I love watching your video shoots.❤️❤️

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! You might notice that the video quality may improve from now on, as long as the new gimbal behaves!

Good idea for the mold. Thanks for showing. Might adapt the design for my own castings.

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

If I watch my temp when I pour (which I always do nowadays) I can make really high quality castings from that cylindrical mold. Useful!

Amazing Job!! Congratulations!!!!

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

the result was pretty good ! ussually the mold should be preheated so as to keep the moltened aluminum sliding down with no resistance. since it was held outdoor with low temperature it also contributed to fast hardening of the metal.

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Yes I think keeping the forms hot would make the pouring go much better...in my steel forms, It is worth building a heater for these.

good 👍

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@user-vm2gd5eq6e

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the good information on the other side of the world

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Nice work!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks JeffeFF !

There is nothing like over thinking and over building projects! Never beat yourself up for this trait and NEVER pay no attention to the keyboard cowboys unless it’s positive helpful commenting. One can almost taste the envy!!! Bottom line is it’s YOUR foundry, so long after they’ve all either bought or rebuilt their “mickey mouse” simpler versions, the one you made will still have a few lifetimes of use left. Awesome job, well thought out and built! Hope you have many years of use out of it! Thanks for sharing...

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Joe! I just went from issue to issue, trying to make sure I had all the bases covered. And I agree...over building good! The alternative is not acceptable.

Preheating evaporates any moisture to avoid motlen metal exploding on contact with the mold.

I do the same thing but I use empty coke cans with the tops open so I can pour into them. I just set them in sand up to the top edge and pour. The castings already have a nice smooth skin before they even get poured! I use the castings on my lathe making stuff. Since most of the parts I make are bike parts , they pretty much all fit within the size of the can. Works very well for me. By the way if you're not sooting the inside of that pipe form try it, it makes getting the aluminum billet out much easier.

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea! And, if you are watching your temp, which I bet you do, you can get nice high quality billets....and as you said, a good size for making bike parts. About the split pipe I use for extra/ billets, I thought I would have to do something to the surface so aluminum wouldn't stick, but I have never had any aluminum stick to any portion of it. The relatively dirty surface is likely a part of that but I think that maybe the expansion the pipe goes through might also keep aluminum from getting the opportunity to get really attached. Thanks for watching!

This was a beautiful build, and had a very in depth video to go with it, good job!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

+Eric Lotze Thank you for the compliment!

Very interesting video and thanks for having us along! A hose clamp would probably do a good job holding your mold together. I like your ripping fence for the plasma cutter. You should look at making that as a product. A lot of folks would be interested in that for holding various hand tools (plasma, grinder, ect.).

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your ideas! Yes the plasma handle guide might make a good product...keeping a smooth straight cut is really tough for me. Thanks for watching!

thanks for this video... great to see and follow your ideas and works so clearly expressed... so many other vid's are such garbage, but yours are clear as a bell !!!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

+stephen samuels Thanks Stephen!

Nicely done!

@oldtownvids

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike!

It's been 2 1/2 years or so since you did this video. I hope that you have invested in a used Bridgeport type mill. It is amazing what you did with a plasma cutter, mig welder, chop saw, drill press and a hammer. I'll never build one but I can say I saw it done one time. Thanks for sharing.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mancel. You're right...over 2 years! Time goes by faster and faster. I would like to have a nice Bridgeport mill but it would take up too much room. I guess I need a bigger shop! I've used the foundry to cast lots of different things, and it has been really reliable over time, so the extra time I put into the design was worth it. Thanks for watching, and for your comment!

@christianwilliams8748

2 жыл бұрын

Aaaaaa.

vídeo muito bom continue assim

Nice work -keep them coming 👍 n sub

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Now that youtube has unthrottled me, I am back!

Good effort on a complex subject!

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tim!

awesome Video!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks MrPHAELAN!

your enginuity(hope i said that right) reminds me of engineers and mechanics that work in the army, they are a rescourefull bunch arent they i enjoyed the video quite a lot, keep it up sir!

@oldtownvids

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the compliment Dion! And thanks for watching too.

Not the typa video i watch often, but you really got passion for this and idk why but thats nice to watch (not even close to actually undergoing such project, im more of a tech person...), pretty cool

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment,BHAB. I like watching things I may not do... don't really know why, I guess just interesting to me. Thanks for watching!

insulation was the key and air /gas mixture other then that it should work for melting a lot of types of metals and glasses. This would be relatively cheap the only issue is to get enough oxygen and propane to do this. Not sure on how much it uses is it more then a grill size tank of propane and not sure on how to get oxygen for cheap. All they have at hardware stores are the small tanks of oxygen for braizing, soldering supplies or small welding tanks but the welding tanks are usually a kit that are expensive. So its the oxygen tank thats the issue for me actually going and doing this. Plus not sure where you can refill oxygen cheaply ,, those welding place i would imagine charge a lot for refills and the tanks got to be up to a certain ridiculous standard /expensive standard. But its cool to know this stuff.

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Been a while since you commented, but I'm getting ready to rebuild the foundry and add much more oxygen. So, I will add more ports so the addition of 250x air (which will give the best ratio of oxygen to propane) wont be so noisy... presently sounds like a jet engine with all that air being pushed through that little burner tube. Also, adding temp control!

It's your project, your time your fun. Some people enjoy over engineering. Some will cut every corner just to get to doing a pour as quick as they can, then all the duct tape and bailing twine falls apart. To each his own. If you like doing things fancy then all the more power to ya. Did you fire the refractory cement to fully cure it? Thanks for posting. Nice work.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Scott, thanks for your comment. Yes, people go from the minimum to over the top on things. And, to each his own, true. I did allow the refractory parts to dry for a few days and then fired them at 400F for 8 hours to make sure any water was driven off. Several castings done and the refractory is holding up very well.

Good stuff man I'll never make one but always good to have an idea how to just incase you never know

@oldtownvids

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks PrP. True you never know if something you aren't planning to do may eventually become a project after all. Thanks for your comment!

24/5000 Very good, keep it up

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

excellent !!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

1:17:49 pretty much how they weld together pipe pretty cool sometimes i forget there are really simple jigs for stright edges.

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Robert!

I don't know your sours of aluminum is but the transmission shops have a lot of it I sold most of my scrap to a small foundry.

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment Arthur. I'll keep your comment so other people can see...a good way to get casting aluminum. I usually use scrap from a lighting business, but sometimes I need more too.

Nicely done system. I liked your design. It seems like some kind of mechanical assisted pouring method would be necessary or helpful. I also was wondering why most furnaces require physically removing the crucible instead of having a channel for metal to flow from a fixed crucible, that is, if one could rotate the furnace. Have you considered a way to preheat the mold with the exhaust from the furnace? Thanks

@oldtownvids

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Kvick! Once I got used to the crucible/handle combination, it became very easy to use. I re-watched my first pour recently and noticed just how awkward I made that first pour. In my later reusable mold videos, pouring becomes very easy. I think the locking hooks and the counter weight work well enough that if I wanted I could pour a lot more weight easily and without help. As for a fixed crucible, I think probably it is not used too much if a foundry pours different types of molds...probably easier to make the mold without having to design it to the furnace?. And, no, I have not considered having the mold preheated by the furnace. That might be a good thing to try, thanks for the idea!

@AsbestosMuffins

2 жыл бұрын

I worked with a 50lb induction smelter for a while, a simple air piston was enough to rotate the crucible to pour and it was triggered by a foot pedal, it all ran on less than 100 psi shop air

Don't let the naysayers get you down. Looks good,!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

spray casting steel with spray splatter shield before assembly

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Yes!

Very nice! Much more elaborate than anything I would want, but nice all the same. However, I have to subtract points for not shooting the deer though.

@oldtownvids

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Duke M! Because of the weight I really had to get engineer-ish about the crucible.So it actually worked out well because with the handle, I need only to connect it one time and I can pour, so I don't need crucible tongs plus a carrier, and I can do all by myself (most crucible carriers are for 2 person operation). I really don't need the lock...but using it is I suppose insurance, so I have kept using it. And the Deer...LOL! We have so many deer around here you would not believe it unless you saw it for yourself. Last week at one point I had 8 to 10 in my little driveway, and there were others hanging out on the street. A bunch of big racks! Life in Craig, Colorado.

Little space for the circular flame around the cadin, does not form the heat whirlwind

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Actually it does. Just not easy to see. Thanks for your comment!

It seems to me that a lot of people have ideas about what your doing wrong. They seem to think your idea is not right according to their experience in melting, pouring, or designing furnaces. Your design is what you want it to be and if it does what you want it to do then there you go. I've spent a lot of time watching people build their own furnaces and crucibles and it looks to me you have done a lot of research and time designing you equipment. If you haven't yet then check out olfoundryman. He IS a master of all things in regards to melting and casting aluminum. Enjoyed you vid and be careful brother

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Donnie, thanks for your comment. I understand that most people who like to do these kinds of things are also driven by their own experiences, and me too. As my experiences are unique to my work, so I design to fit. I don't expect people to like all or maybe sometimes, any of my ideas, but for the most part, I think my work is good enough that it can be helpful, and the overall good reaction to my amateur video is great! But there are always other ideas and opinions...so I hope most people can find something useful in my work even if they might not like some things I do. Thanks for watching!

Also another method though more of a hassle is to get brick rather then pouring concrete cylinder structure you need. I imagine you could instead of metal melting do glass melting in this homemade foundry not sure haven't seen anybody pouring glass yet from these things

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

I think you could melt glass in this. I actually make glass from time to time when I use it for assay work...the flux is usually glass. Thanks for watching!

Nice!!!!

@oldtownvids

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! That video is getting old, but the foundry is still holding up well.

I cast bar the same size as that straight into a thick walled seamless tube, the aluminium literally just falls out once its cold due to shrinkage.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Nice! Makes sense. I think that you using a seamless tube but not cutting it is an improvement over my cut tube. You will get a better shape too because my tube being cut makes an oval, not a circle. Thanks for your comment.

Very great video and just the right amount of talking, speeding up, and detail. Must be a teacher by trade. Anyway, what about using scrap graphite blocks or slices that they sell on E-bay (like for $5.00 a box, it might be fun to fabricate into a crucible?

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Hi Mark, Thanks for your comment. Yes that is an interesting idea! I have also thought about making a liner with clay and graphite, and making standalone crucibles for assay work. Seems like a lot of things one might do with graphite ...and doing some experimenting might be pretty useful. Thanks for watching!

nice jimny

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks MML!

Can this be used to melt lead

@oldtownvids

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Kevin, yes this will actually melt lead quicker and without the need to coat the crucible because lead does not damage steel like aluminum does. Remember if you melt lead, to not get it too hot. It will emit dangerous fumes if it gets overheated. Thanks for watching!

This was cool, gives me an idea on how to build. Never considered just using building insulation to keep the heat from transfering to fast. Essentially all one has to do is pour a concrete cylinder of desired size (with in reason).... have 2 metal pipes for air and propane/gas mixture run into it. And insulate the surroundings with a metal or concrete top. And a place you can place concrete/metal pot that you heat to liquify the metals. ( your design was a little complicated but is really good ) Nice so maybe metal melting to some extent is still possible at home. I.e have your own foundry.

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm considering a rebuild using a much larger air intake and a blower so I can optimize the fuel/oxygen ratio. I need more temperature for assay work. My big consideration is making sure I can keep the added heat in the stove as long as possible, so I am mulling over a more complicated shape for the inside of the refractory so it has more surface area and creates more resistance to the airflow. I will video any updates!

think you couldve made the clamp for the crusible a LOT less complicated could keep the hooks as they are and the wedge too mut weld a pipe to the frame and a rod to the wedge and feed that through the pipe make a fingerhold at the end of the pipe and a t bar at the end of the rod now if you want the hooks to come loose grab the finger holds over the t bar and press them together this will push the wedge down and make the hooks move freely want to lift grab only the t bar and lift this will pull the wedge up and hold the hooks out , done and all at a long distance from the cusible you still want to lock it ? put a spring between the pipe and the t bar as for the gravity mould : i seen someone cast his own aluminum rods using steel pipe , he just filled the steel pipe when the aluminium cools it schrinks and you can pound it out of the pipe as a solid round bar like the way you made a refractory vase/ insert and covered it with the wool stuff , the full refractories get pretty heavy and the full wool ones seem to damage eazy and get moist if you pouring and storing the foundry

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

+watahyahknow you have many good ideas! Thanks for your comments.

@scottburrous2375

6 жыл бұрын

Could have made the whole thing a lot less complicated but it's HIS foundry done HIS way and he's happy with it so who am I to comment!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment!

@oldtown dude can you teach me your patience? You are detail oriented as hell! I looks beautiful though. I'm still early in the video but I can't wait for your first fire in it!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris! I'm trying to learn patience too. I have found that if there's a shortcut I want to take, that if I don't take it, and just suffer through the task the hard way, that things usually end up well. Oh, and I stop working if I start to get angry. Never good to work mad. Damn hard to walk away sometimes! Thanks for watching!

@mybuickskill6979

6 жыл бұрын

OldTown yeah see most of the time when I get mad I go into "let get this crap done!" Mode 😂

cool music, you spray or soak metal in vinegar . would remove all that corrosion down in the pits.

@oldtownvids

7 жыл бұрын

+John Camp Thanks for the information, and also for watching!

VERY good. Impressive. AND at 50min into video your listening to Eon Blue Apocalypse from TooL, THAT does NOT play on radio. You jamming to TooL in there?!

@oldtownvids

4 жыл бұрын

Good catch, yes. Good album! Thanks for your comment!

Better than soot?

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

+William Savage if you are referring to boron nitrite, yes much better. Still need to be careful though. Orchard well but can be abraded off without much effort. Thanks for your question!

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Coats well....auto-correct turned that into orchard? Thanks for your comment.

Anyway i am rambling the actually structure of it is simple to make but the oxygen and fuel to supply or do anything significant with could be costly. Unless the welding supply places can refill oxygen cheap and you only need a small size tank to do this with. So maybe some day but doubt it....essentially your making your own cutting torch chamber (equivalent to gas welding ) to melt the metal. One could do the same with a gas welding torch over the metal in the concrete pot ... however the concrete chamber is just easier then standing over it with a torch everytime you want to melt metal.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your interesting comments. Considering your thoughts about welding gasses, yes oxygen and other welding gasses are becoming pretty expensive...I think doubling in cost in the last 10 years. However, if the goal of a project could potentially cover the cost, or you don't care about the cost, then that may be one less obstacle in your way.

nice rocket stove

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I want to slow the air down, though, and optimize the fuel/air mix...so probably a different design! I'll video it when I think I have a decent plan.

I save a lot of time by starting with an old water heater and just cut a section out of the middle to get the total height I want. and mix 50/50 kiln dried sand and plaster of paris for the lining

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Yes that would save a lot of time. I do like building things so I didn't mind the extra work....and it was nice to use that really rusty metal up on a project. It had sat for a few years getting ignored because of its condition. Thanks for watching!

😁😁😁😁👍👍👏👏nice

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Iank!

pas terrible le résultat mais cela vous a servis a Quoi , mais je reconais que votre four a bien fonctioné

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Yes true. I did a bad job with the cylinder I cast. But the whole system proved good., and has produced many good castings using metal molds (also using a thermometer to know when to pour). Thanks for watching!

Here a thought spin cast a 2inch thick mirror about 8 inches in diameter for a reflective telescope. The spin should put a concave surface that will cause a spherical reflective focal point. This has been done with mercury but it has its obvious limitations. Just a thought for something different to do.

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Cool idea! Thanks for watching!

cordial saludo podria escucharlo en español

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Gracias por ver!

Rube Goldberg would approve

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Yes there's a little R. G. going on, but actually useful and not difficult to work with. Thanks for your comment!

the best!!!!!

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Delmar!

👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

@oldtownvids

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mr. L!

@wolfgangdeletter3736

6 жыл бұрын

Good work thumbs up for it, it was a lot of work but it has really paid off, thanks for the beautiful video.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

+oetzi oetzberger Thanks Oetzi! It is the easiest system to use...allows me to concentrate on making good quality metal.

49:38sec to be exact

Just thought you should know that instead of using a metal type rod for stirring aluminum that you could always order your self a graphite rod to use instead that will really hold up way longer and save you a lot of headache.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Chris, thanks for your comment. Funny thing about graphite rods...they don't last well either. I got one when I was mixing casting alloys and it only made it through a couple of pours...that really surprised me! I also thought that stainless might last better but it also goes pretty quickly. My ideal stirrer would be a material that would strongly adhere to boron nitride. Boron nitride is the best protectant I have used but it is easily rubbed or scraped off of steel. Maybe boron nitride embedded into a graphite rod might hold up well? Thanks for watching!

We Might get to see the pour sometime this year

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Patience Justin! We'll get there. Thanks for watching and commenting.

Ok

Not sure if you are aware but, molten aluminum eats steel very well.

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Very true. You have to watch just how much gets eroded in with the melt...changes the composition. I use boron nitride to coat the crucible and it works very well but needs reapplied occasionally. Keeping an aluminum skin on a steel stir rod also helps prevent erosion.

Great setup well done....Hint : The video is very hard to watch, keep the camera still.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

+allbeit222 Yes true and thanks for putting up with it. And, thanks for watching and commenting!

gentleman, do you know Mr. David Gingery? he gad a range of books diy from lathe , shaper, milling machine, drill press, electric hack saw and alu foundries, coal, gas and electric. even the congress library store the entire series of his books. you can find them in google books in electronic format as well. recomment you to read them. it will save a lot of time

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the information!

@dancemodel

6 жыл бұрын

luderick

@darkmatter2790

6 жыл бұрын

Excellent info thanks

VERY GOOD !!!👏👏👏👏 (BRÉZIL-BR)

@oldtownvids

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Claudio!

( idea ) keep using muffin moulds drill a hole in them & use a all thread rod ( storage ) taken care of THE DON WEST OZ

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Not a bad idea. It is nice to have the muffin tin shapes too. Thanks for your comment!

if you want to make good poor make the mold hot as hell with a tiger torch on the inside not out in the cold and poor it fast youl find you wont get the lines in your poor old engine oil is the best for heat you can cast iron with it and use a blower an old vacuum cleaner works good I also have a recipe for a crucible if you have any need for info give me a call .

@oldtownvids

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Daniel!

Tell me more about the ‘awl’ thread…

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

I also call connecting nuts banjo bolts!

im at 1;11/15 still trying to figur out what the f%$*&^ your doing ,,,lololol anyways this is awsome/ love watching sht like this ,,,Wish i was as smart as you ,,,ok id settle for a 10th of smarts as you,lolol this is awsome and very complicated ,but,,,,its awsome none the less :)

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

A reply 4 years later... Thanks! I just get in a one track narrow groove and ignore everything else when I am doing this kind of project...which is good but also bad! Once I'm finished, I have to catch up on absolutely everything else that got ignored. Thanks for watching!

Its called all thread because its threaded the entire way hence its all thread not 'awl thread' not being a jerk just trying to help

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Yes you are right. For no real reason I always just assumed it was "awl". Thanks for watching!

kangaesugi irairasuru

@oldtownvids

4 жыл бұрын

Nervous or irritated? That's the translation. Sorry to hear!

Man, you takebuilding this stuff to new levels!!! I’m not following you at all? I see what you’re doing, but like I said you’ve taken this the new levels?? Very Complicated.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

Bryan, thanks for your comment. Was a few weeks worth of building condensed into 90 minutes or so. Makes it seem more complicated but really just going along and finding/fixing issues until complete. I think the form was overdone...check other comments for a better solution to my split tube.

Overenginered.

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

+Andyboys Not even close to over engineered! Thanks for your comment!

PS,,,could you play some JONNY CASH next time :)/ by the way im in IOWA and i have a brother in colorado/ Dove creek i think? anyways ya JONNY CASH :) lol

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

+robert barr Thanks for your comments! I do think Johnny Cash shows up from time to time...I never know what will be playing next.

@prpunk187

4 жыл бұрын

"You're gonna break another heart You're gonna tell another lie Well, here I am and there you go, you're gone again I know you're gonna be the way you've always been Breaking hearts and telling lies is all you know Another guy gives you the eye There you go There you go You're gone again I should've known I couldn't win There you go You're by his side You're gonna break another heart You're gonna tell another lie Because I love you so, I take much more than I should take I want you even though I know my heart is going to break You build me up and for a while I'm all aglow Then your fickle heart sees someone else There you go There you go You're gone again I should've known I couldn't win There you go You're by his side You're gonna break another heart You're gonna tell another lie" Johnny cash is the man

"all" thread ijs

@oldtownvids

6 жыл бұрын

I was waiting for someone to catch that...congrats! You are the first to mention it.

🤦

your camera work towards the end almost made me puke. Please for the love of god buy a tripod. Good job on the build!

@oldtownvids

5 жыл бұрын

Yes my camera work is pretty bad...sorry! I do have a tripod now....and a steady base...but I get involved in working and forget to operate the camera smoothly. I hope I'm improving! Thanks for watching.

@TNW1337

5 жыл бұрын

@@oldtownvids Keep Up the cool videos man! hope I was not to Critical.

System of a down

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

Yes! And I wish I didn't have to censor my music! I don't think the copyright laws actually work in the favor of the musicians when they censor little snippets of songs a viewer might not have heard. I purchase music after hearing parts of it on youtube, in the rare instances it exists. If just a part of a song is in the background, it seems like more of an advertisement than a copyright infringement. But the music industry is too greedy to understand, so I think.

Buddy i just watched your vid and to me that setup is about as useless as tits on a bore hog. Way over complicated but if it works for you more power to you. lol have a good day.

@oldtownvids

2 жыл бұрын

I like to let all the people who watch my little channel see all comments, even those that disagree with my content. There is one thing that I overbuilt, and that is the lock bolt...it isn't needed. And, there is a lot of extra stuff that isn't absolutely necessary, but makes the pouring go really easy. So, for the folks who don't pour too much, less is usually better. For those who pour a lot, and by themselves, and melt heavier material (that crucible can hold 60 lbs of brass), then the extra stuff becomes a lot less in your words, useless. And the extra work to make a cylinder of metal rather than making little discs gives me the ability to make high quality large cylinders that are pretty useful (and save a decent amount of money) for machining bigger parts. I am not trying to convince you...your opinion is yours, but you give me a good platform to describe the extra parts for people who might wonder why I made them. So, LOL have a good day!