How to make an arc furnace?

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

On a whim I bought 10 tungsten electrodes used from an arc furnace. Furnace sadly not included. 1/4" tungsten rod woth a 5/8" copper contact on one end. Length varies a bit but is generally around just under 3".

The reason I post is to ask whether or not anyone has a good idea of how to make the electrics to make these strike an arc and melt metal.I do have a cheapy arc welder but the electrodes are too big to fit in the stinger. I have just amount enough electrical knoledge to recite V=IR and P=IV but apart from that I'm gonna need help from someone else.

I was hoping to be able to melt fairly small amounts of metal for casting. Aluminium as a minimum. Cast iron would be nice. If I could manage to melt steel I wouldn't be complaining but that might be excessive.

I've seen youtubers melt tungsten with their TIG welders but I haven't got one of those to hand.

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

I wish you wouldn't do this, you will get me started off on my Induction Furnace ideas again. Last time I planned it out I calculated 160 foot of armoured cable because I suspect I need the current from two lamp posts, not just one.

graham.

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

I have the vision of the lights dimming through brown outs in your neighbourhood every time you fire it up. Unless you follow Oompa Lumpas idea of using street lamp post supplies I suggest you also prepare yourself for some big 'leccy bills.

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

don't plan to make it quite that big or use it constantly.

If I could melt an A5 crucible of brass (0,9 litres) I would be very happy. I only imagine it will have the power of a large welder at most.

Maybe I should ask the nearest weed dealer how he wires up his farm.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Look up carbon arc torch. I imagine something on those lines would work.

[Peter TuckerParticipant @petertucker86088]

Hi Rainbows,
You could always start with the method shown in this video.
If you only wish to melt aluminium, then all you need is a wood fire a bit of a blower and a container for the liquid aluminium.
Hope this helps.
Peter.

[Bruce EdneyParticipant @bruceedney59949]

I'd go with LPG (propane) – like this made from a 9 kg gas bottle

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Not certain I understand why you would be dimming neighbourhood lights or paying massive 'leccy bills. You only need to insert enough energy to heat up the metal to melting point and overcome the insulation losses for the duration. If you start with a similar power rating to a commercially available (hobby-sized) furnace, you won't be far off. Conversely, you might argue that the insulation needs to be good enough to keep the power requirement below a few kW.

If you decide to try using a welding source to drive the arc(s?), be aware that few of them are rated for continuous operation so you may be disappointed to find it cutting out before you are done. Rationally, you might be best off using a combustion-powered heater unless you happen to have an industrial welding source available.

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

If that kingofrandom youtber can melt rocks with what appears to be two microwaves in a tupperware box I think I can get the duty cycle of my welder to work. Its only Aldi but it has a small fan in it which is more than he has. I have an ultimate plan to get an oil cooled welder too but focusing on the here and now. Also I talked to a guy who put a bouncy castle blower ducted into a clarke welder and got 100% dury cycle.Could try that.

I might keep his idea of the firebrick (which I found he got from a 3 year old poular science magazine) but I don't really feel like butchering my welder with those molegrips. My aldi doesn't let you replace the cables so I would have to cut the clamp and stinger off. Am I right to say that if I attached a wire from the copper contact on the tungsten electrode to the stinger it wouldn't get hot except from heat radiating from the arc?

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