melting down ally

[naughtyboy]

got loads of tiny offcuts of ally and drinks cans along with old tv ariels cluttering up place but not enough to be worth weighing in yet.
was wondering how hard it would be to melt it into blocks and store it till got load of it?
or if its even worth it and what easiest way to do it is

 

[rtbcomp]

I wouldn't bother unless you want to use the ally for something else - some scrapyards aren't keen on taking melted down stuff because they don't know exactly what it is.

 

[Big Pete]

Its not difficult, I have a small homemade foundry setup, but if all you are planning is to weigh it in then its not worthwhile.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

This webside has everything youll ever need to know about DIY metal casting

http://backyardmetalcasting.com/

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

As for drinks cans, you need to get a good melt going then using a bit of stainless bar, push the cans under the surface, if you just throw them in they will go on fire instead of melting as the aluminium is so thin

 

[bigegg]

+1 for "back yard metalcasting"
it's dead easy - but more fun to recast the aluminium into useable shapes.
A hole in the ground, a steel crucible (bottom of a disposable mig gas bottle, or a 4" pipe with a bottom welded on), and a blower (hair dyer will work, shop vac on "blow" is better).
put the crucible in the hole, surround with charcoal, put your scrap ally in the crucible.
Light the charcoal, blow onto it with the vac.

MAKE SURE YOU PLAN HOW TO REMOVE THE CRUCIBLE AND POUR *BEFORE* you start.

 

[bigegg]

as an addendum to the above - if you are melting drinks cans (or anything else, for that matter) - make sure they are dry before introducing them to molten aluminium.
A steam explosion will empty your crucible over an area of about 12ft - you DO NOT want that to include you!
Better to crush the cans flat, and put as many in the crucible at once as you can.
Put the others in either in the oven, or as close to the fire as you can to dry out