Above 1200 Sq/FT Cleaning Up My Shop

[86turbodsl]

i can't wait to see you melt some metal! Very nice job on the furnace.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, well done.

The seal has worked well

It has, surprisingly well! Thanks!!

Nice, Andy! It's aluminum-muffin time!

It's showtime!!

i can't wait to see you melt some metal! Very nice job on the furnace.

OK, OK, just because you asked. But, mechanical engineer? What do I have to do to be one? I've got tools?

I added some loose brick to take up air space in the furnace. I think it helped with warmup time, but it's pretty quick anyway, about 20 minutes to melting aluminum.

I put about 100 drink cans in the 4" crucible and here is what it looks like when I removed the arch. Lot's of slag from drink cans.

I ran three loads over a 1-1/2 hour period and the furnace was hot enough inside when I reset the crucible that all I had to do to light it was turn on the propane. The yellow ring got to 140F in a few places over the 1-1/2 hours. It should be good to at least 500F but if it overheats and fails all the brick go into the furnace. Made 6-3/4# of muffing. Now I'm scouting for honey.

I may not melt any more cans. I had been melting some cans then casting from cool ingots. Doing three loads of 100 cans showed me that I made at most $6 worth of ingots in 1-1/2 hours and used a lot of propane. Hmmm...

Need to do some pattern work tomorrow so I can try casting a trivet again.

Thanks for the visits!

 

[86turbodsl]

It has, surprisingly well! Thanks!!



It's showtime!!



OK, OK, just because you asked. But, mechanical engineer? What do I have to do to be one? I've got tools?

I added some loose brick to take up air space in the furnace. I think it helped with warmup time, but it's pretty quick anyway, about 20 minutes to melting aluminum.

I put about 100 drink cans in the 4" crucible and here is what it looks like when I removed the arch. Lot's of slag from drink cans.

I ran three loads over a 1-1/2 hour period and the furnace was hot enough inside when I reset the crucible that all I had to do to light it was turn on the propane. The yellow ring got to 140F in a few places over the 1-1/2 hours. It should be good to at least 500F bu tif it overheats and fails all the brick go into the furnace. Made 6-3/4# of muffing. Now I'm scouting for honey.

I may not melt any more cans. I had been melting some cans then casting from cool ingots. Doing three loads of 100 cans showed me that I made at most $6 worth of ingots in 1-1/2 hours and used a lot of propane. Hmmm...

Need to do some pattern work tomorrow so I can try casting a trivet again.

Thanks for the visits!

Well, I went to a university and got a bachelor's degree that said I'm a mechanical engineer, but frankly, it's an expensive piece of paper that says you're trainable and nothing more. I have met plenty of folks over the years that would qualify as an engineer in my book but don't have the paper. Many on here and other forums.

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[jbmatth]

The new furnace looks good Andy and seems to work well. I have some more cast parts I can bring by next month when I take some time off.

JB

 

[Guster]

Success!

That lid lift is very tidy. Could make it multi-purpose to lift the crucible out too but would need to put the lid down somewhere which is not great I guess. The fibreglass rope is a great idea. Nice seal and soft surface for the bricks to sit on. Love the way you made the bricks fit in the mini cathedral dome lid too. I’d be nervous of accidentally knocking one loose while lifting out slag/dross through the vent hole. Easy to add a flanged pipe in the vent to support the bricks and don’t have to worry about chucking stuff through the hole damaging the bricks or pulling brick chunks into the crucible.

 

[drivesitfar]

HANDY ANDY: so you are starting to figure out all the costs of this forging? as you've seen by the comments your HAMMERS ARE PRICELESS and those members receiving them have smiles regarding their hammers and HANDY ANDY that won't soon go away.

keep up the great work and keep thinking cause I'm sure you'll figure out a better way if you want to tweek it a bit.

cheers (I'll pass on the Coke and tip my cold mug of ice tea your direction)

 

[jimreed2160]

Fascinating work Andy. Lots of heat and lots of time waiting for things to happen. Seems like a fella could roast a couple o weenies while things melt.

 

[tym]

Seems like a fella could roast a couple o weenies while things melt.

That's what *she* said!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Well, I went to a university and got a bachelor's degree that said I'm a mechanical engineer, but frankly, it's an expensive piece of paper that says you're trainable and nothing more. I have met plenty of folks over the years that would qualify as an engineer in my book but don't have the paper. Many on here and other forums.

Sent from my LG-TP450 using Tapatalk

Great response. My situation is a bit more complex, however. I did the same thing as you, then worked, got my P.E. license, and worked some more. Then I gave up my P.E. license because I had retired and didn't want to do continuing education anymore. I was a P.E. for 42 years. I also got tired of telling guys I definitely do not want to go back to work and put up with the butts. So am I still an engineer? See I can spell it

I was baiting you and you gave the perfect answer.

I'm with you, there are lot's of natural engineers without a degree and lot's of graduates without the skills to be an engineer. But there is a place for everyone. I have learned you can learn something from everyone, even those marginal engineers you have no respect for.

Andrew Martin, P.E. (Retired)
OK PE-10249

 

[oldironfarmer]

The new furnace looks good Andy and seems to work well. I have some more cast parts I can bring by next month when I take some time off.

JB

Thanks!!

It is getting there. I would love to have you come visit. I feel guilty about you giving me stuff then having to deliver it, but I'm getting used to the feeling.

I've got plenty right now, so no hurry, but I do want it, prime melt stock.

If you want to bring your hammer back I'll put a handle in it.

Success!

That lid lift is very tidy. Could make it multi-purpose to lift the crucible out too but would need to put the lid down somewhere which is not great I guess. The fibreglass rope is a great idea. Nice seal and soft surface for the bricks to sit on. Love the way you made the bricks fit in the mini cathedral dome lid too. I’d be nervous of accidentally knocking one loose while lifting out slag/dross through the vent hole. Easy to add a flanged pipe in the vent to support the bricks and don’t have to worry about chucking stuff through the hole damaging the bricks or pulling brick chunks into the crucible.

I could make some hooks to hang the arch from but as soon as the crucible is out the lid needs to go right back on to preserve heat. I guess.

If I get to the crucible size which is dangerous to lift by hand I would expect to build a separate lift on a trolley rail or a jib crane so I could lift the crucible and roll it to the pour position. If.

The rope is actually ceramic fiber rope gasket, good to 2,000F (that's 300 or more C).

The brick are pretty stable there. You can lift one an inch and nothing happens. But they are hard to lift.

And easy to damage. I had planned to make a flanged pipe (out of refractory because the bottom will get over 2,000F easily. I was going to make it loose fitting and just hang in the hole (out of the gutter, Drives) primarily to avoid chipping the brick. It is chalk soft. I have to convince myself the refractory pipe would not crack and fall into the soup.

HANDY ANDY: so you are starting to figure out all the costs of this forging? as you've seen by the comments your HAMMERS ARE PRICELESS and those members receiving them have smiles regarding their hammers and HANDY ANDY that won't soon go away.

keep up the great work and keep thinking cause I'm sure you'll figure out a better way if you want to tweek it a bit.

cheers (I'll pass on the Coke and tip my cold mug of ice tea your direction)

Tweeks and tweaks on the way. One addition originally planned is a warming tray. It is important to preheat charge before it goes into a hot crucible. So far with aluminum I have been able to put the entire charge in the crucible cold so no warming is necessary. Except for aluminum cans, and they get dropped in cold. Lots of cans I ask "who's going to save you now?" just before I plunge them into can hell. Not one has given the only correct answer.

Fascinating work Andy. Lots of heat and lots of time waiting for things to happen. Seems like a fella could roast a couple o weenies while things melt.

I'm loving it. So far I sit and rest a bit but there is always cleanup and preparation to do while the charge is melting.

Still, it should take a marshmallow about 0.03 seconds to roast to perfection over an 1,800F aperture. I think a little weenie might pop.

That's what *she* said!

OK, maybe 0.04 seconds.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Coming back from setting out hay I was enjoying a magnificent morning surveying my little domain. I was reminded how farming is a long term effort. You have to think a few years in advance. I need to have a hay source this summer which will carry my cows through two years if we have a devastating drought. Off to the left, in the distance, is my remaining hay. Grass is greening a little early and the cows are losing interest in hay so I may not feed again. About 24 bales left. I was short this year, if we don't get a full hay crop this summer.

Bale spike on the Bobcat. How I love plunging that hard rod home. I just ram it in hard, straight in. It feels so good.

Then I can lift it and carry it around. It is always hard and straight and right there when I need it.

Just one of many farm tools

Back at the old foundry (we don't mine salt) I ******* the arch so it was almost vertical.

And coated it with ITC100, a high temperature reflective coating. This is supposed to help the furnace heat more rapidly and in the process keep the brick cooler too.

Then I rammed up two hammer molds

Put muffins in the pot and melted them

Hammers are getting a little better.

Bobby was right! Thanks Bobby!!

Thanks for the kind visits, everyone!!

 

[don long]

Andy
It looks like you are still having fun playing in your back yard.

Do you have or know where to get barn wood?
I'd like to plan a trip out your way this spring, and then come home and start my western town project

 

[tym]

Andy, nice to see you still hammering away at your projects.

 

[86turbodsl]

Great response. My situation is a bit more complex, however. I did the same thing as you, then worked, got my P.E. license, and worked some more. Then I gave up my P.E. license because I had retired and didn't want to do continuing education anymore. I was a P.E. for 42 years. I also got tired of telling guys I definitely do not want to go back to work and put up with the butts. So am I still an engineer? See I can spell it

I was baiting you and you gave the perfect answer.

I'm with you, there are lot's of natural engineers without a degree and lot's of graduates without the skills to be an engineer. But there is a place for everyone. I have learned you can learn something from everyone, even those marginal engineers you have no respect for.

Andrew Martin, P.E. (Retired)
OK PE-10249

Lol! Well I'm glad I passed the test! [emoji16][emoji111]️
I took the eit test and had all my requirements completed including the work experience, engineering references and ready to get the pe licence and never completed it. Not required in this state to practice so why bother I guess. It was good experience. My sis in law had let her Texas pe lapse due to not needing it either.
Enough derailment. Please continue your excellent thread. [emoji2]


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[jbmatth]

Thanks!!

It is getting there. I would love to have you come visit. I feel guilty about you giving me stuff then having to deliver it, but I'm getting used to the feeling.

I've got plenty right now, so no hurry, but I do want it, prime melt stock.

If you want to bring your hammer back I'll put a handle in it.

Free delivery of free supplies, I couldn't argue either. I'll be headed that way to go car parts shopping in Tulsa anyway so it'll be a nice detour.

You did supply the handle with the hammer, and I'm true to my word, I'd said I wouldn't move it off of my bench until I install the handle. It is still on the bench.

When I need it I'll install the handle and cuss myself for not doing it sooner.

Andy
Do you have or know where to get barn wood?
I'd like to plan a trip out your way this spring, and then come home and start my western town project

Don,
I'm sure Andy knows where some is as well but there is a barn I pass on my way to work that has collapsed, I've never seen anyone out there to ask if I could get some from them. I'm sure if I just started taking it the owner would eventually show up so I could ask them.

JB

 

[drivesitfar]

Handy Andy: so the first post you mentioned to me to keep it clean and my mind out of the gutter and I still have NO IDEA WHERE you were going with that so I guess i did, but sounds like you and BOB have a thing when you are haying so i won't even go there on a Saturday.

Don: I know Handy Andy knows where to get anything related to STEEL, but i bet if he put is mind to it (if he can get it out of the gutter) he'll have enough boards for you to pick up so that you'll need a couple semi trailers to haul it home. love the sound of a WESTERN TOWN at the PARTY GARAGE.

it's another great day so make the best of it!

 

[Guster]

I could make some hooks to hang the arch from but as soon as the crucible is out the lid needs to go right back on to preserve heat. I guess.

If I get to the crucible size which is dangerous to lift by hand I would expect to build a separate lift on a trolley rail or a jib crane so I could lift the crucible and roll it to the pour position. If.

The rope is actually ceramic fiber rope gasket, good to 2,000F (that's 300 or more C).

The brick are pretty stable there. You can lift one an inch and nothing happens. But they are hard to lift.

And easy to damage. I had planned to make a flanged pipe (out of refractory because the bottom will get over 2,000F easily. I was going to make it loose fitting and just hang in the hole (out of the gutter, Drives) primarily to avoid chipping the brick. It is chalk soft. I have to convince myself the refractory pipe would not crack and fall into the soup.

True enough - didn't think about getting the lid back on in a hurry. As you mention right now you are just doing smaller charges. Build it when you need it.

Didn't know they made ceramic rope gasket. Only ever seen fiberglass stuff for sale. Though you can get various hard ceramic inserts for things like vents etc. from commercial suppliers. Even wondered if a slice off the flared end of a ceramic drain pipe would fit. The good old glazed stuff is very hardy if you can find some. I've seen a few old timers use it in the openings of cast refractory gas forges for the same reason.

Your casting is just getting better and better going by that last hammer head.

Oh... every time someone mentions Handy Andy this springs to mind!

Still trying to shake the mental picture of you and Bob running around poking bales and carrying them around on your long hard spikes... Might explain why some cows had enough of this rAndy behaviour!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Good one Guster..

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy
It looks like you are still having fun playing in your back yard.

Do you have or know where to get barn wood?
I'd like to plan a trip out your way this spring, and then come home and start my western town project

I'm not bored yet!

Sounds like you may be serious about a trip! I'm excited.

I don't have any old barn wood, but will ask around and see what I could do. How many square feet do you project you would need?

I'm sure you're familiar with cedar privacy fencing. Used fencing makes a good barn wood substitute. Around here it is hauled to the dump. Fence contractors will give it to you if you show up at the job site. It would make nice trim boards, and maybe faux wall sheathing too, with a batten every few boards.

I need to start cleaning my shop...

Andy, nice to see you still hammering away at your projects.

Sometimes I'm pound foolish...

Lol! Well I'm glad I passed the test! [emoji16][emoji111]️
I took the eit test and had all my requirements completed including the work experience, engineering references and ready to get the pe licence and never completed it. Not required in this state to practice so why bother I guess. It was good experience. My sis in law had let her Texas pe lapse due to not needing it either.
Enough derailment. Please continue your excellent thread. [emoji2]

Since I worked for large engineering companies for the most part, the P.E. license was more for credentials. Never once had to stamp a drawing but it did add a little weight to some arguments.

Thanks for stopping in!!

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Free delivery of free supplies, I couldn't argue either. I'll be headed that way to go car parts shopping in Tulsa anyway so it'll be a nice detour.

You did supply the handle with the hammer, and I'm true to my word, I'd said I wouldn't move it off of my bench until I install the handle. It is still on the bench.

When I need it I'll install the handle and cuss myself for not doing it sooner.

It will be great to see you, gifts or not!! The shop has changed a little since you were last here.

Don,
I'm sure Andy knows where some is as well but there is a barn I pass on my way to work that has collapsed, I've never seen anyone out there to ask if I could get some from them. I'm sure if I just started taking it the owner would eventually show up so I could ask them.

JB

We need to get cracking and find Don his wood. Let's see how much he may need. Herb may have some leads too. I don't think it has the value it did twenty years ago.

Handy Andy: so the first post you mentioned to me to keep it clean and my mind out of the gutter and I still have NO IDEA WHERE you were going with that so I guess i did, but sounds like you and BOB have a thing when you are haying so i won't even go there on a Saturday.

I was trying to draw attention to a play on words I noticed, and was pretty sure you would not mind being drug into the fray. Now I can't find the post.

Did I somehow use improper language describing feeding hay?

Don: I know Handy Andy knows where to get anything related to STEEL, but i bet if he put is mind to it (if he can get it out of the gutter) he'll have enough boards for you to pick up so that you'll need a couple semi trailers to haul it home. love the sound of a WESTERN TOWN at the PARTY GARAGE.

it's another great day so make the best of it!

When a guy like Don conceives an idea he will make it happen. We are priviledged ot be a small part of that effort.

True enough - didn't think about getting the lid back on in a hurry. As you mention right now you are just doing smaller charges. Build it when you need it.

Didn't know they made ceramic rope gasket. Only ever seen fiberglass stuff for sale. Though you can get various hard ceramic inserts for things like vents etc. from commercial suppliers. Even wondered if a slice off the flared end of a ceramic drain pipe would fit. The good old glazed stuff is very hardy if you can find some. I've seen a few old timers use it in the openings of cast refractory gas forges for the same reason.

The ceramic fiber rope is made of the same stuff as ceramic fiber blanket. Same hazards too.

We don't have much ceramic drain pipe like you guys do, but I'll look around. As long as it is high fire it should work. It also has to be able to stand thermal shock.

Your casting is just getting better and better going by that last hammer head.

Thank you!!

Oh... every time someone mentions Handy Andy this springs to mind!

I would love to have one of those bottles

Still trying to shake the mental picture of you and Bob running around poking bales and carrying them around on your long hard spikes... Might explain why some cows had enough of this rAndy behaviour!

Now, now. I was just poking fun.

Good one Guster..

 

[oldironfarmer]

My brick mortar arrived today. And I tried to cut a wheel apart. Not easy.

And we're trying to paint the planer room floor. It froze the night we laid the concrete, 5 Oct 2009. It has been dusting ever since. Bunch of **** we moved out.

Cut the wheel with HF portaband. It is thicker than I expected.

And milled the slot in two wrenches, 1-1/8 and 3/4.

I had a short drop from an 8" piece of 304 pipe. I cut a little over an inch off to make a warming tray. The wire mesh was a catalyst basket in a refinery. Pretty sure it is Hastelloy C. If so it is very corrosion resistant and has a design temperature of 1,250F. Would probably hold up at 1,800F. I've used it in the tuyere of two blacksmith forges and it still looks like new after twenty years.

And the 3,000F brick mortar came in so I patched the joints on the furnace. The two triangles which were sunken in on the arch are now held in place.

And I built a little dam to keep direct radiation off the rope seal.

Thanks for dropping in!!

 

[don long]

I'm not bored yet!

Sounds like you may be serious about a trip! I'm excited.

YES ANN AND I ARE DISCUSSING IT

I don't have any old barn wood, but will ask around and see what I could do. How many square feet do you project you would need?

A LOT

I'm sure you're familiar with cedar privacy fencing. Used fencing makes a good barn wood substitute. Around here it is hauled to the dump. Fence contractors will give it to you if you show up at the job site. It would make nice trim boards, and maybe faux wall sheathing too, with a batten every few boards.

YES, I BUILT THE BARN INSIDE THE PARTY GARAGE USING MY OLD FENCE

We need to get cracking and find Don his wood. Let's see how much he may need. Herb may have some leads too. I don't think it has the value it did twenty years ago.

THANKS GUYS

When a guy like Don conceives an idea he will make it happen. We are priviledged ot be a small part of that effort.

How much wood do I need??? Here is what I have drawn up in excel
Sorry for the bad pictures (taken off my monitor, printer is broken)

3 40' containers and 2 20'ers

IMG_2925 by don long, on Flickr

to give you some idea of what the buildings will look like. I'm just building the facades on the outsides of the containers.

IMG_2920 by don long, on Flickr

I have been grabbing any old fencing that I could find.

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Guster]

I would love to have one of those bottles

That can be arranged. I think most people in the British Commonwealth would recognise it and the lovely pine and ammonia scent. Though it comes in other flavours now. Better yet, would you like a full sample?

Just realised it's a cool avatar - All purpose shop cleaner!

 

[oldironfarmer]

How much wood do I need??? Here is what I have drawn up in excel
Sorry for the bad pictures (taken off my monitor, printer is broken)

3 40' containers and 2 20'ers

IMG_2925 by don long, on Flickr

to give you some idea of what the buildings will look like. I'm just building the facades on the outsides of the containers.

IMG_2920 by don long, on Flickr

I have been grabbing any old fencing that I could find.

Thanks for the help guys

WOW! Pretty much 160 ft of wall, at 8 ft high we're talking 1,200 sq ft of surface, plus ends and second story facade.

We may not be much help but we'll sure have a good excuse if we're not

That can be arranged. I think most people in the British Commonwealth would recognise it and the lovely pine and ammonia scent. Though it comes in other flavours now. Better yet, would you like a full sample?

Just realised it's a cool avatar - All purpose shop cleaner!

That is so funny. Andy can't clean a shop.

I would love a sample and would be tickled to pay postage if you think it can be mailed. I could trade for a hammer but I'm giving hammers away so that would be a poor deal for you.

I like being called Handy Andy but wish it were true.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, after all your thread is Cleaning Up My Shop so I do endorse Guster's suggestion..

 

[oldironfarmer]

Out early doing some yard work I noticed our Bradford Pears. They rarely bloom this nicely.

Everybody was aghast when I put T8 bulbs in my shop addition. Said I should have gone with LED. Well the only LED fixtures I could find were $50 or so each, compared to about $25 for T8's. Then I found LED replacement bulbs online for $6 each. As the ballasts go bad I'm replacing the bulbs with LED's I've gone through 30 bulbs so far. Giving the old bulbs to my helper. These have to be used without a ballast. Pretty simple, cut the wires and throw away the ballast.

But I learned something today. I had been tying the red wires to one leg of incoming power and the black to the other leg. Whichever color is on the outside is real tough to connect. I had a revelation today, tie an inside and outside wire together and there is more wire to work with. NOTE TO AUSSIES: Please look away momentarily. There may be substandard wiring depicted and you may find it disturbing. Yanks don't mind, we all have pretty new houses because of all the house fires.

I set about to build a stack melter to reduce wheels, transmissions, and other bulky aluminium parts. First I needed a grate. I had made some burglar bars I never installed. My security cameras take care of the issue. So I welded some very old rebar in the spaces.

Note to JB: perfect use of 6011 stick rod. Heavy coat of rust and paint. No grinding, 1/8" 6011 at 110 amps will burn right through all the ****.

Then I cut the bottom out of a drum (it's gone) and the bottom off another drum (remnants of the furnace drum). Perfect use of the plasma, very quick job.

The grating goes on four concrete blocks, the drum goes on the grating, and the pan goes underneath.

You fill the pan full of water, fill the drum half full of wood, then fill the rest with aluminum. Light the wood and watch the melted aluminum drip into the pan of water where it is cooled into nuggets which are easy to remelt.

It was dark before the fire went out. Pictures tomorrow!

Thanks for looking in.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, nice to see your spring blossoms out, they look a picture.

I could not bring myself to look nor comment on your wiring, you may have noticed I rarely comment on electrical matters other than my own because I am likely to put my big foot in it big time..

An you are right turn up the amps an you can burn through any thing..

Your stack melter work a treat..

 

[bolensboneyard]

Andy like the stack melting idea. Could you be a budding Vieux in the making? Pear tree is beautiful. My wild plums bloomed nicely this year also. Most of the time the flowers come hit and miss.

 

[XJSuperman]

We just converted all the fixtures in my apartment to LED. Actually very similarly done to yours. Yank the ballast, cut the wires, tie them back up and presto! More light than you can ask for. Seriously, I need to wear sunglasses in my apartment now.

Glad to see you upgrading Andy. The only annoyance will be the brighter lights from the LEDs while you still have old T8s geting replaced.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, nice to see your spring blossoms out, they look a picture.

I could not bring myself to look nor comment on your wiring, you may have noticed I rarely comment on electrical matters other than my own because I am likely to put my big foot in it big time..

An you are right turn up the amps an you can burn through any thing..

Your stack melter work a treat..

Always a 1/2 pleasure to have you drop in.

Thanks for not looking at the wiring, you are still very weak from your cancer treatments so it may have been too much for you.

Now I am even more honored that you commented on my exposed shop wiring.

6011 in particular burns trough rust and paint nicely.

The stack melter does work well.

We just converted all the fixtures in my apartment to LED. Actually very similarly done to yours. Yank the ballast, cut the wires, tie them back up and presto! More light than you can ask for. Seriously, I need to wear sunglasses in my apartment now.

Glad to see you upgrading Andy. The only annoyance will be the brighter lights from the LEDs while you still have old T8s geting replaced.

My LED bulbs do look brighter. It's deceiving. My replacements were the same lumens as my fluorescents. Walking under them with an open box mine seem to have the same brightness. But I swear they look brighter.

Thanks for the visits, guys!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy like the stack melting idea. Could you be a budding Vieux in the making? Pear tree is beautiful. My wild plums bloomed nicely this year also. Most of the time the flowers come hit and miss.

I'll never approach Vladimir's skills

The melter looks like it will be easy, I need that.

A lot of stalagtites on the grill.

These are aluminum nuggets caused by melted aluminum slowly dripping into the water. A lot of cleanup to do.

All in all I got 27 lbs of purified aluminum.

More on this tomorrow! Now I need to find more time...

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

[tym]

Is it hammer time?

Because I think you're too legit to quit...melting aluminum.

 

[xtremek]

That's a neat trick on melting the big items. And the pear blooms do look gorgeous.

 

[jbmatth]

Great idea on melting the big chunks of aluminum there Andy, much quicker than cutting them up into small pieces and basically free as you don't have any shortage of firewood.

JB

 

[drivesitfar]

Handy Andy: it looks like you've been busy finding better ways to melt aluminum and the one picture you posted of it stacked in a yellow bucked looked like you encased a cat (picture copied from your earlier post and attached again here).

I spent about 90 minutes torching the weeds in my 10x50 gravel parking strip and I have no idea how you maintain 160 acres (or about that much) and you still manage to get all the stuff done daily. maybe i'll figure out the secret once I GET ORGANIZED and don't spend so much time getting ready to do a project looking for a clean flat surface or my tools to work with.

carry on and keep up the great work and thinking!!

hope it's not too windy so your new aluminum melter can burn 24/7 and get all your big stuff down to manageable sizes.

cheers

 

[oldironfarmer]

Is it hammer time?

Because I think you're too legit to quit...melting aluminum.

Hmmm, it's hammer time! Has a familiar ring to it.

The downside of the hammers is it takes about twenty minutes to clean them up and another twenty minutes to make and fit the handle. I'm slow. So I'm trying to do three at once.

That's a neat trick on melting the big items. And the pear blooms do look gorgeous.

I saw that on another forum and it does work great. I'm going to try using a sheet of Hastelloy mesh next and see if that keeps more charcoal out of the water.

Great idea on melting the big chunks of aluminum there Andy, much quicker than cutting them up into small pieces and basically free as you don't have any shortage of firewood.

JB

I think I can put the entire Impala transaxle in and cook it all, oil and gaskets included, and hopefully just have some blue steel left. Even a single cylinder engine takes a long time to get the iron out.

Handy Andy: it looks like you've been busy finding better ways to melt aluminum and the one picture you posted of it stacked in a yellow bucked looked like you encased a cat (picture copied from your earlier post and attached again here).

I spent about 90 minutes torching the weeds in my 10x50 gravel parking strip and I have no idea how you maintain 160 acres (or about that much) and you still manage to get all the stuff done daily. maybe i'll figure out the secret once I GET ORGANIZED and don't spend so much time getting ready to do a project looking for a clean flat surface or my tools to work with.

carry on and keep up the great work and thinking!!

hope it's not too windy so your new aluminum melter can burn 24/7 and get all your big stuff down to manageable sizes.

cheers

Glad you saw the cat!

I purchased the Bovine Ranch and Farm Maintainer. They are like a primitive Roomba for grass. I say primitive, they have light sensing capabilities and can actually "see" the grass and move toward it to mow it. They actually consume it and use it for fuel. Pretty neat system. I got the model with the automatic fertilizer attachment so they fertilize as they mow. If you get both kinds they also reproduce They make little bovines which also mow and consume grass. It gets better. They make enough of themselves you can take the extras and sell them. People actually take my lawn mowers and eat them. Crazy as it sounds, I get the pasture manicured and come out ahead on money. Go figure that one out.

Sadly, yesterday and today were too windy for an elevated drum fire. But I did fire up the furnace and melted almost all my aluminum nuggets. Here's 1/3 of a gallon of hot molten aluminum.

You can see the crucible (304SS) and the burner tile which has the flame coming through at and angle to swirl around the crucible.

I put the bricks around the flue to break up the wind, keeps wind gusts from puffing the burner flame.

That's a pretty good haul of muffins. About three muffins to the pound.

Took off to go to the grand opening and ribbon cutting at the new pharmacy today. The banker was there, the contractors, and lots of friends and customers. Before we left the banker (a young lady who is the bank president) gathered the employees in a circle and prayed for safety, security, and prosperity. My kind of banker

Thanks for stopping in, guys!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, yep that's a good haul of muffins.

That was a nice gesture of the banker..

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

think I can put the entire Impala transaxle in and cook it all, oil and gaskets included, and hopefully just have some blue steel left.

Morse chain damascus might look pretty cool if it's one of those ones with the drive chain.

 

[realvc]

All that goes on at your farm and in and around your shop is interesting and inspiring.

The post about the banker praying at the grand opening really blessed me. You don't see or hear much about people in business also openly being people of faith.

I don't post much but read your thread at least once a day. Thanks for sharing so much with us.

 

[drivesitfar]

Handy Andy: good to see you making muffins again. looks like more trivets and hammers will be cooking up soon.

I hope your friend makes a go of the new pharmacy cause there's way too many huge pharmaceutical companies that need some good competition from the small businesses.

nice that prayers were made and i'll send one or more that it succeeds too.

did you enjoy your SATURDAY?? hope you have a restful day planned tomorrow.

cheers and thanks for the story on how you maintain the grounds at your farm.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, yep that's a good haul of muffins.

That was a nice gesture of the banker..

Thanks! Muffin mania. The stack melter is going to be great.

I have never met a banker like that. I'm moving some business to them.

Morse chain damascus might look pretty cool if it's one of those ones with the drive chain.

Hmmm, that's an idea. I need to build a propane forge so I can get more consistent results for large heats like that.

All that goes on at your farm and in and around your shop is interesting and inspiring.

The post about the banker praying at the grand opening really blessed me. You don't see or hear much about people in business also openly being people of faith.

I don't post much but read your thread at least once a day. Thanks for sharing so much with us.

I'm glad you like seeing what I do. I truly am having a fun retirement. Need to stay healthy.

It can be said if you mix your religion with your business you are not taking care of business. It is a difficult subject, and this was a fine example of living your faith regardless of the outcome.

Before Kia, I had no-kia, and after Kia I have no Kia. What have I done?

Glad you are watching, I'll be more careful...

Handy Andy: good to see you making muffins again. looks like more trivets and hammers will be cooking up soon.

I hope your friend makes a go of the new pharmacy cause there's way too many huge pharmaceutical companies that need some good competition from the small businesses.

nice that prayers were made and i'll send one or more that it succeeds too.

did you enjoy your SATURDAY?? hope you have a restful day planned tomorrow.

cheers and thanks for the story on how you maintain the grounds at your farm.

Hammers and trivets on the way. My friend in Texas who has hammer number two put it this way "Hammerhead, it takes one to make one!". I have been called hammerhead by coworkers in the past. I think it was a compliment concerning my strong abilities.

The pharmacy just finished three full weeks and is in the middle of our projections. Not as well as I'd like but then things rarely are. The pharmacist is really really good with customers and that will mean long term success. Prayers are appreciated.

And then there were seven.

My son and three grandchildren came to camp out Friday night. It was windy so they chose a spot in a road between two fields. Well sheltered. I had supper over charcoal and Saturday morning it was light breezes only so they built a small fire. I went down and had breakfast with them and spent about two hours just sitting, visiting, and enjoying a warm fire, brisk breeze, and crystal clear morning. A rarely do that and it was great.

Thanks for all the comments and visits, guys!