Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 12 of 25

Thread: recycling aluminum

  1. #1
    Registered
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    132
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    recycling aluminum

    How do they do it? I was always interested in how they recycle it and get the round stock and blocks like they do?

    -garrett


  2. #2
    Registered
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    601
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Melt the scrap down into ingots, and form the same way they form virgin aluminium.


  3. #3
    Registered
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    132
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    how do you melt it down? What do I have to buy? then how do I form it?


  4. #4
    Registered
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    SE michigan
    Posts
    23
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0


  • #5
    Registered
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    usa
    Posts
    1,971
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Exclamation john boy

    Quote Originally Posted by pyroracing85
    how do you melt it down? What do I have to buy? then how do I form it?
    You need to shop for some books by Dave Gingery (gengery??) How to books on; home made furnaces for melting scrap aluminum, green sand casting, building metal lathes and milling machines from that scrap.


  • #6
    Registered
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    132
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by jhowelb
    You need to shop for some books by Dave Gingery (gengery??) How to books on; home made furnaces for melting scrap aluminum, green sand casting, building metal lathes and milling machines from that scrap.

    is there any companies that makes these furnaces and not home made?


  • #7
    Registered
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    usa
    Posts
    1,971
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    There very well may be, however, it's so easy to get started. example: I welded tohether a cube (just the edges) from angle iron and fitted the floor and walls with fire brick. (available at a masonry supply) and then a matching sized picture frame for a lid also fitting the brick in that. I cut a vent hole in the top and one side with a hole saw.
    Then used propane weed burner to supply heat. A cast iron "lead pot" made a cruciable.
    NOW! Go buy the books to get a good grounding in safety proceedures and an understanding of the dangers involved. Molten aluminum os HOT! AND must be handled with caution, to say nothing of the fumes created!! Good luck, have fun....BUT.....BE CAREFULL!


  • #8
    Registered
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    132
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by jhowelb
    There very well may be, however, it's so easy to get started. example: I welded tohether a cube (just the edges) from angle iron and fitted the floor and walls with fire brick. (available at a masonry supply) and then a matching sized picture frame for a lid also fitting the brick in that. I cut a vent hole in the top and one side with a hole saw.
    Then used propane weed burner to supply heat. A cast iron "lead pot" made a cruciable.
    NOW! Go buy the books to get a good grounding in safety proceedures and an understanding of the dangers involved. Molten aluminum os HOT! AND must be handled with caution, to say nothing of the fumes created!! Good luck, have fun....BUT.....BE CAREFULL!

    thanks but I rather just buy an oven


  • #9
    Moderator HuFlungDung's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    4,826
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    The quality of the aluminum when remelted and recast may be a surprise for you, and maybe not a pleasant surprise. Without controlled atmosphere, and so forth, extra alloys are often added to sand castings which help the flux and flow of the metal.

    The nice stuff we typically use for cnc machining is electrodeposited, I believe, but I could be mistaken. This is why power stations are built for aluminum smelters.
    First you get good, then you get fast. Then grouchiness sets in.

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)


  • #10
    Registered
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    132
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by HuFlungDung
    The quality of the aluminum when remelted and recast may be a surprise for you, and maybe not a pleasant surprise. Without controlled atmosphere, and so forth, extra alloys are often added to sand castings which help the flux and flow of the metal.

    The nice stuff we typically use for cnc machining is electrodeposited, I believe, but I could be mistaken. This is why power stations are built for aluminum smelters.

    I kinda get what your sayiing. So I would need a controlled atmosphere to melt it down without getting the extra alloys?

    Also I heard about smelting from alcoa. What exactly is it?

    -garrett


  • #11
    Banned
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Norway
    Posts
    678
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by pyroracing85
    I kinda get what your sayiing. So I would need a controlled atmosphere to melt it down without getting the extra alloys?
    -garrett
    No. You can recycle old castings. Don't user other aluminum. Don't let melted aluminum come in contact with iron! (So a steel melting pot is no good). To get good fluidity and avoid porosity use degassing briquets. Not Tetrachlorethane, the ones used now are much less harmful.

    Don't let aluminum "stew" in the furnace. Melt, degas, skim and pour as soon as you get up to casting temperature.

    Old automobile heads and pistons are fine. Try not to mix them, the outcome is unknown if you mix different aluminums.


  • #12
    Registered
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    usa
    Posts
    1,971
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    In my furnace there are two holes the same size, about 3" diameter, one at the bottom on one side for the burner and the other in the top a a chiminey. By controling the thru flow you can make sure that all the oxygen is burned by the torch. Very little oxidation of your metal. I use parts from old lawn mower engines and the like so the alloy is tough!

    There will be some inclusions and bubbles, but if you have ever worked in industry, especially with cast iron castings, you know that this isn't unusual. As a "home brew" casting the quality of appearance won't be "factory" but then neither is the price.

    I have built working metal lathes (9x24), milling machines and surface grinders. All looked at least as good as some of the home brew machines shown on this site.

    Check out some of the books on this web page, especially the one on the charcoal foundery. http://www.lindsaybks.com/dgjp/

    The gasses produced are deadly so make sure you are outside with good ventilation, Stay up wind as much as you can and remember ................molten metal is HOT!!!


  • Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. aluminum extrusion
      By georgebarr in forum DIY CNC Router Table Machines
      Replies: 20
      Last Post: 05-14-2013, 04:03 AM
    2. How strong? (Linear rails, aluminum structure)
      By WoodSnarfer in forum Mechanical Calculations/Engineering Design
      Replies: 13
      Last Post: 07-15-2005, 12:29 PM
    3. CNC Aluminum
      By studysession in forum General Metal Working Machines
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 02-12-2005, 10:39 AM
    4. Can I use Forstner bits on aluminum?
      By samualt in forum DIY CNC Router Table Machines
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 10-24-2004, 01:35 PM
    5. Can I dry mill Aluminum?
      By UCFMems in forum General Metalwork Discussion
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 07-22-2004, 06:30 PM

    Posting Permissions


     


    About CNCzone.com

      We are the largest and most active discussion forum from DIY CNC Machines to the Cad/Cam software to run them. The site is 100% free to join and use, so join today!

    Follow us on

    Facebook Dribbble RSS Feed


    Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.