matt.e.jenkins

That's a good call about the brittle test, and I'm not sure about the different AL alloys making a difference. I used to keep my AL ingots labeled and separated by type, but they just got mixed up. So, as a hobbyist, I decided not to be too picky. That's a good question though.

I don't know what jewelery is. Good catch. I'll blame dyslexia on that one. Good call about the difference between AL, MG, and ZN. You don't want to be melting (or at least I don't) magnesium because of the chance it could start a MG fire. That would be scary. So far, everything I thought was AL has been AL. I found many PC heatsinks and I believe they are all AL. And a builder friend of mine gave me all his AL railing cutoffs. That was a nice score. I have a bucket of ZN from faucets. Under the chrome or nickel finish it still looks silver, but is heavier that AL. Some others are brass coated with chrome. Melting ZN also gives off a toxic vapor as it boils away. Same with brass, due to the ZN in it.

I haven't tried that myself, but I have seen someone try 25% CU +75% AL and it was very brittle. I can't say for sure but I would think just 11% CU would also be brittle.

Thanks for asking, but I don't currently have an example I'd like to destroy. I gave some away but kept my custom stamped ingots. But, to your question. I didn't see any bubbles in these alloys as they cooled or while I was polishing them. My first copper ingot was so bubbly it looked like a sponge, but I've never seen anything like that since.

That would be really cool. One day I’d love too work with a lathe. Please do send pictures when you get to it. Thanks

Very Interesting! Can you describe the taste? Great Instructable!

I haven't tried machining it, as I don't have the correct tools for the job. I have stamped it and it is very hard. The stamped letters barely show up. Quenching it in water is always fun to see. If you make some, I would be interested in seeing it. I might try casting the pulley and cleaning it up on a bench grinder. Lost Foam casting would be good for that. I may put out an instructable on that method soon.

Awesome! I have to say, it's surprisingly good. :-)

That is beautiful! Great work and great Instructable!

A knife would be cool, but I don't think it would keep an edge. I think I got the disks for $12 with a coupon. Here's the link https://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-4-inch-polishing-wheel-set-65287.html

Hello, it was casted into homemade greensand. A mixture of 90% filtered play sand (finer the better) and 10% ground natural kittie litter. With a bit of water to help it bind. But the polish was with an angle grinder. I got a polishing set of “grinding disks” from Harbor Freight. It goes up to 600 grit. Hope that helps.

That sounds very interesting. I would love to be able to do that but I’m not sure I can get my furnace hot enough to melt nickel. That melts around 2800deg F. You are right though, it is strangely satisfying melting and casting metal. Thank you.

That is really cool! And nerds are awesome! Thanks for the comment.

This looks great! Couple of questions. Did you glue the head onto the body? A couple of strong magnets may work for that. And how do you keep it from rolling over? Terrific job and thank you for sharing.

I don't think the paperclips or brads resist much electricity. They are more like wires.

That is fantastic!!! Tell him I said great job!

Mostly on-line but sometimes Radioshack.

That is great. Thanks!