presently using is a DIY forge open on both ends for passing through larger pieces of steel. The forge body is made from a helium cylinder you would get from a party store for blowing up kids balloons.
https://www.target.com/p/balloon-ti...q9TgzzfTIK4NjlkcoRxoCt2oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I cut both top and bottom ends out (after it was empty and I was sure to purge all helium.....)
I then lined it with kaowool
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DE2FD2...t=&hvlocphy=9009595&hvtargid=pla-304804789678
and then coated that kaowool blanket with Satanite/refractory cement:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BM8TU...t=&hvlocphy=9009595&hvtargid=pla-351715765598
So all of the above takes care of items 2 and 3 from the basic concepts list.....
Then there is the heat source. I built a "Ron Reil" burner using instructions found at this page (which is admittedly very busy and kindof a mess......
https://ronreil.abana.org/Forge1.shtml#Propane
Like I said though. lots of ways to skin that cat....
You can do it with natural wood charcoal and forced air. I've done that, but I spent more time tending my fire than tending the work. Also threw a good bit of sparks that can get concerning in our dry summers here.
Basic concepts:
you need a heat source
you need a vessel
you need some way to insulate that vessel with refractory material to reflect and concentrate the heat from the heat source.
There are several ways to skin each of those cats and I've tried several of them over the years. What i've arrived at and am presently using is a DIY forge open on both ends for passing through larger pieces of steel. The forge body is made from a helium cylinder you would get from a party store for blowing up kids balloons.
https://www.target.com/p/balloon-ti...q9TgzzfTIK4NjlkcoRxoCt2oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I cut both top and bottom ends out (after it was empty and I was sure to purge all helium.....)
I then lined it with kaowool
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DE2FD2...t=&hvlocphy=9009595&hvtargid=pla-304804789678
and then coated that kaowool blanket with Satanite/refractory cement:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BM8TU...t=&hvlocphy=9009595&hvtargid=pla-351715765598
So all of the above takes care of items 2 and 3 from the basic concepts list.....
Then there is the heat source. I built a "Ron Reil" burner using instructions found at this page (which is admittedly very busy and kindof a mess......
https://ronreil.abana.org/Forge1.shtml#Propane
Like I said though. lots of ways to skin that cat....
You can do it with natural wood charcoal and forced air. I've done that, but I spent more time tending my fire than tending the work. Also threw a good bit of sparks that can get concerning in our dry summers here.
RR
....glutton for punishment.....
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Forgot to mention above that I have a few firebricks that I use to close off the ends as needed to adjust heat retention and I have a firebrick resting in the middle to lay the work on as it is heating.
A foundry is on my list of projects in the near future. "Near" defined as in "the next year...or two".
I have some project ideas for Aluminum and Brass.
Mine will probably use charcoal/charwood, as I'd be using it for simple one-pour casting purposes.
I have some project ideas for Aluminum and Brass.
Mine will probably use charcoal/charwood, as I'd be using it for simple one-pour casting purposes.
I built one years ago from steel drums and refractory. Used a steel pipe for the crucible. Made a gas burner and used a blow dryer until it melted, then used a vacuum cleaner motor. Made some parts and lots of mistakes, but learned things also. Ended up buying a factory made foundry and bought a crucible.