Copper Ingots

[dogbone222]

if any where does the slag go and what metal do i use for iron or steel ingots

[EJRhees]

@dogbone222

The slag floats to the top and should be skimmed off before you pour.

I don't understand the second part to your question.

Thank you

[EJRhees]

@dogbone222

The mold for pouring Iron or steel would need to be a sand based mold, oil bonded or "green" sand.

[thebryghtidea]

Outstanding work.

[EJRhees]

@thebryghtidea

Thank you for the compliment

Thank you for watching and for posting a comment.

[infinus5]

how did you stop the copper from vapourizing? we have a problem at my high school where were trying to melt down scrap copper but all we get is slag

[EJRhees]

@infinus5

Some Copper will vaporize, but nominal near melting point. I pour at about 100 degrees F over melting point. It could be that you're not quite reaching melting point, or that you have a lot of junk in your stock. Once you reach melting point give it 10 - 15 minutes to be more fluid, then make sure to skim the dross.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions.

Thank you for watching and your question.

[infinus5]

@EJRhees

at school we have been useing pure copper collected from a local scrap yard. we also use an oxy acetylene torch at around full blast. the highest temp that we get the torch to liquifies steel in around 1 min. the copper we have tried to melt liquefies and than hardens before we can pore. we have also tried an induction heater but that caused a small explosion from built up gases

[EJRhees]

@infinus5

What are you melting the Copper in?

What amount of Copper are you melting?

Maybe you need to heat it slower?

[infinus5]

@EJRhees we melt copper pipe cuttings and wire that have been cut to around an inch in length, and we melt copper in a carbon or ceramic crucible. when attempting to pour we preheat a carbon or steel ingot mold. does this help?

[EJRhees]

@infinus5

That all sounds good. I wonder if you are heating the copper so fast that the crucible is still "cold" and sucks the heat out of the copper so it re-solidifies. try heating it more slowly.

[dutstinroach]

nice did u use old propane tanks for ur foundry?

[EJRhees]

@dutstinroach

THe outer shell of the furnace is an old propane tank.

Thank you for watching and for commenting.

[yoyojoe618]

What did material did you use for the cup

[EJRhees]

@yoyojoe618

The crucible is a commercially made carbon/clay crucible from lmine.com.

Thank you for watching my vid.

[greatlachlan99]

MINECRAFT!!!

[svberry]

Do you have to wax the mold befor you pour the copper in?

[EJRhees]

@svberry

The wax get steamed out then the plaster mold, baked to remove all moisture and any residual wax, otherwise the resulting steam explosion would cover me in molten metal.

[packrat541]

This is better than money because money keeps losing buying power. The ingots will hold their value and can be traded for other things or services and it is not money so no taxes.

[russsiankid530]

damn imagine putting your tongue on the melting copper

[joebeanwhite]

@funnyfunfuncat omg get a life..

[AZZAMIL1]

I am a copper metal fans, I hagustado much for your video. Go on.

[Daniels1999]

I read it Chopper ingots..

[ReaverRism]

I watched this because of Minecraft.. Dear notch, Add copper in 2.0 peace :)

[creeper0123]

@funnyfunfuncat lol thats what i thot and i was gonna try it and stamp a little creeper face in the top

[damiata101]

Now lick it!!

[googeish]

@wadley what makes him a bastard?

[Wadley225]

Damn you are a fat bastard!

[IXianGriffin]

@Wadley225 and you have a big mouth from behind a pc screen....grow up punk

[Breathor]

@IXianGriffin ufat?

[lllllllRobot]

Pour it on the propane tank =D

[Zeldo363]

wow burn copper = magma

[Daimo988]

@Zeldo363 actually molten rock = magma, melted copper is still copper........

[freitasnetuno]

FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!

[justas7463]

Touch that red liquid now xD

[pooper2000]

i like your gas bottle forge

[EJRhees]

@pooper2000

It is a gas bottle, but it's a furnace, not a forge.

I do have a forge that my Son built. It is the top to an old kettle style grill (turned up-side-down) with a brake rotor in the middle and a fire clay/sand refractory around the rotor. THe rotor acts as a hot pot for the center of the fire.

Thank you for watching and commenting.

[richard2mitchell]

@EJRhees Why make Copper ingots?

[llaenael]

@richard2mitchell Maybe for sell stolen electrical wires ! :-P

[EJRhees]

@llaenael

Most scrap yards/Recyclers won't take uncertified ingots, so Not.

Thank you for watching

[llaenael]

@EJRhees It was a joke ! 

[jovesleejames]

@EJRhees they now have hand held laser met detectors

[EJRhees]

@richard2mitchell

This was a demonstration video I did for friends and family so they could see my setup.

One reason to make ingots would be if you have "dirty" scrap. Another would be for extra metal when you are casting something.

Thank you for watching and commenting

[richard2mitchell]

@EJRhees o ok and np

[MrBigangry]

WATCH OUT FOR CREEPERS!!!

[EJRhees]

@funnyfunfuncat

Anything specific in mind?

[nonlethalbychoice]

@EJRhees

He's making a joke. Minecraft is a video game in which you can build things, he's relating your smelting to it.

[EJRhees]

@nonlethalbychoice

I think he was serious about making replicas, but it's possible I missed it completely.

Thank you

[ThePhotoManiak]

@EJRhees

no he really was referring to a video game. xD funny though

[EJRhees]

@ThePhotoManiak

I understand he was talking about the game.

Thank you for watching and commenting.

Cheers

[Aqlor]

Can you show us the result please?

[EJRhees]

@Aqlor

I will put something together, after the holidays are over.

Thank you for watching my videos, and for the reminder to post some after shots.

[Aqlor]

@EJRhees wow, that was fast! Thanks :)

[RFAM05]

@Aqlor

A matter of timing.

Cheers!

[Supermassively]

Holy crap, that's freaking awesome. I wish I could afford to have my own foundry.

[EJRhees]

@Supermassively

It is really cheap and easy.

I joined a Backyard Metal Casting forum a couple of years ago, and the info I gained there has been priceless.

The shell of the furnace is an old propane cylinder, the linning is fire clay, sand and Diatomaceous earth, all from Home Depot. The burner is just standard threaded pipe and pipe fittings. The single most costly part, for me was the crucible, at $35. But if you're just doing Aluminum, there are cheap or free options.

[Supermassively]

@EJRhees Can you get a crucible that is suitable for all types of metal?

[EJRhees]

@Supermassively

You can, but it is best to use different crucibles for different types of metals.

I use one for Aluminum and a different one for copper/brass.

[Lvivify]

@EJRhees can u pm me the forum

[joeb199999]

What are you using for a container and where can I get one. I have a 55 gallon drum of 99% pure copper mud I need to melt down,

[joeb199999]

@joeb199999 I got an email saying you replied to my comment and I cant find the reply. If you can message me tahnks. -Joe

[EJRhees]

@joeb199999

It fails to post the comment that I am posting.

[EJRhees]

@joeb199999

I get my crucibles from lmine.com

Their prices are reasonable as well as shipping.

I hope this answers you question.

[joeb199999]

@EJRhees yes it does thanks a lot. 

[trailkeeper]

Copper is a good investment, make some ingots of various weights.

[bruno2260]

Maybe you could make some copper pots & pans (very expensive to buy) or some duplicate tools from the copper age, that would be cool.

[EJRhees]

@bruno2260

One thing I would like to do is cast a copper knife, then use either some green stone, Jade, or green dyed wood for the handle.

[TheAaaabbbbdddd]

@EJRhees HOLE KOSTENLOS IHRE METALL oder ELEKTRO SCHROTT ab

Maschinenteile, Autoteile, Motoren aller Art, Metalltüren,

aller art z.B. Waschmaschinen, Trockner, hert Spühlmaschinen, Schrott, , Heizkörper, Kessel, Motorräder Motor, Mofas, Mokik, Kupfer, Kabel, Messing, Gussbadewannen, Fahrräder, Schienen, Rasenmäher, Maschinen & r, Metallregale und Schränke, Maschendraht, Blei, Messing. auch Entrümplungen durch Haushaltsauflösungen.

Öffen

[EJRhees]

@TheAaaabbbbdddd

Would you be able to translate that into English?

Thank you for watching my video and commenting.

:o)

[SecretPack]

@EJRhees heres what he said loosly translated

"HOLE FOR FREE YOUR SCRAP METAL ELECTRIC or from

Machine parts, auto parts, engines of all kinds, metal doors,

all kinds e.g. Washing machines, dryers hert, dishwashers, scrap metal, radiators, boilers, motorcycle engine, mopeds, Mokik, copper, cable, brass, cast iron bathtubs, bicycles, rail, mowers, machinery & r, metal shelves and cabinets, wire mesh, lead, brass. Entrümplungen also by household resolutions.

Openable"

it's not relevent though

[EJRhees]

@SecretPack

Thank you for translating

and thank you for viewing my video

[SecretPack]

@EJRhees no prob man ^^

it was a cool video; smelting ores really interests me, but im only 15 haha, too young to play with fire like that or make a forge, but i admire your work, cool stuff.

[EJRhees]

@SecretPack

There is a forum that I frequent, backyardmetalcastingDOTcom\for­ums

They not only have a lot of good resources, but I have seen members, with active foundries as young as 14, as long as you're safe and your parents agree, you're never to young.

I have 2 furnaces, the one in the videos which is made inside an old propane tank, and a mini made inside a one gallon paint can.

[SecretPack]

@EJRhees I'll definatly check that website out then

and how much money does it take (on average) to build a furnace and buy enough fuel to start smelting?

and is there any profits in selling anything you forge, or is it more of like a "hobby" thing?

[EJRhees]

@SecretPack

I think mine cost about $30 to build, furnace and burner.

I have never made anything for sale. I made replacement parts for a neighbor's flag pole, and a bunch of decorative "sculpture" pieces as gifts. But people do. There are a lot of sculptors that do it out of their backyards also a guy in England that casts custom parts for old cars (handles and such).

[kilometro1160]

@piketyl000 Melting copper is not illegal in the U.S. Melting copper pennies still in circulation "IS" illegal. When you install copper pipes on your home, are you not melting(soldering) them?

[twobluehorses]

Why would it be illegal anywhere?

[corpralj3]

@EJRhees I'll buy the ingots off you...

[dnl5649]

why do people say melting down copper is illegal. shoot i melted down over 50$ in pennies and made ingots. but mostly aluminum, tin, and lead. i made some bronze ingots to. i need to get a new cruciable and ingot mold. since they are graphite they break easyily.

[1gnoreAntz]

can anyone in florida help me melt down my copper to make copper cuffs to wear on my forearms?

[doobing]

you should save the copper you will be rich when the dollar goes bust you should make them into 1 pound discs

[mcneezey]

what type of material do you use for your crucible? do u have to treat it so its fire and heat resistant?

[Sarombi]

what do you do with the ingots? what is the reason you melt it down im curious

[EJRhees]

@Sarombi

I melt for fun and function.

I have cast a few "sculture" pieces, and some replacment parts for a neighbor's flag pole.

Most of what I have done is in Aluminum, zinc and brass. I have yet to cast anything usable in Copper.

Mostly just fun, and learning the process.

Thank you for viewing, and thank you for your question.

[piketyl000]

@EJRhees melting copper is illegal

[EJRhees]

@piketyl000

Not where I live.

I see you are from the US too, why do you say it's illegal?

[levi799]

@EJRhees Melting copper is illegal but only if you're melting pennies so that you can sell them. I think that's what got him confused.

[bruno2260]

@levi799 Since 1982 pennies are only copper plated zinc and actually cost more to make than there worth.

And before that they were 95% copper & 5% zinc, and still by the time you melt them down and remove the zinc you would still lose money. Unless you had large foundry and TRUCK LOADS of OLDER pennies you might make a few bucks. But if you had that many pennies I'm sure you wouldn't need to melt them down for a extra few bucks.

[levi799]

@bruno2260 I know that, but it's still illegal to melt pennies to profit.

usatoday DOT com/money/2006-12-14-melting-b­an-usat_x DOT htm

[Unbeloved1]

@piketyl000

Wrong, melting US currency is illegal.

[turgeo2004]

@Unbeloved1 what about melting canadian currency,? i heard that there is 90% silver in most canadian quarters. is it illegal in the usa to melt a foreign nations currency

[ninja6kid]

lmao wtf are you talking about

[WXIIIR]

@piketyl000 burning isulated copper is, melting isnt

[YTBYlover]

Nice pour amount

[3091181]

How much is an ingot that size worth?

[EJRhees]

I think it's about 3/4 - 1 pound each. Homemade ingots aren't woth much to the everyday recycle yard. No garantee for them what the composition is. But it's like gold to me though.

Thank you

[3091181]

That's still really cool. And you built your own foundry, awesome man. Can you do a vid showing off what they look like when you're done?

[1ToNJaB]

Is it possible to melt copper with a coal foundry?

[EJRhees]

Absolutly. All you need is enough space for fuel, and enough airflow.

I inavertantly melt steel, now and then in my charcoal forge, steel is a much higher melting point.

[TheUnNerved]

What did you make your foundry out of... kind of looks like lpg tank.

[EJRhees]

The shell for my furnace was an lpg tank. It is lined with a mixture of fire clay, sand, and diatomaceousearth.

Thank you

[mcd2290]

i have a question. i recently tried to melt some copper in my furnace and it started burning before it melted what did i do wrong and how can i fix it?

[gtsa1138]

@mcd2290 probably just some organic material on it... copper doesn't flame.

[mcd2290]

it was a yellowish-green flame and copper does burn if it gets too hot

[AndrewsMakeChannel]

I like how you have a tank of flammable gas behind your foundry. ; )

[EJRhees]

The tank of flammable gas is the propane that fires my furnace. It is behind, but it is also 8 feet away and is in a convenient location for gas managment.

I do appreciate your input. Thnak you

[xramcam]

I just finished making my own furnace- propane and forced air. I did a test run with aluminum and it took about 25 minutes to melt. Will this furnace work with copper too? Isn't the melting point much hotter? Thanks.

[EJRhees]

xramcam,

Forced air Propane should have no problem reaching Copper temps (1984 degrees F). There are detirmining factors.

Your burner would need to be capable of sufficient BTU's, and your furnace lining would need to be able to withstand the heat, and amount of time at heat. The melting point is much higher, over 700 degrees F, higher.

Of course the melting points vary depending on the alloy being melted, and pouring temp is usually 100 - 200 degres higher.

Thank you

[xramcam]

I am using a BBQ regulated propane supply with a hommade burner- it looks a lot like what you have. I used refractory cement in my furnace and it should take whatever I throw at it. What kind of copper (what kinds of scrap) would you suggest using?

[EJRhees]

It sounds like a good setup. WIth forced air you can get away with using a BBQ regulator, but you could not with naturally aspirated.

I would suggest using whatever you can get your hands on. But if structural integrity is needed, only get your stock from a reliable source.

Most copper plumbing, pipe and fittings, is 99% pure, just watch out for soldered joints.

[agentpg13]

i have a quesiton would the copper be worth more if i melted it down or leave it in bulk? because i have a big peice of copper that is folded up its about 8 inches long by 2 inches and its about a inch high when folded. i want to get money from it so what do you think the bet this to do is?

[EJRhees]

Most scrap yards/ recyclers will not accept home made ingots, so unless you know the recycler, leave it its current state.

[definca]

Not to mention the added cost and time to melt it down. Fuel cost alone added would cut severely into your value as scrap. Just turn it in and use the money to build a forge.

[boochieboy814]

Not if you make a used motor oil blast furnace like I did,,,,,free fuel.

[botman001]

Do you use a flux? I've been trying to melt copper but I can't quite get it to work. Not sure is I'm using the wrong flux or what.

[EJRhees]

For Copper, I have not used flux.

When you say you havn't gotten it to work. Do you mean you haven't been able to melt it?

It does take a lot of heat and some time. I think it was 30 minutes, or so, to get the melt started.

Thank you for your comment.

[botman001]

It mostly burns instead of melting. I would guess I'm only getting about 20% liquid and the rest burns away. Was thinking I need something to counter the oxygen. What kind of heat source are you using?

[EJRhees]

I have a naturally aspirated Propane burner, that I augment with forced air for Copper temps.

Are you using thin pieces of metal for you source materiel?

P,S, I have used charcoal powder (bottom of the bag stuff, real charcoal) as cover for brass, with good results.

[suskyboy3]

I would suggest more safety gear, A face shield and leather arm spats. If there was moisture on your ingot mold you will get a big splatter, Be careful.

[EJRhees]

I do, now, have and use a face shield.

The gloves I use cover about half of my arms.

If I pour into a wet mold I deserve what I get.

Thank you

[AlexTheDudexxx]

nice. Tough i would have liked to see the cooled ingot but its still cool. 5 stars and fav

[EJRhees]

Thank you, i apreciate your comments.

I do have pictures, I will try to get them posted soon.

[urkingod]

Can I have it?

[EJRhees]

What is it that you would like to have?