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klava
Penny Pincher Member
USA
192 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 03:40:15
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I have decided instead of selling my copper at such a low price(around here prices are crap sompared to bigger places). I would like to start melting my copper and making bricks out of them. What is a good site to read about this? Where is a good place to get ingot moulds? I guess Id go with a 1lb mould. that seems reasonable. I just want soemthign that will look good and be easy to store for the long term. Is there anyone doing this? Thanks for any help!
-K
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horgad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1641 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 07:33:45
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Do a search for mini cupola furnace or home foundry. The basics require knowledge of high temperature insulations (refractory cement, fire bricks, etc), heat delivery systems (propane, oil, coal, etc.), risks, and safety measures. Also welding skills are a big plus but not required. I have wanted to build one for a long time, but I am plagued by too many hobbies and not enough time.
Basically what you do is build a small chimney lined with refractory cement or bricks. You but your heat source and ventilation at the bottom and a melting pot at the top and voila! Try not to burn yourself molten metal tends to "sting" a bit. |
Edited by - horgad on 08/28/2008 07:37:55 |
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pencilvanian
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2209 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 16:59:51
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Lindsay sells books on the subject on foundry hooyists.
You must be logged in to see this link.
There are also books on metal casting.
I hope this information helps in some way. |
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Gr33nday43
New Member
Uzbekistan
10 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 17:16:48
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Are you melting pennies? If so I would advise against that. You would need a flux, like borax. The bars most likely aren't going to look pretty, wash them in muriatic acid and polish them to make them look a little better. Backyardmetalcasting.com is a good site but isn't organinized, and isn't really a how-to site.
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klava
Penny Pincher Member
USA
192 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 23:29:12
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Not my coppers, no. I have them in rolls sitting in 50 dollar mint bags. Im hanging onto them for their future numismatic value. Im talking about wiring, pipes, etc. I just want to have a better way of storing it long term and less identifiable than the norm. Plus I think they would look cool lol. Illcheck out those sites thanks for the input.
-K |
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jadedragon
Administrator
Canada
3788 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2008 : 01:53:38
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quote: Originally posted by Gr33nday43
Are you melting pennies? If so I would advise against that. You would need a flux, like borax. The bars most likely aren't going to look pretty, wash them in muriatic acid and polish them to make them look a little better. Backyardmetalcasting.com is a good site but isn't organinized, and isn't really a how-to site.
Did your Canadian penny melting not work out as planned? |
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” – George Bernard Shaw. Why Copper Bullion ~~~ Interview with Silver Bullion Producer Market Harmony Passive Income blog |
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Kurr
1000+ Penny Miser Member
2906 Posts |
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klava
Penny Pincher Member
USA
192 Posts |
Posted - 08/30/2008 : 00:29:28
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Kurr I have thought of that. They pretty much classifuy copper as number 1 or 2. After doing a bit more reading about it I dont know if i have the time and energy to fool with it. may just keep saving until I have a huge amount then haul it an hour and a half to where I will get alot better price for it. Then just invest in some bullion of some type.
-K |
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JerrySpringer
Penny Hoarding Member
669 Posts |
Posted - 08/30/2008 : 00:49:35
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Copper is fairly soft. Maybe just crush the pipes in a vise or hit them with a mallet to reduce their volume? |
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