xlchainsaw
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2008
- Messages
- 98
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after i completed my new furnace i needed crucibles...i bought one new....it was made of clay and graphite about the size of a decent coffee mug!!! it cost me $90 au.. whilst i was waiting for it....(it took about 3 months to arrive) i made my own
these are fire clay based.
i made a mold...... this took nearly a week full time!!! i cast a solid block of aluminium!!! 6 inch square and eight inches high!! then i cast a mounting block for the inside.....i was guided by dave gingerys book on crucible making
these crucibles stood up to two brass melts a peice!! not bad!!! but???
i started to add powdered graphite from crushed gouging rods into the mix.
some brass castings from the crucibles
now these have been lasting for five brass melts a peice..
when they crack!!!!!!!! i grind them up add some more fireclay and some more graphite...
repress into crucibles once again.....the mold allows me to press up a crucible in just ten minutes!!!
i became very hard pressed for time and didnt have time to remake them and i had 65 garden taps to melt!!!!!!
so i christened my new crucible....so far its with stood 10 fireings of brass but its going thin on one side.....it might last another 5 to ten melts of brass???? i will let you know.
these are fire clay based.
i made a mold...... this took nearly a week full time!!! i cast a solid block of aluminium!!! 6 inch square and eight inches high!! then i cast a mounting block for the inside.....i was guided by dave gingerys book on crucible making
these crucibles stood up to two brass melts a peice!! not bad!!! but???
i started to add powdered graphite from crushed gouging rods into the mix.
some brass castings from the crucibles
now these have been lasting for five brass melts a peice..
when they crack!!!!!!!! i grind them up add some more fireclay and some more graphite...
repress into crucibles once again.....the mold allows me to press up a crucible in just ten minutes!!!
i became very hard pressed for time and didnt have time to remake them and i had 65 garden taps to melt!!!!!!
so i christened my new crucible....so far its with stood 10 fireings of brass but its going thin on one side.....it might last another 5 to ten melts of brass???? i will let you know.