Basic  Smelting and Recycling

 

To view the Flash MP3 Player please update your Flash Player.

 

 

Here we go!           Another 'XXXX' 1o1 session....  

Re-purposing metals can be a long discussion but tonight we are going to go thru a brief rundown of smelting. 

At a later date we will get into more, in depth, talks on forge/furnaces and Casting into Green sand and just plain sand. 

 

 

 

What is needed
Marerials Sources
Clean Scrap (Aluminum)

Soda Cans, Old Lawn furniture, Old Siding, Gutters or downspouts

(Copper)

Wiring, electric motor windings, roofing scraps, recycled copper water lines.

(Lead)

Wheel weights, drained lead-acid batteries, 'gleanings' from Rifle & Pistol ranges, some old time window weights.

(Brass)

Damaged or cracked Brass, brass medium/high pressure pipe fittings, damaged plumbing fixtures, cheap brass decretive ornaments found at garage sales.

  

  

End Products
   
Copper

Brass

Lead 
Lead

 cast into cans 
Lead

in ingots 
Aluminum   
Aluminum Ingots

  

  

Two Smelting Examples
     
    
     
     
     
     
     

    

Rough Melting Temps of Metals
    
Copper   1981* F.
Aluminum:   (900-1200°F)
Brass:   1706*F   (1710- 1950°F)
Bronze:    (1755-1895°F)
Beryllium Copper   1600*F
Lead:    (620° F)
Tin:      (449.4°F)
Silver:    (1761.8°F)