Casting aluminum ladles - GIF

[nova_robotics]

I don't know about that. Aluminum is a heavy metal and a fairly well established neurotoxin. I think the link to aluminum cookware is a bit dubious though. If you want to point fingers at aluminum exposure, look at the anode in your water heater. And buy aluminum free deodorant.

[Frank S]

I don't know about that. Aluminum is a heavy metal and a fairly well established neurotoxin. I think the link to aluminum cookware is a bit dubious though. If you want to point fingers at aluminum exposure, look at the anode in your water heater. And buy aluminum free deodorant.

The jury on the benefits and or dangers of aluminum exposure to humans may never be completely resolved. I think there are numerous formulations of aluminum salts and substances containing aluminum recognized by the FDA as being both beneficial and hazardous to humans in various concentrations. Many municipalities use one aluminum salt or another in water treatment Aluminum chloralhydrate for one, has been used in anti perspirants for as long as they have been around some people have been found to be more susceptible than others to the possible toxicity of the substance. On the other side of the coin some societies have used aluminum cooking and eating utensils almost exclusively for over 100 years with little or no known detrimental effects to their health. I think and this is just a personal opinion that the physiology and cultural differences of people around the world has as much to do with the possible toxic effects of all substances is largely due to our genetic make up.

[mlochala]

Is that concrete they are using for the molds? Interesting.

[mwmkravchenko]

Coating is definitely a graphite based refractory coating. This is really cool. I have done a lot of aluminum, casting is years past and I am impressed with this. A porous concrete probably a refractory concrete is the exterior of the mold. I will see if I can dig up anything on this idea. Got me thinking! Concrete on it's own made from portland cement ios not something that will last very long. It has a lot of water bound up in it's chemistry. Makes for molds that are quite short lived.

As for melting chips. Unless you have seriously compacted them into some solid form have fun with that. So much surface area for oxide to make your life hard. If you have a press and a way to make hockey pucks you might be able to make it work.

[nova_robotics]

As for melting chips. Unless you have seriously compacted them into some solid form have fun with that. So much surface area for oxide to make your life hard. If you have a press and a way to make hockey pucks you might be able to make it work.

Inert the atmosphere with some argon? I have a bottle of pure argon for tig and another bottle of 75% argon + 25% CO2 for mig. I have an electric kiln that seals up fairly well so I'm not too worried about air leakage.

[mwmkravchenko]

YouTube OlFoundryman. Best teacher I have seen for aluminum casting.

What I am referring to is each chip is coated in aluminum oxide. This is tough stuff. And doesn't melt. I forms a bag holding the molten aluminum. Try something else. And save yourself the grief. Cast with aluminum that has been formulated to casting. No cans, no extrusions. Think rims, engine heads. Then you will have some success. It is true that for ideal casting you have to bubble argon through your molten metal, and molten aluminum and stell of any kind is a big nono. Molten aluminum dissolves steel and iron. So you need a crucible. Melt it and pretty much as soon as it is melted you pour it. The hows and whys of pouring are covered well by Martin in his last video.

[hemmjo]

YouTube OlFoundryman. Best teacher I have seen for aluminum casting.

What I am referring to is each chip is coated in aluminum oxide. This is tough stuff. And doesn't melt. I forms a bag holding the molten aluminum. Try something else. And save yourself the grief. Cast with aluminum that has been formulated to casting. No cans, no extrusions. Think rims, engine heads. Then you will have some success. It is true that for ideal casting you have to bubble argon through your molten metal, and molten aluminum and stell of any kind is a big nono. Molten aluminum dissolves steel and iron. So you need a crucible. Melt it and pretty much as soon as it is melted you pour it. The hows and whys of pouring are covered well by Martin in his last video.

Soooo, my steel crucible it not good. This means I am getting iron alloyed into my aluminum?

[mwmkravchenko]

Aluminum while molten dissolves iron. Makes for a terrible alloy. All is not lost. There are refractory paints, refractory washes that you can coat your crucible in and it protects the aluminum melt. Cans are almost pure aluminum. Absolutely nasty to machine. A little copper and silicon makes a huge difference. Look up the alloying of different aluminum. I applaud your getting it done. I haven't done any regular casting in almost 30 years. I do want to get back into it. And electric is one of the best ways to do it. Not a lot of hydrogen absorption into the molten aluminum when you melt via electric heaters. Saves the degassing with argon. Expensive and a little bit complicated.

Mark

Another great teacher is: https://www.youtube.com/@kellycoffield533

[neilbourjaily]

I doubt cast iron has much to do with this method. Molten Al is a solvent to iron.
I suspect the black is a graphite wash of a sort. Graphite is useful as a parting agent and lubricant in Al casting.

Sorry,Mwmkravchenko, I didn't see your immediately previous post.