HOW TO MAKE A STRONG METAL FOUNDRY

**mariost** · Jan 11, 2021, 01:48 PM

This is the first video of the new serie in my channel that is about metal melting. We can learn here how to make a homemade metal foundry that works with propane. In the future i will try first to melt in this foundry aluminum and later copper and bronze.
YOU CAN WATCH THE CONSTRUCTION HERE:

**marksbug** · Jan 11, 2021, 06:23 PM

I have a old 60 gallon compressor tank I want to cut the top off of and do this to so I can cast some heads and some cylinders for my air cooled vw/porsche stuff. im not sure where to get the brick.perhaps I should ask the local clay products place ( brick yard/seller) I was wondering if fire place bricks work for this. and what mud to use?.I reckon Ill watch this vid and see!!!

**tiger carpenter** · Jan 11, 2021, 09:36 PM

how long does it take to preheat this foundry until it's ready to melt the aluminum?
I saw similar designs based on the electric heater, and it took 1 hour to heat it up!

I hope the gas based foundry cuts the preheating time to few minutes.

**DIYer** · Jan 12, 2021, 04:06 AM

Thanks mariost! We've added your Foundry to our Forging and Casting category,
as well as to your builder page: mariost's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Foundry by mariost

tags: foundry

**mariost** · Jan 14, 2021, 02:43 AM

Originally Posted by tiger carpenter

how long does it take to preheat this foundry until it's ready to melt the aluminum?
I saw similar designs based on the electric heater, and it took 1 hour to heat it up!

I hope the gas based foundry cuts the preheating time to few minutes.

Depends of the dimention of the object. If for example we have tins you need about 5-7 to begin to melt. Then you put inside more tins that are melting almost immediately.If the object is more thick you need more time for the melting to begin.

**sossol** · Jan 17, 2021, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by marksbug

I have a old 60 gallon compressor tank I want to cut the top off of and do this to so I can cast some heads and some cylinders for my air cooled vw/porsche stuff. im not sure where to get the brick.perhaps I should ask the local clay products place ( brick yard/seller) I was wondering if fire place bricks work for this. and what mud to use?.I reckon Ill watch this vid and see!!!

Same here. I picked up a free compressor just for this sort of project. It has holes rusted in the bottom, and no motor, so no one wanted it. I have the refractory cement and some of the fittings.

Neil

**hemmjo** · Jan 19, 2026, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by tiger carpenter

how long does it take to preheat this foundry until it's ready to melt the aluminum?
I saw similar designs based on the electric heater, and it took 1 hour to heat it up!

I hope the gas based foundry cuts the preheating time to few minutes.

I did a lot of investigating and I tossed around the idea of going with gas powered
for a long time. I had been collected parts. Built a couple burners to test.

When it got down to building it, I went electric. With gas, most of the heat just goes
out the hole in the top. With electric the can be closed when melting clean ingots.

I can start mine, fill it with ingots, ram up a mold, and be pouring the mold in less than
an hour. Temperature control is so easy. If melting clean ingots you can do it in your
shop with no fumes.

You can set it, fill it, start it and go do something else and not worry about over
heating.

Mine can only melt 9 pounds at a time. If you want to melt 15-20-30 pounds, gas may
be the way to go, but I have no regrets about going electric for my small furnace.

However you go, it will greatly increase what you can do in your shop

Electric Crucible Furnace

Good Luck