How to Build a Foundry
- 1
Use heavy-duty metal snips to cut into the pail.aviation tin snips image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com
Create an air chamber to serve as the base of the foundry. Cut a hole in the side of one of the metal buckets toward the bottom of the container. Use metal shears or a large drill bit to make the hole about 3 inches in diameter or large enough to fit a hairdryer nozzle or small fan to generate air circulation. - 2
A hair dryer on the "cool" setting provides adequate air circulation.woman making her hair studio isolated image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
Set the metal pail on the ground so it is level and sturdy. Insert the hairdryer nozzle or vacuum cleaner hose into the hole on the side of the bucket. You can also position a small fan up against the opening. Surround the base of the air chamber with loose sand or gravel to help anchor it in place, and be sure there is no flammable material nearby on the ground. - 3
Use a 1/4 inch drill bit for the best results.tools drill bit image by Alexander Ivanov from Fotolia.com
Make a fire chamber out of the second metal pail. Drill holes in the bottom of the bucket with a small drill bit. Make about 15 holes 1/4 inch in diameter spaced evenly across the surface of the container. Line the inside of the fire chamber with coal or wood and light a fire. Place the fire chamber on top of the air chamber. Ensure the fire chamber is sturdy and that there is a sufficient air gap between the two pails to allow the air to circulate in the air chamber. - 4
Be sure to use fire safe tongs for your foundry.tongs image by Federico Romano from Fotolia.com
Purchase a foundry refractory to use as a crucible for smelting, or make a homemade crucible out of refractory concrete cast into a cylindrical shape. Fill your crucible with metal scraps and use metal tongs to lower the crucible into the fire for melting. - 5
You can recycle all sorts of metal scraps in your foundry.vieux m??taux 07 image by Hubert Issel??e from Fotolia.com
Remove the crucible from the fire once the metal has become liquid. Use the tongs to carefully lift the crucible, and pour the molten metal into your molds. Allow the metal to cure and cool before handling.
