If you are interested in the idea of casting aluminum at home, but don’t want to bother with building a furnace or forge, then this idea is for you. Since non-ferrous metal melts at relatively low temperatures, in order to get the first casting experience, you can literally heat scrap over a flame from burning paper. Using this method, you can melt aluminum without any equipment at all except a compressor.
What you will need:
- roll of wrapping paper;
- crucible;
- metal corrugated pipe;
- Mini compressor from an air mattress;
- fittings;
- aluminum scrap.
Paper melting process of aluminum
The paper roll must be installed vertically. A hole is drilled from below for a corrugated tube for air supply. Closer to the top, you need to make a through hole and insert a reinforcement bar into it. You will need it to lower the crucible onto it. Considering that the sleeve in the roll is thin, the crucible is made of an even smaller diameter. It can be welded from a pipe.
Next, you need to ignite the roll from inside the sleeve. To do this, a gas burner is inserted through the ventilation hole.
When the paper is ignited, a corrugated tube is installed and connected to a compressor.
The fitting is inserted into the upper hole, and the crucible is lowered onto it. The latter is filled with aluminum scrap. Considering the capabilities of paper, it is better to use cans, wire, foil, shavings and various small items.
Cast into a sand mold.
After melting, the roll is filled with water. When it dries, you can turn it over and use it again, since the bottom of the paper will remain uncharred after the first use.
