I think at least part of why that lump of mortar works to hold the flame in place is because it makes the main jet of gas detach from the bottom of the furnace just behind it. This creates a turbulent recirculating zone with low flow velocity just behind the lump, where the flame can stay despite the main gas flow being faster than the flame velocity. It's a somewhat similar mechanism to how the flame holder in a jet engine works.

@rocketplane8862

Жыл бұрын

Came here to say this. It is exactly the same principle as a jet engine flame holder.

@ChristopherHallett

Жыл бұрын

@@rocketplane8862 It's a vortex generator, basically.

I just felt a tremor rock the foundation of my world: I heard Chris utter the words, "I had a metal fabricator make... "

I really like how your design removes the need for an extra tool. By being able to lift it from the side, you don’t need to take the extra step of rearranging tongs. The best part is no part.

@just_eirik

Жыл бұрын

Love this stuff! Thanks for the video!

This kind of high quality no-nonsense description of a furnace build is perfect for hobbyists looking to learn

Removing the slag is so satisfying.

With the epoxy, I suggest leaving the excess on the paper beside the project. That way you can check the paper for hardness instead of the item being bonded.

Clearly the next step is to start digging holes in your backyard and mine and refine some ore! Good stuff!

@mitchstilborn

Жыл бұрын

Clickspring meets Primitive Technology. It’s gonna be beautiful.

@michaelsershen5702

Жыл бұрын

@@mitchstilborn well, they do live in the same town, so it might happen. Hell they might even be the same person. One never talks, the other never shows his face...

@scottwilliams895

Жыл бұрын

Time for trip to Cody's Lab

Low thermal mass is a huge pro.. don't have to wait days to bring it back inside to store

@smellsofbikes

Жыл бұрын

Mine lives permanently outside because of this. DAP castable refractory is magic but it has crazy thermal capacity and is still burn-hot many many hours later.

A great way to reform my I’ll-gotten pirate booty! Arrrg! Great video, Thanks

The removable mid-section means that the red hot crucible can be lifted directly with the pouring handle. Others need to use tongs to extract the red hot crucible straight up, set it down somewhere, then pick it up again with the pouring handle. This design is better.

Molten metals are so beautiful. A mostly pure element holding a huge amount of energy, losing it rather rapidly and changing forms.

There are few things to make it even better. On my furnace I added a metal grill to preheat the metal scrap and use up the exiting heat to remove the moisture prior to charging the crucible. Also, my crucible is lifted from the base on a small metal "stool" made from rebar to prevent the loss of heat through thermal bridge to the bottom. This thing with the lump of mortar is very smart.

Give Big Stack D a call . He'll put you right on the finer aspects of pouring cast metal ... namely , opening beer and saluting the flag , seeing what the boys are up to and the esoteric choice of socks .

Very nice build, one place to find smaller amounts of furnace building materials is at a pottery and ceramics supply. They usually have everything needed and are used to catering to hobbyists.

Great explanation, it makes it easy to see why my own home built furnace isn't very efficient. Thanks

Chill as always to watch.

alternative design options, mine has a T above the reducer and the gas pipe goes in line from a hole in top, i use a MIG tip for gas port and on side of T i have metal flaps to regulate air. having a bell reducer for a flame keeper also helped mine maintain velocity

i've watched a lot of melting/casting channels. the ability to lift off the main body and then pick up the crucible using the same tool you'd use to pour with seems like a huge time/effort saver!

I made my own water glass using 100% silica gel kitty litter. Add it to perlite potting material with sand. Cheap and great casting material. It even makes great briquettes for the propane barbecue! 👍 😃

Since you are capable to melt copper, it could be interesting to make your own aluminium bronzes. This stuff is expensive but an amazing bushing material and resitant to corrosion in saltwater

@jeanladoire4141

Жыл бұрын

Not exactly, aluminum bronzes can indeed be quench hardened like we do with steel, BUT it needs additives to keep good properties. Also the amount of aluminum will dictate its hardenability and overall toughness at very high precision (for exemple an 8% aluminum can't be hardened, a 9% can, and you should never go above 13%) For controlling the grain size and the phases, you need to add iron, nickel (nickel should be at least as much as iron), and sometimes other additives. Each ratio will give drastically different properties, down to a percent of modification. A well made aluminum bronze can be forged, i do forge aluminum bronze sometimes, but it's a PAIN and requires extensive training in temperature control. Aluminum bronzes usually have their melting point at around 1100 degrees celsius (so with the nickel and iron), but beacause aluminum melts at a lower temp, it will destabilize the alloy at high temperatures, making it crumble if not forged properly. So basically he can make his own alloys, but working with them is a whole other set of skills

@KittyCatInAMicrowave

Жыл бұрын

They are expensive for a reason

@user-tw9io9nz2m

Жыл бұрын

@@jeanladoire4141 I'll second this. At my work we have a casthouse that does large quantities of aluminium in a number of different alloys. We have a pair of spectrometers to analyze every batch that is made or to adjust the alloy mixture before pouring. To adjust the alloy we have over a dozen different materials, material combinations and fluxes to add or remove certain elements from the alloy, some of which need to be timed correctly. We need all this to stay within standardised alloy tolerances. I'm no expert on this because I work on mechanical problems, but I do know that producing a proper alloy is no joke.

@tinayoga8844

Жыл бұрын

Most hobby casters think that making aluminum bronze is adding aluminum to copper. Mostly they are interested in decorative castings that don't have any requirement when it comes to actual physical properties. But if the end product does require specific physical properties then it really does matter having the correct ingredients and combined properly.

@jeanladoire4141

Жыл бұрын

@@tinayoga8844 well yeah but it's a shame, tempered bronze is surprisingly hard and tough (i can shave off pieces of steel from a sheet of mild steel)

Best JB weld job ever 😂

Nice ingots, definitely much better than what Ea Nasir provides.

Such a complicated thrill seeing Clickspring using JB Weld; I have so many memories of using JB for janky farmer fixes, and if you told me Clickspring was going to use epoxy, I'd assume he'd make it from scratch, lol.

A tip about the burner -- with sheet metal ("flare") wrapped around the tip of the pipe, the, I think turbulence from the step, as the flow goes from pipe ID to OD to air, makes an effective flame stabilizer. I've built burners of this design which are stable down to a trickle of propane -- comparable to the flow rates of residential natural gas stoves, but with much simpler (read: not an array of holes) geometry! So, a strip of sheet metal, long enough to wrap around the pipe OD, and about two ODs wide, so it sticks out about one OD. You can use spring force alone to hold it in place, or hold it with a hose clamp. It will of course get very crispy inside the furnace; a tight-fitting tuyere serves the same purpose.

Sticky notes for mixing epoxy. Brilliant!

The other thing is since the furnace will wear out, having a lot of leftover supplies to make more is a good thing. It is also recommended for melting at higher temps to put cardboard under the crucible to prevent sticking.

Gosh if I may? I used to cast precious metals as as a precious metals fabricator (bullion, bars, and blocks) and some things that may help your cast are: - put a layer of carbon on your moulds with a yellow oxidising flame after you've heated them up to evaporate moisture. You'll be able to then just tip the metal out immediately after it is set. Your moulds will live longer. - if you can - which I know is not really possible on your own with a 2 handed pour unless you have a second person - but keep a flame on the molten metal at all times. In the crucible, pour stream, and mould; and keep it on there as it sets. You'll get a muuuuuch better result with very little sinkhole.

Thanks for the voice over. Makes the videos so much better. Keep up the good work.

Finally this guy's doing something that most of us can relate too( jb weld it)

Best Home Furnace I have seen so far. The modularity has so many benefits. Again, a great video.

An additional mod I've seen some people make is to drill and tap the hole in the pipe for a gas nipple that can be replaced to adjust the hole size.

You said nipple!! Awesome content as usual.

Great video, with enough information to replicate the burner and furnace. Also a pleasure to hear your voice again, Chris!

One addition you may like to look into is a flashback arrestor. Great video as usual. 👍

Hmm. You could drill the brass pipe nipple to accept carburetor jets so you could have an easily-adjustable gas flow rate.

Was wondering where my cable off-cuts went. Nice ingots. Cheers.

BigStackD has a whole channel based around casting from a home furnace. It was cool to see your furnace set up compared to his. I think the 3 piece design does have a few benefits

@kennyholmes5196

Жыл бұрын

His setup is one produced by someone else, too.

@thaphreak

Жыл бұрын

His stuff is metal melting asmr crack, every post ya gotta watch

@brianb7330

Жыл бұрын

@@thaphreak 8 hours or less til his next vid

@TheMan83554

Жыл бұрын

Was about to comment this myself, I was suddenly wondering if Big Stacked and Clickspring have ever had a chat.

@Roblecop

Жыл бұрын

@@thaphreak 100% agree

My assumption with how the hump works is the low pressure zone on the back side, combined with the small vortices generated by its rough shape. Force the air to follow the wall. Kinda similar to votex generators. Side note for ya chris! If you ever need some more ooph for your forge you can always attach a blower to the end of that pipe and go forced air. Love all the work you do brother 🧡

Put the epoxy in the kitchen oven at 50°~80° and it will cure in a few hours. For the furnace , you can also consider the use of precast chimney components, refractory tiles and bricks that are use to make outdoor ovens and fired clay drainage pipes. I designed and constructed a firebox for my indoor wood burner. The box was laser cut 8mm steel plate and I lined it with refractory cement tiles 270mm x 270mm intended for pizza ovens. The tiles were $3 each as opposed to the ones from firebox manufacturers which were closer to $20 each and smaller dimensionally. The refractory cement is easy to cut and drill.

@scottwilliams895

Жыл бұрын

Please don't put JB Weld (or any other epoxies) in your kitchen oven.

@jobdylan5782

Жыл бұрын

@@scottwilliams895 tbh he deserves it lol

Wow, Love these videos!!!!!!

Hi Chris, I'd be keen on hearing how your furnace has held up so far. What (and how much) have you put through it?? Comments on the size and efficiency of your furnace?? Pros and Cons?? I'm a way off following in your footsteps but always keen to learn from others who have "been there and done that". Soldier on buddy and keep up the good work.

@Clickspring

Жыл бұрын

Hello Harry, the furnace has now been in service several hundred hours over roughly 6 years mostly working with copper alloys and continues to work well for what I do. I have yet to find its upper limit lest it interrupt production, but its still on the to-do list. I cast fairly ad-hoc so don't have anything meaningful to say on efficiency other than its gas consumption seems reasonable to me. The only change from what's shown in the video is that I've modified the lid design slightly: I now have 4 fasteners coming in from the top that hold onto some thin mild steel straps, retaining the ceramic fiber in the lid shell a little more securely. Before I made this change the lid was slightly flexing after a long day of melts, and this was leading to the center sagging a little; the straps immediately solved the issue. I have been pleased at how little maintenance it has required. Other than the occasional patch to the lid due mishandling, its still in great condition. The base, barrel section and burner are all original from the video, no signs of wearing out any time soon - Cheers :)

I really do enjoy your tool episodes! The regular content is mesmerizing and beautiful but the tool episodes are interesting in a different way and really fun too.

2:55 mixing epoxy on a post-it note is genius.

I'll be right back.... Goes to home Depot.... Thank you sir.

Looks like the modular nature of it also means you don't have to switch the hot crucible between a pair of lifting tongs and the pouring tongs.

I love the easy listening jazz music

Very nice design! Being able to remove the mid-section to have an easier access to the crucible I think would make a huge impact on safety.

First! yes! ... Another great vid Chris. Keep up the great work!

Gday Chris, that’s a great setup being modulated, perfect for the homeshop, thanks for sharing mate, cheers

Next stop, custom alloys!

Tack!

I got much better performance from my propane burner when I used a Tweco tip from a MIG welder as a jet. 0.030" size if I recall correctly. Just drilled and tapped 1/4-28 and screwed it into the gas pipe. Seems like moving the jet further into the bell creates a much better venturi effect.

FYI: Sodium Silicate is also called Waterglass

The postit note for epoxy.... GENIUS

@nefariousyawn

Жыл бұрын

Isn't it? I use a bit of packing tape slapped on the workbench.

Excited to see more of ClickStackD Casting.

Just beautiful

Your videos inspire me to be creative.

Excellent video Chris. This furnace will be a great addition to your work shop and it’ll be interesting to see what you make with the ingots. Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful work on this furnace! I feel inspired! I've been saving up my copper and brass, and have probably 40 pounds total that needs melting...

Goog points Chris. I've made a few of these furnaces over the years and big ones are pain if you don't need them. Heavyt to move around, next to impossible to lift and take a lot gas and time to heat up. Also lining the furnace like you did to improve the efficiency is something I would do in retrospect to reduce heat up time and gas consumption.

Hey Chris, something I wanted to ask is if you've considered adding an extra (thin) layer of the ceramic fiber to the base and lid around the edge to create a flexible seal? It doesn't look like your furnace components seat together very well at the edges, so a bit of the ceramic fiber should provide for a bit of a better seal than the hardened ceramic that is needed on the internal walls of the furnace.

Finally a long video I love the work man 🙏❤️

Awesome as always.

Beautiful video! Thank you for sharing how you've created your furnace. Its really useful to have an idea on what is achievable in the home shop in the line of melting metals.

Removable side is quite handy.

mate you're a legend, doing such an awesome brekadown vid, i'm in brissy and expect to be looking back to your vids when it comes to setting up my workshop once it's up and running to make sure i've got what i need to do a fraction of the cool stuff that you do.

A regulator will pay for itself very quickly it will make a tank of feul last 3 to 5 times longer, great video..

Your fellow Aussie BigStackD would be proud of your setup.

I already loved these videos but now, after seeing him use a sticky note for the jb weld - you sir just got a patreon.

Chris, Absolutely fantastic video. You have mastered the art of great content creation with brilliant videography.

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing Chris.

See you lera

Great stuff Chris, thanks for the video.

Congratulations

Mate I love your videos and I’m always seriously impressed but you’ve made me feel stupid for not thinking to use a pack of post it notes to mix small amounts of epoxy!

Another great video! Thanks so much for making it!

Great video Chris!

Simple, effective and efficient

Yay :-) the perfect finish to my hectic day, a seriously well made video from Chris

Pure lvl 10 satisfaction , cheers Chris

I’ve been wanting to build one of these for a long time, and I like many things about this design, but I’ll wait for the long term update.

Any day Chris speaks is a good day

Thanks Chris, i need an lpg burner, thats a nice simple solution 👍

sounds like you should make a bunch of them and sell them if you have a ton of left over materials, I'd buy one!

Pity you had to buy so much to build this, but at least you can rebuild/repair as needed or build bigger as desired. I love the simple modular design; that alone makes it a hard design to beat for the average bloke who wants a one-off casting. Thanks for the video!

hi Chris, another well explained video. Are able to do one on your pyrometer and did you put a protective covering over the sensor. Thanks Dan

Cast some tungsten for us!!! Just kidding. What an awesome video. This is a keeper because I'll be using this information later. Thanks, Chris!!!

It's good to see this again. My first furnace used solid fuel (charcoal), it worked, lots of fun. Thanks for posting!

Great video!

If some of you wish to make your own diy furnace, there are a bunch of small industrial oven maker companies, they are more than happy to sell you ceramic fibers, heat proof concrete or anything you need to build your own furnace

Very nice.

Interesting that it can easily be repaired.

Looks like a slight variation of this could make a pretty nice blacksmithing forge.

Man , that was a smooth but informative video

I like the modular design. It really makes grabing the crucible so easy. I can only get 1001°c out of mine. My burner is a passive air mix burner, too. I want to add an impeller mixing chamber. I believe that will get me the temperature I want. I made a huge mistake when I made my first furnace. I let the guy at the supplier talk me into a different setup. I was going to go with the keg refractory cement design. Small and easy. But I ended up with bricks surrounded by 2 layers of wool. It's too big and takes so long to cool. A huge waste of money.

Clickspring and MartyT is always thumbs up before watching! Both always deliver premium content! Both from the southern hemisphere... (coincidence or... me being from Ultima Thule?)

@multirole240

Жыл бұрын

Where can one find "MartyT" please. A search on y/tube doesn't show any thing.

@michaelmclachlan1650

Жыл бұрын

@@multirole240 www.youtube.com/@MartyT/featured Hope this helps.

I always wondered how you built your foundry and this answered a lot of questions. Thanks for making and sharing this.

@tinayoga8844

Жыл бұрын

This is not a foundry. It is a Furnace. A foundry is a place where metal casting is done. A furnace is one of the items used in a foundry.

I thought this series was from the Clickspring Clips channel 😳 I'm late so... Welcome back to the main channel

Brilliant! Looking forward to seeing what those ingots turn into...

Thank you for another very high quality video. Please, pretty please keep them coming.