Hi heat cement

[JuanH]

Deal

 

[George]

I’ve decommissioned my homemade propane foundry, and have acquired a 50ltr stainless steel beer keg, I’ve noted the ITC100, and now for the wool? Best place please, Amazon? Also do i need to coat it in refractory cement? Or can it be just the wool with a ITC coating? LOL my propane foundry was a playsand plaster of Paris construction, it worked but brakes down after a cpl of years and it was bloody heavy
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanx in advance.

 

[Tom O]

A beer keg works great I used 2 wraps of kaowool painted with ITC I used sodium silicate to glue it in place.
( it’s cheap and can be used for any core making ) For the bottom I used fireclay/sand that cracked as it dried out so I leveled it with sand and used a round shelf for a kiln that works well. I use a blower on mine with a regulator for propane and have had no problem with brass, I still have to try cast iron. I got my components from Ceramics Canada.

Tongs for #6 clay graphite crucible.

Tongs for 6x6” steel tubing with a bolt at each corner the nut is radiused to fit. They work quite well because lifting on the bottom naturally pulls them together giving you freedom to use the other hand to control the pour.

Here are the Princess Auto prices I’ve only used the ITC100 so far I’d like to try some of the coating stuff ( skimming ) for higher temps but I haven’t had the need yet.

 

[Tom O]

One thing I should point out is we cut the top a bit too high so we drilled some holes and wired it in place with nichrome wire the vent hole is 4”.

 

[JuanH]

that's the setting i am aiming for. i won't mind swinging by and check it out. have you tried to melt tin bronze or silicone bronze?

 

[Proxule]

No refractory over your kaowool, Only ITC.
I make my own sodium silicate ( water glass ) from sodium hydroxide and silica gel ( kitty litter ) crystals

 

[George]

@Proxule thats interesting could you tell me/ the pundits the formula please, also I picked up a nice bit of aluminum to smelt next spring, need to go buy a few blades for my reciprocating saw now lol 22.5 inch wheel off a semi, has a cracked rim friend works for a truck repair shop

 

[Proxule]

Nice rim!
Here is the videos and information on water glass, You will need carbon dioxide gas to harden the water glass, I suppose an open flame will do it too, Never tried.

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-Sodium-Silicate-Water-Glass/

 

[Tom O]

When I made the furnace I just coated the inside of the keg to hold the kaowool in place this doesn’t require any c02 to harden it. When you are ready for more complex castings using cores you will need c02 to harden them unless you go the route of Myfordboy who adds resin to make his cores with good success .

 

[kevin.decelles]

The books I read on it said you could use the co2/argon gas from a mig welder to harden it.

With a 3d printer it should be fairly easy to print core boxes with venting holes and a hose barb

I bought a gallon of the liquid silicate but have not ventured into cores yes


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[Tom O]

Here is luckygen1001 video on a furnace build for iron using propane .

For my burner the gas tube slides into the tube about 3” seeing as it is attached to the blower.

 

[kevin.decelles]

Similar to the one by artful bodger. I bought his book and am collecting parts


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[JuanH]

for sodium silicate, can I use the ones from Amazon?
cal you get away with out it?

 

[kevin.decelles]

I would think so

For 10-30 dollars I would try it


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[JuanH]

Do you guys drilled a hole in the button in case of spills?

 

[Johnwa]

I got some sodium silicate from Ceramics Canada, way too long ago to remember the price. They’re prices tend to be on the high side but they are local and their store is well worth the visit.

 

[Tom O]

I’ll take a look around I should still have mine.