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Project Deferred

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by Howard Eisenhauer, Mar 28, 2021.

  1. Mar 28, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,102
    I started this in 2005 & then life intervened-

    Foundary

    It's been buried under various piles of junk ever since but the confluence of cleaning the garage out & finding that I need to heat treat some aluminum for a project motivated me to finish it up- sort of.

    Really all it needed was the controller put together. I've had the PID, breaker & contactor all along but with the cleanup I knew where they were at. :D

    For the case I used an old junction box I dragged home 13-14 years ago that I've been kicking around the floor ever since. (It's amazing now that I have stuff sorted/stored & clean benches to work on how much of it I'm using to finish off projects :) )

    sm_Fondary_comp_20210327_194725.jpg

    sm_Fondary_comp_20210328_134942.jpg

    sm_Fondary_comp_20210328_134957.jpg

    I cranked it up to 200 C to start, accordinf to my IR thermometer it was actually ~230 inside. I don't have the proper thermocouple wire so that's probably throwing things off.

    sm_Fondary_comp_20210328_135544.jpg

    I cranked her up a couple of hundred degrees a a time to check display accuracy- up to 600 the error remained pretty constant, @ 800 the IR thermometer turned into a gibbering idiot.:shock:

    This is 800C-

    sm_Fondary_comp_20210328_160843.jpg

    1100C. I tried to get it up to 1200 but the outside was starting to get hot, 120C when I called it quits. I did the heater wiring with THWN that's only rated for 90C- I'm kinda surprised the insulation didn't melt. o_OI'll have to locate some range wire to replace it with.

    sm_Fondary_comp_20210328_165720.jpg

    No plans to do any casting at the moment but I figured while I was at it I'd finish off the crucible.

    Well I tried- just couldn't get it hot enough to form the spout with oxy/propane. I'll have to get my acetylene tank reloaded & try that.

    sm_crucible_20210328_155300.jpg

    So much for this weekend...
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2021
    Focker, Fireball, 47v6 and 1 other person like this.
  2. Mar 28, 2021
    Dne007

    Dne007 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Cypress, Tx
    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2019
    Messages:
    1,549
    This is different :watch:, where's the flux capacitor :D
     
  3. Apr 2, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    Messages:
    5,407
    bet that will spin the meter
     
  4. Apr 2, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,102
    But less messy than shoveling coal into it :)
     
  5. Apr 2, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    I do pottery when time allows. When I first moved out here, I lived in a little dumpy 2BR crack shack where rent was $350/month. I had my potters wheel in the kitchen and the kiln on the porch. Something was wrong with the meter there, because I had that kiln running constantly, and my highest electric bill was $25. :whistle:
     
    dozerjim and Fireball like this.
  6. May 4, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2014
    Messages:
    4,170
    You need a rosebud to form the spout. I have a kiln, but need to get a control box to set/maintain temps vs the cones used for ceramics.
    -Donny
     
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