Metal Working Oven (Jewelry)

[LJP]

Hello All,
Today I was at the fall Brimfield Flea Markets. You never know what you will find. Pictures below are of a small oven that came out of a jewelry factory in Providence RI.
The dealer I spoke to, bought it at auction. It had no controls at all, it was for melting silver and gold (the dealer thought). It was used until very recently.
I did not buy it, asking price is $100. I have the dealers phone number.
Is this something that can be used too do:

A) Heat treating or hardening of steel...
OR
B) Melting of brass, aluminum or cast iron for casting?

It seemed very small and the door was on the front. Can controls be put on this oven? Is it worth the effort to make it work? I have no experience with either casting or heat treating, but would like to learn if the opportunity presented itself.

All suggestions, opinions and advice is welcome!!!

Thanks, Larry

   
   
   
   
   

[oldgoaly]

Don't recognize that brand here is one that is similar in design http://www.johnsongas.com/industrial/frn-atmos.asp
Does it have a blower? atmospheric furnaces are limited to melting aluminum or other soft metals. With out seeing more of the piping it would be hard to tell if it had controls or could be added. A pid controller, thermocouple, and gas solenoid can control a flame, but it needs a relighting system like a pilot or spark ignition.
1st thought it was a tempering or annealing furnace. But since it came from a jewelry manufacturer, I think the process is cloisonne where glass powder is fused to metal, like old car emblems. It's not something you connect a bbq tank and just make work, will need more research like what size orifice it has and if it is propane or nat gas low or high pressure? It can be made to run like a new one! 100$ isn't bad but 50 sounds better, but I'm cheap! Also the brick will contain asbestos so be careful with them. If it needs new bricks I will recommend Mizzou mix from APGreen/ Harbison and make a sheet metal form to cast them in. A tough durable bricks once cured! It is a well made furnace!!! I'd probably would buy it if it was close and I had help loading and unloading.

[Highpower]

If nothing else, I would have bought the lead hammer mold that is leaning against the door.

[LJP]

There you have it. I picked that up and looked at it, but really didn't know what it was. Inexperience with metalworking tools!

[oldgoaly]

good eye Willie, was thinking it was just a ladle, looks to be a 3-4-5 pound hammer mold too.

[Highpower]

(09-07-2013, 08:46 AM)oldgoaly Wrote: good eye Willie, was thinking it was just a ladle, looks to be a 3-4-5 pound hammer mold too.

I agree oldgoaly. It's definitely bigger than my little 2 lb. mold, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. I would love to have run across that one at a yard sale. New molds are pretty pricey.

[oldgoaly]

(09-07-2013, 10:26 AM)Highpower Wrote:

(09-07-2013, 08:46 AM)oldgoaly Wrote: good eye Willie, was thinking it was just a ladle, looks to be a 3-4-5 pound hammer mold too.

I agree oldgoaly. It's definitely bigger than my little 2 lb. mold, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. I would love to have run across that one at a yard sale. New molds are pretty pricey.

I have a 5lb one but not a 2lb, so if we can get together we could make a bunch. That Johnson 313 I have will do 300lbs of lead. I have about 600-700 lbs of lead. Probably have 20-30 3/8" pipe cut for handles, maybe 20 1/2" pipe cut for the 5lb.

[Highpower]

Yup. 3/8" pipe works perfectly for the 2 pounders.

It's nice though when you mangle one (lower hammer) you can simply melt it and re-pour another one.

   

[oldgoaly]

I had gotten 3 21' lengths of 3/8" in a delivery pipe / fitting mess up. The JR college had one in the sand casting shop so I made a bunch and gave them a length of pipe. I was handing them out to buddies for Xmas presents one year, most of mine need to be melted and recast, it will take a day or two to find the all.... as bad as drill bits!