Build threads on the construction of home foundry furnaces Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:09:59 +0000 Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:09:59 +0000 The Home Foundry http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?forums/furnaces-and-their-construction.2/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:21:42 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/building-new-furnace.3073/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/building-new-furnace.3073/ invalid@example.com (Andrew Marquardt) Andrew Marquardt
Building new furnace]]> 9 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:22:48 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/paint-the-kaowool-on-the-inside-and-outside.3111/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/paint-the-kaowool-on-the-inside-and-outside.3111/ invalid@example.com (Brice) Brice Feel free to throw in any other fixes or additions I should make. Really prefer not to destroy that crucible on my first go around....

Paint the Kaowool on the inside and outside?]]> 3 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:11:42 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/getting-back-into-the-game.3110/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/getting-back-into-the-game.3110/ invalid@example.com (Guitar Bill) Guitar Bill
I've been a busy boy working on my patent application for my part. Today I'll be submitting it. So exciting.
I have a 6Kg propane furnace but just ordered an 8Kg Toatuo Electric furnace.
This will halve keep things cleaner and simpler.

I made a great new friend on Facebook with 40 yrs of mold pattern making under his belt and he is helping me by making permanent molds using 910 Investment.

I just keep meeting awesome people all over the place. So nice. Guys like...

Getting back into the game]]> 8 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:55:23 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/microwave-melting-furnace-and-kiln.3108/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/microwave-melting-furnace-and-kiln.3108/ invalid@example.com (Al2O3) Al2O3




Best,
Kelly]]> 8 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:53:08 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/furnace-insulation-and-refractory.3104/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/furnace-insulation-and-refractory.3104/ invalid@example.com (HT1) HT1
Furnace insulation and refractory]]> 22 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:02:58 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/itc-100.3107/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/itc-100.3107/ invalid@example.com (HT1) HT1 ITC 100 HT Ceramic Coating
is a versatile, high-temperature material rated for temperatures up to 5,000°F. It is primarily used to coat the interior of furnaces, kilns, and forges to improve energy efficiency by reflecting radiant heat back into the...

ITC 100]]> 3 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:36:34 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/ht1s-insane-overpowered-new-furnace-build.1938/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/ht1s-insane-overpowered-new-furnace-build.1938/ invalid@example.com (HT1) HT1 https://mifco.com/foundry-furnaces/high-speed-melters/
I really wanted to see if that was possible, I thought Mifco was FOS, they were not

Here is the video of me making Brass in 32 minute...

HT1's Insane overpowered new furnace build]]> 50 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:14:49 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/recharging-an-electric-furnave-crucible.3088/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/recharging-an-electric-furnave-crucible.3088/ invalid@example.com (Tranby1) Tranby1
Might seem like a silly question, but I thought I would check the following. Scenario is that I have just pored most of metal from a graphite crucible that has been heated in one of the small table top electric furnaces. With a small amount of molten metal still in the crucible, is ot OK to add further solid metal into the crucible to allow further moulds to be filled? I am thinking that where further casts are required can I avoid the lengthy process of waiting whilst the electric...

RECHARGING AN ELECTRIC FURNAVE CRUCIBLE]]> 2 Wed, 24 Dec 2025 02:51:47 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/smelting-furnace-from-scrap-alum-melter.3083/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/smelting-furnace-from-scrap-alum-melter.3083/ invalid@example.com (Jennifer Petrila) Jennifer Petrila
I have 3 smallish gas powered furnaces for non ferrous but want to get into ferrous as well.

The idea here is to modify it for cast iron. I know it will need a lid.

I've changed the arrangment of the burner unit, raised to blower off the ground and eliminated 2 extra bends in the air pipe.

I had forgotten a lot over the years since I was involved in study for such things...

Smelting Furnace from scrap alum melter.]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2025 20:32:51 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/new-oil-burning-furnace-build.2862/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/new-oil-burning-furnace-build.2862/ invalid@example.com (Mark's castings) Mark's castings
Both methods do work but for normal fuels like sump oil, diesel and Jet A1, the furnace struggles to get hot enough with an A25 crucible in the furnace. The assumption is the...

New oil burning furnace build]]> 90 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:13:40 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/low-emissivity-paint-and-crucible-impinging-flame-does-it-really-improve-furnace-efficiency.3069/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/low-emissivity-paint-and-crucible-impinging-flame-does-it-really-improve-furnace-efficiency.3069/ invalid@example.com (metallab) metallab He melts brass in this video.
I did not try this, but is this really more efficient ?
I doubt it ...
]]> 2 Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:49:44 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/new-furnace-build.3061/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/new-furnace-build.3061/ invalid@example.com (brandon henneberry) brandon henneberry
This is my first post here, so hello everyone!

Many years ago before i started a business and lost all my free time I built a small propane furnace out of an old air compressor tank, kaowool, and refractory cement. It worked ok, I was only ever able to melt aluminum but really wanted to melt copper. Lately I've noticed I have some free time again and am thinking about building a new furnace. I have an old 20 pound propane tank which is already cut open and has holes drilled for...

New furnace build]]> 12 Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:48:35 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/electric-heating-does-anyone-use-sic-elements.3053/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/electric-heating-does-anyone-use-sic-elements.3053/ invalid@example.com (metallab) metallab
Electric heating: Does anyone use SiC elements ?]]> 2 Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:39:50 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/400-800-induction-furnace-worth-the-purchase.2995/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/400-800-induction-furnace-worth-the-purchase.2995/ invalid@example.com (metallab) metallab https://www.ebay.com/itm/3567038157...hC0hSEQatbD3%2B84H4JY89HPYiyyoDUTTtLMy1ct0...

$400-$800 Induction furnace: worth the purchase ?]]> 4 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:26:08 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/kaowool-hole-punch.3021/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/kaowool-hole-punch.3021/ invalid@example.com (bmac2) bmac2 slowly building up a new furnace (Aluminum) from an old propane tank. I’m copying Rocketman (https://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/show-me-your-lids-please.2636/ Post #14) for the lid and decided to go low mass over concerns with stability when I swing it over and thought the lighter the better.

My wife doesn’t particularly like chilly but makes a great one. The other day she’d asked me to open a couple of cans...

Kaowool Hole Punch]]> 1 Fri, 20 Jun 2025 11:18:15 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/what-do-you-think-of-this-vevor-propane-furnace.3005/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/what-do-you-think-of-this-vevor-propane-furnace.3005/ invalid@example.com (metallab) metallab

Looks promising, but IMHO I see a few flaws.
* The plinth is too low and the burners are impinging onto the crucible, which degrades the crucible and lowers crucible temperature
* The wall thickness is too thin, I guess only 1" Kaowool where 2" is better insulating for this size.
* His cast iron test is incomplete, the lowest melting point (the 1145 C eutectic alloy in the...

What do you think of this VEVOR propane furnace ?]]> 5 Sun, 08 Jun 2025 16:14:09 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/any-experiences-with-sic-elements.3003/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/any-experiences-with-sic-elements.3003/ invalid@example.com (metallab) metallab Does anybody have...

Any experiences with SiC elements ?]]> Fri, 30 May 2025 20:10:56 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/this-propane-furnace-for-only-160.2993/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/this-propane-furnace-for-only-160.2993/ invalid@example.com (metallab) metallab
This propane furnace for only $160 ?]]> 3 Tue, 27 May 2025 17:40:55 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/toolsheds-2025-furnace-build.2996/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/toolsheds-2025-furnace-build.2996/ invalid@example.com (Rob Hall) Rob Hall
Making my new furnace finally. Using a tank that was used for expanding foam insulation chemicals.

View attachment 25534 View attachment 25540 Along with the foamboard model I made at 1/4 scale

Got Kaowool installed. Waterglass glued to the inside. Multiple thicknesses around where the flame might just hit the wall. Added some chicken wire to help hold the...

Toolshed's 2025 Furnace build]]> 1 Tue, 20 May 2025 22:17:22 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/lift-out-vs-lift-off.2971/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/lift-out-vs-lift-off.2971/ invalid@example.com (Mburtis) Mburtis
I'm not up on furnace design but my understanding is that you want a fairly small annular space between the furnace wall and the crucible? I've already ran into slight limitations on my vevor furnace building tools thay fit around the crucible but don't drag the walls of the furnace. Being able to use a simple hook to grab and pour the crucible instead of standing...

Lift out vs lift off]]> 10