As far as I understand, I can use ceramics to make a mold, right? Should I put any kind of coating on it? any kind of release resin? Mostly for aluminum. How hot does it need to be for steel?

Also, can I put the mold and the bucket of ingots (can't remember the term for it) in the furnace at the same time with some ceramic pipes to flow the molten metal into the mold when it's ready? So I don't have to mess around with pouring, basically set it on a timer and let it go. Like the crude picture I attached. Kind of thinking like a toilet, when enough metal is melted it should flush into the mold. Or could it just be a straight drip into it?

An alternative to your toilet bowl approach is to have the mold inverted and fastened on top of the crucible. When everything is molten the only thing you have to do is turn it over.

This technique is used for casting metals in a controlled atmosphere. The crucible and mold assembly is purged with a gas during the melting and tipping operation.

I have visions of the trap in your toilet bowl getting plugged with solidified metal and I don't think the standard rubber toilet bowl plunger will clear it. :D

Ahh, good idea, I had thought about it getting plugged, figured if it was in the being cooked the solids would just melt anyways. I like the tipping idea, a little bit more work, but probably less prone to problems. Thanks!