NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been wondering how people used to be able to smelt iron, copper, gold, silver, etc. So, how can one reach 2500C in their backyard?...without thermite.

Fire?

I've been wondering how people used to be able to smelt iron, copper, gold, silver, etc. So, how can one reach 2500C in their backyard?...without thermite.

I don't think they had backyards... they probably used some kind of furnace.

I've been wondering how people used to be able to smelt iron, copper, gold, silver, etc. So, how can one reach 2500C in their backyard?...without thermite.
Coal and coke, as I understand it. But to get to the quality used in todays metals, forget it. The Chinese learned the heard way that backyard smelters do not make good quality metals.

http://www.cantr.net/mwiki/index.php/Primitive_smelting_furnace

Coal and coke, as I understand it. But to get to the quality used in todays metals, forget it. The Chinese learned the heard way that backyard smelters do not make good quality metals.

http://www.cantr.net/mwiki/index.php/Primitive_smelting_furnace
My friend and I made a cinderblock crucible. Will Kingston Charcoal briquettes do? That's all I got.

...What the hell are you trying to do anyway?

Well, you will probably never get temperatures hot enough to melt iron in a furnace in your back yard, but certainly you can get it hot enough for blacksmithing.

On the other hand, if you want to try your hand at melting precious and semi precious metals, or lower temperature stuff like aluminum, i'd recomend you study things pretty carefully.

Let me dig some links up for you.

http://www.dansworkshop.com/Aluminum%20Foundry.shtml

That guys got good instructions.http://users.frii.com/katana/castindex.html

Exercise safety before fun, please.

Watch yourself these at home experiments with fire can go wrong ... I have a friends who's little bro tried to make glass ... with sand and gasoline ... in their garage
It took awhile to recover from loosing their house

Ouch.

I believe the best way to get high temperature in a simple way is with coal and forced air, kinda like when you build a little fire, and then blow on it. A fires best friend is oxygen! ;)

I believe the best way to get high temperature in a simple way is with coal and forced air, kinda like when you build a little fire, and then blow on it. A fires best friend is oxygen! ;)
That and fuel lol

That and fuel lol
Hence the "coal" part of "coal and forced air"

Hence the "coal" part of "coal and forced air"
I was responding to the "best friend" part

If they were both nessisary it would be more of a "best friendS"
I was being a smartass :p

My friend and I made a cinderblock crucible. Will Kingston Charcoal briquettes do? That's all I got.
Charcoal doesn't get nearly hot enough to melt most metals. And I'd be wary of cinderblocks. Any water in them will cause them to break apart, which is A BAD THING when working with high temps. :p

Charcoal doesn't get nearly hot enough to melt most metals. And I'd be wary of cinderblocks. Any water in them will cause them to break apart, which is A BAD THING when working with high temps. :p
That reminds me...never try heating rocks that you gathered from a river. Unless you're dumb, like me, and get a kick out of explosions.

Get 20 middle aged women in a room and wait for them all to have a hot flash.

That reminds me...never try heating rocks that you gathered from a river. Unless you're dumb, like me, and get a kick out of explosions.
*makes mental note*
Mmm, river rocks + fire + beer = FUN!

Get 20 middle aged women in a room and wait for them all to have a hot flash.

That is seriously one of the scariest ideas I have ever heard.

Brick Furnace and Billows?

I've been wondering how people used to be able to smelt iron, copper, gold, silver, etc. So, how can one reach 2500C in their backyard?...without thermite.

Try an arc furnace. It can get hot enough to melt rocks.

Couldn't fire just do the job, if you put a lot of time into this?

Watch yourself these at home experiments with fire can go wrong ... I have a friends who's little bro tried to make glass ... with sand and gasoline ... in their garage
It took awhile to recover from loosing their house
I don't plan on using gasoline...unless I'm making napalm...and I'm not stupid, I'd do it in an open area...fumes, explosions...

Well cinderblocks is all we have, and some bricks, but bricks cost to much and these cinderblocks are FREE! About 150 or so of them.

To naysayers...can't two boys ever have fun and learn something. "Learn by experience, not by some shitty textbook(that has unrelated critical thinking questions).

EDIT: We're shooting for copper specifically, with a melting point around 1085C.

I don't plan on using gasoline...unless I'm making napalm...and I'm not stupid, I'd do it in an open area...fumes, explosions...

Well cinderblocks is all we have, and some bricks, but bricks cost to much and these cinderblocks are FREE! About 150 or so of them.

To naysayers...can't two boys ever have fun and learn something. "Learn by experience, not by some shitty textbook(that has unrelated critical thinking questions).

EDIT: We're shooting for copper specifically, with a melting point around 1085C.
Webber kettle b-b-q. Open up the hole in the bottom to fit in some type of forced air blower. Even a higher power hair dryer will work.

Line the webber kettle with firebrick. You should be able to get some that you can work into place. I can't remember off hand just how thick it has to be, but a decent thickness is needed.

Fill with coal, light, turn on the blower, and voila you have smelted metals.

Webber kettle b-b-q. Open up the hole in the bottom to fit in some type of forced air blower. Even a higher power hair dryer will work.

Line the webber kettle with firebrick. You should be able to get some that you can work into place. I can't remember off hand just how thick it has to be, but a decent thickness is needed.

Fill with coal, light, turn on the blower, and voila you have smelted metals.
We don't have electrical power sockets where the crucible is. I think I've got it from here. ARCHIVE!