C.Read

Oh wow. Thank you! I guess I need to learn to control my foundry temp better. Because at the temp I was melting aluminum made my steel butane bottle crucible super soft.

I did just make a super strong crucible out of 5 inch schedule 80 pipe. It's heavy.

Thank y'all so much. Is that other crucible still usable to practice pre-heating before I stick a new one in there.

Also can I use a steel crucible to melt brass?

I was using cans just to learn and try my foundry out at first. I will be getting better aluminum. 

Did I do something wrong with that clay crucible? 

Thank for your advice. 

Also what are some good gloves. I burned my knuckle through my welding gloves the other day, I didn't even touch anything it was when I was pulling my crucible out.

Hello,

I have looked around for about 30 min and could not find what I am looking, so here is my first actual post. 

I bought a clay graphite crucible online. When I received it I put it over a open flame for 30 min to cure it and take any moisture out of it. I read this is what I needed to do. So 2 days later I fire up the foundry and like 7 seconds later I her a loud pop and a couple of others. So I turned the foundry off and opened it to find my crucible shattered. I've included pictures. 

I emptied my foundry and cut a butane bottle off a butane torch in half and used it. It was bright red after like 2 min. I started putting cans in right after that, and made some ingot. After two heat cycles the tank was too soft and made the top too narrow too fit cans in. 

So here is my question what did I do wrong/Right? Should I buy another clay graphite crucible? 

I'm just a beginner and would love a simple to maintain crucible that is not likely to get heat shocked. I have 3 inch square tube with the walls about 1/2 inch thick, should I use that as a crucible?

Thanks! I actually read that first. I wanted to make sure I didn't mess up my first post lol.

Hey,

My name is Colton Read. I live in New Braunfels Texas. I have a PMC 10kg foundry. I am new to this whole thing but so far I've beat up a rebar with a hammer and melted about 40 soda cans. I also weld with a Lincoln mug welder. I look forward to learning a lot from here.