Build a foundry and sand-cast aluminum.

Step 9 Laying the coal.

With the furnace assembled, place a ring of coals around the bottom of the fire chamber (pic 1), Then place two coals perpendicular to the ground in the center of the ring, leaning against each other (pics 2+3). This increases airflow under the can, which helps to heat all the coals and ultimately provides a better melt. The wrong way to do this would be to put one coal flat under the can, (pic 4) blocking airflow from the center of the furnace.

Next put the tin (steel actually) can on top of the two central coals and add coals evenly to the sides of the tin untill it stands on it's own.

Comments

[Roger4Wheel]

I would put 3 small peices of clay brick (the same height) under the can instead of charcoal.

[manicmonday]

Seems like I've heard somewhere on TV or something that you can use talc to prevent oxydation. Anyone know anything about that?

[SeverinR]

The coals on the side and bottom hold the can in place. Should one of them shift, the can isn't going to tip over, and it shouldn't move enough to cause a splash, but using a metal spacer or insert would prevent most instability. But it can't be aluminum

[spiderx]

Couldn't you use one of the aluminum can bottoms as a sort of stand for the tin/steel? It just seems kind of dangerous to let it stand on the coals.

[Fenris The bbw]

You can't. The aluminum will melt anywhere in the furnace except the air chamber. However, I could use something made of steel or iron. How does it seem dangerous to let it sit on the coals?

[froggyman]

well you might want something that melts at a higher temperature to hold up what your melting. in other words if the fire is hot enough to melt the the aluminum, do you really think that you could use that same metal to hold up the can without it melting?