Homemade crucible tongs

Discussion in 'Foundry tools and flasks' started by Scott K., Sep 16, 2017.

  1. Scott K.

    Scott K. Copper

    I'm in the process of building all the stuff needed for casting. One concern I had was getting the crucible out of the forge and pouring. I see a lot of people online using tongs to lift it out, place it in another tool to pour. I even saw someone using salad tongs to do this. I wanted one tool to remove the crucible and pour. I couldn't find anything affordable online. So, here are pics of what I made. Hope you like it, and feel free to copy it if you want. The threaded rod and lock nuts at the top allow me to adjust the open and closed positions for different size crucibles.
     

    Attached Files:

    bobhurd3d and Fishers Wax Works like this.
  2. DavidF

    DavidF Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Looks like a good idea, but I would have to see what they felt like for pouring.
     
    Fishers Wax Works likes this.
  3. Tobho Mott

    Tobho Mott Gold Banner Member

    Cool idea. In general I like the idea of two in one crucible tools for small crucibles. For bigger melts I think the position of the pouring spout relative to the pivot point when you pour might make it a little awkward. There's not much in your pix to give an idea of scale... Have you had a chance to try pouring with it yet?

    Jeff
     
  4. Scott K.

    Scott K. Copper

    The crucible is an A-4 salamander, if that helps get an idea of size. I have not actually used it yet. Just practicing using it to lift and pour cold and empty feels comfortable, but I'll let you know how it actually works for a real pour. And it is sized to work with my forge. It may be too short for a bigger forge/kiln.
     
  5. HT1

    HT1 Gold Banner Member

    that might be ok for an A-4 , but with my 16's I would not be able to pour ... no leverage, no control ... I think you will have control issues and will spill metal

    V/r HT1
     
  6. Scott K.

    Scott K. Copper

    Hopefully I'll find out in a few weeks. And hopefully you're wrong (that sounded bad, don't take it the wrong way). Mostly because I really don't want to make something else.
     
  7. OCD

    OCD Silver

    Before it's over with you'll have a couple different sets of utensils hanging on the wall.
     
  8. Scott K.

    Scott K. Copper

    Yea, you're probably right.
     
  9. OCD

    OCD Silver

    Excuse my bad manners, Welcome to the Nut Ward. :D
     
  10. Scott K.

    Scott K. Copper

    Thanks,
     
  11. Tobho Mott

    Tobho Mott Gold Banner Member

    No loss even if it turns out you don't like how it pours - should still work just as well as lift-out tongs, right?

    You could always try pouring some sand or something out of it to see how it feels.with some weight in it before there's hot stuff around to worry about...

    Jeff
     
  12. Scott K.

    Scott K. Copper

    True, good points
     
  13. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Jeff did it! kiss my butt! A Brian Oltrigg knockoff.

     
  14. OCD

    OCD Silver

    Looks like he's going to need a step ladder to get the crucible out of the furnace though unless the furnace opening is going to be at ground level.

    Looks like he did a nice job building them.
     
  15. Scott K.

    Scott K. Copper

    Nice, but maybe a big big for mine. Maybe I could scale that down if mine doesn't work out.
     
  16. Jason

    Jason Gold

    That's a 10 he's got there! I want one.
     
  17. Petee716

    Petee716 Gold Banner Member

    image.jpg
    These are ones I made copying Myfordboy's design.


    I use them for aluminum with a #10 crucible as well as a #8. The balance is pretty good and I could probably use them for heavier metal without a problem. However I just bought a #18 clay graphite from Legend and built more "conventional" lifting and pouring tools. I don't have a picture of the pouring ring handy.
    image.jpg
     
  18. Jason

    Jason Gold

    I'm not personally a fan of that myfordboy setup. A pot of bronze radiates some serious heat. I'm sure it's fine for aluminum, just not for me I'm afraid. Your second one Petee looks just like mine.

    I still like this furnace design. Looks like it would be easy to pluck the crucible out and dump with one easy tool on wheels.
    s-l1600.jpg
     
    bobhurd3d likes this.
  19. Petee716

    Petee716 Gold Banner Member

    My hand generally stays on the black steel pipe so it's a fair distance from the crucible. A heat shield could be added as well if needed I suppose. It's locking action is really quite positive so I have no fear of the thing letting the crucible slip through. One of the nicest features of the myfordboy design is removing the crucible from the furnace from the side and the lifting leverage it provides. Where I believed the limitation would be with larger crucibles is in the pouring. With smaller aluminum melts it's easy enough to control the pour, but I figured a larger heavier pour would become more cumbersome. You can't really use your upper arms to pour, it's all wrist. Again ok for light stuff, but the conventional ring seemed a better way to go for the larger crucible.
    It looks like Jeffs tongs turned out good. (Don't know who Jeff is). Not sure I'd be comfortable with the pouring proceedure.
    Yes I absolutely used your tongs as a model for mine. Check's in the mail! Lol

    Pete
     
  20. Tobho Mott

    Tobho Mott Gold Banner Member

    I know it's not me, a different Jeff I guess.

    I have separate tongs and shank but my tongs also lift out from the side.

    image.jpg

    Jeff
     

Share This Page