How to Make an Electric Foundry for Metal Casting

Hello,

In this instructable I am going to be showing you how to make an electric foundry for metal casting! This is one of the most complex and expensive projects I have ever made and it took so much of my time so I would really appreciate it if you could vote for it in the metals contest.

This video shows how to make version 1 of the foundry. This version had no temperature control, no proper lid, no proper crucible and it was either turned on or off. Despite this it still works really well to melt aluminium!

After the success of version 1 I had to upgrade it more! So I created version 2 with PID temperature control where I can set the temperature to anything between 0 and 1000 Celsius! I also created a proper lid and leveling feet.

I also created my own custom steel crucible from scrap steel that I found in my shop.

Using this foundry I then melted down some scrap metal into some aluminium round stock that I could turn on my metal lathe.

I found that the temperature control on the foundry meant that it was perfect for heat treating small knives so I made a little whittling knife from a drill bit. I also used the foundry to cast an aluminium handle for the knife and I think that it turned out quite well.

I hope that you enjoyed the project!