Aluminum Foundry

In the building of my two CNC machines I have come to realize that to make my own aluminum parts would be really really helpful. So... I am starting my own homemade aluminum foundry :)

I have done a lot of reading online before even starting and I've decided rather than start with a charcoal foundry as most hobbyists do - I've decided to jump right to a propane fueled furnace.

Here's a few pictures of what I have so far:

The furnace is a 6 gallon trash can - I put a layer of perlite / furnace cement mix around the outside and in the lid (notice the holes I cut for venting and for the torch) - then I put a layer of pure furnace cement on top of that... It should give me a good protection / insulation :)

The propane tank I "stole" from my BBQ grill and the torch is off the shelf at Harbor Freight - it's "Labeled" a weed burning torch - but it's easily hot enough to melt the aluminum

I have built a crucibel - but forgot to take a picture of it - it's basically the bottom of an old Propane tank that I cut off the top from and some tools for lifting it from the furnace and pouring the AL - I'll take pictures soon of those...

Right now - I am waiting for the cement to dry before I can really test it out - I'm not known to be the most patient - I hope I can hold off! hehe

One final note - I plan on doing lost foam casting - so if anyone knows where to get the "Dow Blue" rigid foam - let me know! :) I will "mill" the blue foam on my CNC - dip it in wall texture - bury it in sand - then pour molten aluminum in and make my own parts ;)

Here's the pictures!