MetalworkingFun Forum

Hi
I have a casting to do that will need more metal than my ceramic crucible will hold
A nice big steel melting pot
It will be 6 1/2 inch diamiter (that is the pipe i got given)
10 inches high (the bigest i can get in my furnace)
The material is 1/4 wall mild steel seam welded pipe

Cut to length and the end squared up



The end champherd ready for welding
I will be melting aluminium in this , not a great amount of heat but it will need a good weld as i dont want to get my feet wet
John

My local PahndShop often has thinwall stainless stockpots about that size - not very durable, but would do as "disposable" crucibles, and only a couple of Quid... have lids with 'em too!

Just my ha'pennorth,
Dave H. (the other one)

John,

That's a good sized chunk of pipe to be turning with no end support. I'm surprised you didn't have problems with it shifting on the chuck jaws.

Well done.

Ed

Hi
Ed
It did not like it at all
Running it at a reosnable speed with a light cut got the job done
John

(03-17-2012, 08:14 PM)Hopefuldave Wrote: [ -> ]My local PahndShop often has thinwall stainless stockpots about that size - not very durable, but would do as "disposable" crucibles, and only a couple of Quid... have lids with 'em too!

Just my ha'pennorth,
Dave H. (the other one)

Hi
Dave i would stay clear of stainless crucibles
They do not like thermal shock
I had one made fron shed10 seamless pipe it was half full of molten bronze i put a large piece in to the pot (per heated) the pot split and the bronze ran out
John

John,

This melting "lark" does seem a tad dangerous at times

DaveH

Hi
Lads
It is a bit on the cold side hear today a bit of welding should warm things up
Rob wilson kindly cut me a base for my crucible
This was tacked in place with a MIG welder
The job was then warmed up with a big propane torch

A root weld was then put in with a TIG welder
140 amps mild steel filler rod


Plenty of penatration
A bead of Mig was then ran in
160 amp 0.8 mild steel wire

Just to finish the job a couple of runs of MMA (stick) weld as a cap
120 amp 2.5 general purpose rod

A bit rub up with the grinder


John

Nice welding job!

Nice job on the welding John,

Ya know I never considered using a welding project to worm up my shop
but I like it!

Seams I always have something to weld up!

Jerry.

Not trying to be a stick in the mud here guys, but........

For the benefit of any folks here that might be new to metalworking & welding in particular - all of this "shop warming" is being conducted with a generous amount of fresh air ventilation and proper welding fume extraction. Right guys???

We wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong idea about welding in a closed up shop, breathing the noxious gases generated by welding that can make you really sick... or worse.