First casting

[NormanV]

I have done a fair bit of casting aluminium using peat, charcoal and these days propane as fuel. I've never used oil. For material I use alloy wheels which provide quite good quality material. From your description it sounds as though you poured too hot. I can always look into the top of my furnace and pour soon after the last piece of metal has melted. If anything I probably pour when the metal is on the cool side. I rarely produce a porous casting and I do not degass.