casting crucible

[Jeremy Williams]

Hi, I just got a big casting furnace, but no crucibles. Does anyone know where to get crucibles that are capable of melting cast iron and steel. The places I have looked don't sell them. The crucible can be bigger than a one gallon bucket if they need to. Thanks, Jeremy

[Bill Schaller]

I have ordered from here.
http://www.budgetcastingsupply.com/
but I see they don't have any for iron. if I was you, I would write cattail foundry, or one of the other small foundries and ask where they get theirs. I know there are a few small time guys around in Minnesota and Iowa, but I don't have their business cards handy. Have you read http://stephenchastain.com/ books yet?

what kind of furnace did you get?

[Jeremy Williams]

No, I have never heard of those books. I think that I have found a place that sells the crucibles I need though. The website is www.globalspec.com. once there just search for crucible. The furnace is just a homemade thing that uses 3/8 inch thick steel that is 6 inches wide. The furnace is about three feet tall and about 2.5 feet wide to the outside. I still need to make a lid for it though, and get a blower setup for it. That will be easy though. Thanks for the info. Jeremy

[Robt.]

Some good information here: http://www.rockisland.com/~marshall/index.html

[Wm. Galloway]

Jeremy,
A reason that you don’t find many crucibles capable of iron or steel is that most foundry suppliers will tell you “you can’t melt iron in a gas furnace”. I’ve seen it done but only for very small parts. With the amount of work left on your furnace I would suggest scrapping that idea and build a homemade cupola with the design by Steve Chastain. Sorry to dampen your day. A cupola can melt iron very fast and efficient. There are many engineering details described by Steve in his book and all are very important. The difficulty you would have with melting iron or steel in a gas fired furnace is that the temperatures don’t get high enough. The turee (sp?) of a cupola increases the velocity and there-by the melting capacity. Your gas furnace would be very good for Aluminum or brass.
Are there any foundries you can visit? I see your near Rapid City and I’m not aware of any iron foundries out there. In Webster is Maureen Foundry. They would give you a tour for an hour or so. If you visited my Foundry in Mankato, I’d show you everything. I have a whole listing of crucibles in my Modern Castings buyers guide. I could send you the magazine if you’d like or you can join American Foundry Society and receive a copy.

[Jeremy Williams]

I never would have thought that the furnace would not get hot enough. I will probably try to melt a little iron in it to see if it will work. If not I guess I will have to build a cupola. I might have to go to webster and talk to them to get the just of everything. If that big furnace won't melt iron or steel I don't know what to do with it. Thanks for the help. Jeremy

[Gailey Henderson]

Try McMaster -Carr i dont have their latest catalog mine has them listed