Is aluminium casting a country skill

[dave45]

I have just discovered that my wood stove can be used to melt aluminium :-)

Aluminium scrap in a steel coffee tin in the middle of a wood stove on "boost" for a while results in a cherry red glowing steel can containing pourable liquid aluminium. Lots of crud on the top though.. just let it cool so far, but wondering about the possibilities.... I know humans were doing this sort of metalwork 5000 years ago, but I haven't done it before... (well I messed with lead from winebottle caps many years ago with a ladle and a gas cooker, until someone mentioned fumes!).

Anyone tried this or got any advice or info..?

Its scary stuff btw..

[frozenthunderbolt]

Iron/steel is not so great to melt aluminum in - it has a negative effect (but not catastrophic) on the quality of the casting.
You might want to look into lost wax casting and 'greensand' casting.

[dave45]

Maybe I should start with arrowheads ....

[Skippy]

Maybe I should start with arrowheads ....

To be honest arrowheads probably aren't your best option, forged iron or steel are way better , but then it depends on what you are intending to do with the things you can cast.
I've melted zinc and zinc alloys in my woodburner in the past and cast things like buckles, buttons , badges and even handles for furnature. There are several re-enactors on this site that will tell you there is a ready market for good quality castings in pewter. Far fewer in aluminium mind , and pewter is much easier to melt.
For example http://www.re-enactment.co.uk/index.php?cPath=58_247


Pete

[frozenthunderbolt]

Try searching "the backyard foundry" it is a good little book to get started with :-)