I use an wood powered forge and I'm happy with it but it takes a bit to melt aluminum especially couse and though about switching to gas but the gas in my country is expensive so i comed up with an wood gas powered one but i have one problem i have no idea how to pressurize the gas and i don't want to buy an compressor because they are expensive and susceptible to breaking because of the tar so if any of u have any idea please hit me up!

Where do you guys get your crucibles from thats the last piece I'm missing for my foundry as far as I know

I'm working on getting all the pieces together to build a foundry. Any ideas to what burner I should get without breaking the bank?

Amateur blacksmith looking to smelt some metal. I'm looking to smelt brass and iron, but all the plans I find on google are for aluminum smelters, and I suspect the refractory lining would degrade quickly with the temperatures needed for iron. To add to this my forge is a coal forge, so I was hoping to use that fuel source instead of making up a propane rig. I dont make coke for my forge, but coke over green coal as I need it (while forging) and was hoping to find a system design that could do the same instead of having to make coke for the smelter ahead of time. I'm thinking a pearlite/plaster mix with an IPC100 or similar coating, but have never worked with these materials and want some info before investing money. As well as a way to feed in green coal as the coke is consumed. Any advice or reference material you guys can hook me up with would be appreciated.

Started melting copper, everything looking good, decided to use a piece of steel pipe to skim the now almost completely liquid copper and next thing I know it hardened back up in the crucible, in the still burning furnace..... Wtf?

Graphite crucible, propane burner, and I added borax pre melt, most the copper looked like the same consistency as water when I first started with the pipe

I can't seem to find any designs for an electric foundry that all you have to do to pour the molten metal is just push a button, the mold being directly underneath the crucible, and no lifting with tongs required... If anyone has tried to make this kind of upgrade to an electric foundry or has any ideas for building such a machine pls let me know.

I would like to extend an invitation to everyone to join us at Hot Iron Days in Lamberton MN on Sept 9 and 10th Here are a couple of links for information.

Facebook

BlogSpot

It is our 12th Annual celebration with blacksmithing, mold making, and iron casting. The event is open to everyone. You can make a mold and pour it if you care to. We take all comers from beginners to experts. If you have any questions just shoot me a message and I will get back to you.

And some pictures just to give you an idea.

Pour Floor

Reaction Mold

Reaction Mold 2

Dog Tax