Steel Crucible

[doubleboost]

Hi
I have a casting to do that will need more metal than my ceramic crucible will hold
A nice big steel melting pot
It will be 6 1/2 inch diamiter (that is the pipe i got given)
10 inches high (the bigest i can get in my furnace)
The material is 1/4 wall mild steel seam welded pipe

Cut to length and the end squared up



The end champherd ready for welding
I will be melting aluminium in this , not a great amount of heat but it will need a good weld as i dont want to get my feet wet
John

[Hopefuldave]

My local PahndShop often has thinwall stainless stockpots about that size - not very durable, but would do as "disposable" crucibles, and only a couple of Quid... have lids with 'em too!

Just my ha'pennorth,
Dave H. (the other one)

[EdK]

John,

That's a good sized chunk of pipe to be turning with no end support. I'm surprised you didn't have problems with it shifting on the chuck jaws.

Well done.

Ed

[doubleboost]

Hi
Ed
It did not like it at all
Running it at a reosnable speed with a light cut got the job done
John

[doubleboost]

(03-17-2012, 08:14 PM)Hopefuldave Wrote: My local PahndShop often has thinwall stainless stockpots about that size - not very durable, but would do as "disposable" crucibles, and only a couple of Quid... have lids with 'em too!

Just my ha'pennorth,
Dave H. (the other one)

Hi
Dave i would stay clear of stainless crucibles
They do not like thermal shock
I had one made fron shed10 seamless pipe it was half full of molten bronze i put a large piece in to the pot (per heated) the pot split and the bronze ran out
John

[DaveH]

John,

This melting "lark" does seem a tad dangerous at times

DaveH

[doubleboost]

Hi
Lads
It is a bit on the cold side hear today a bit of welding should warm things up
Rob wilson kindly cut me a base for my crucible
This was tacked in place with a MIG welder
The job was then warmed up with a big propane torch

A root weld was then put in with a TIG welder
140 amps mild steel filler rod


Plenty of penatration
A bead of Mig was then ran in
160 amp 0.8 mild steel wire

Just to finish the job a couple of runs of MMA (stick) weld as a cap
120 amp 2.5 general purpose rod

A bit rub up with the grinder


John

[EdK]

Nice welding job!

[ETC57]

Nice job on the welding John,

Ya know I never considered using a welding project to worm up my shop
but I like it!

Seams I always have something to weld up!

Jerry.

[Highpower]

Not trying to be a stick in the mud here guys, but........

For the benefit of any folks here that might be new to metalworking & welding in particular - all of this "shop warming" is being conducted with a generous amount of fresh air ventilation and proper welding fume extraction. Right guys???

We wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong idea about welding in a closed up shop, breathing the noxious gases generated by welding that can make you really sick... or worse.