Found Dreaming

I'm building a lil furnace with about a 7" bore, 9" depth.

Basing the entire design on a few basics:
I want it portable.
I want it now.
What I've got laying around.

I've got some fire brick and some Heat Stop 50 mortar, stainless trash can, crock pot, old stove with kao-wool type stuff (slightly bee infested)

When I first started casting, I balked at small furnaces.

Now, I think this little fella just might get me through some good aluminum melts.

looks like a good start, should work just fine
Was the stove sitting out side ,to be Bee infested?

yes, has been for some time.

I used a pitch fork to recover some of the insulation from a good distance

SWEET!

Flame trainer mold deconstruction sans catastrophe:

looks great man, really sharp!

Mmmm substantive post.... eat it 4cf!

Lol...i like it. It looks great. The only concern i have is with the mortar. Ive never seen it before or used it myself, so i have no knowledge of it regarding its uses or longevity. Hope it holds up. Whats the plan for the rest of the build?

EDIT:im also a fan of the SS trash can shell idea. I always lookmat those at the store and pictur flames shooting out

The mortar is my concern too. It says it's refractory mortar, good for well of 2000 degrees and is good for fire-brick installation.

Me and a buddy went in on a bag a few months ago and I'm sick of it laying around. So this is the test

It looks and feels like it will work out. I'm focusing on Al with this furnace. It won't ever see iron

I think it will look pretty sweet when it's all said and done. We shall see!

Basically that flame trainer will sit in the bottom and then I'll have 6 firebricks mortared together for the main chamber. Then maybe mortar only for the lid with some steel reinforcement or something. Like a 2" vent hole.

lookin good, now hurry up and give it heat