Prepping A casting Crucible

**MuranoSilver** · 08-03-2010, 04:43 PM

I got a Delft Kit from Cooksons last week and Today my Jay Whaley WHIPS arrived (Wire Handled Ingot Pourer for mucky minds)
I wish I'd watched his cool video on conditioning a crucible first ~ would've made life easier...

The first pic is how it arrived -
The second is the mess I made trying to heat it with my Nimrod Hand torch
(carried on putting way too much Borax in, which then cracked like crazy)
Third is after using the Rothenberger Oxy Propane torch....to try & remelt/flow the mess...
Hope it's still OK even though I buggered it up

I know which I'll be using for casting now ~ looks like my Rothe is going to be my new best friend!
Nic xx

**stu_clouds** · 08-03-2010, 04:58 PM

where did you get your whips from Nic? iv got mine on my Rio Grande shopping basket. im getting them for pouring ingots should be much easier to pour with the short handles.

im having to purchase a propane sievert to do my ingot melting & have a 2kg furnace for my Lost wax casting but the crucibles for this are a pain to pour accurately into ingots

my work shop is fast getting full of equipment but i want and need more more more..

stu

**MuranoSilver** · 08-03-2010, 05:02 PM

I got mine from Palmer Metals (they just started stocking them)
Right with you on the "packed out" workshop but however big the workshop
a tool junkie like me will fill it, lol

nic xx

**stu_clouds** · 08-03-2010, 05:22 PM

woooo no over priced continental delivery charges and VAT & overcharge from delivery company ripping me off for a handling fee. thanks Nic its now deleted from Rio and hello Palmer, it can be added to my finding list for them

.

Haha yes we always manage to find space, everytime i have new tools turn up i have to completely re organise the hole workshop but it makes it more fun i suppose.

Stu

**nickr** · 24-03-2010, 10:21 PM

If you spend too long heating a crucible it tends to go porous. Use oxy-propane or oxy-acetylene and lightly flux. I dont flux small crucibles at all, just a pinch of borax on the metal when melting and get the metal as hot as possible as quickly as possible to prevent oxidation. If you are using a big torch use some refactory bricks to reflect the heat back to your crucible, this speeds things up a bit.
Nick

**Ominicci** · 25-03-2010, 11:03 AM

I find it strange that Palmers don't sell the borax powder to go with the casting grain, dishes and WHIPS.

**ps_bond** · 25-03-2010, 11:05 AM

I buy powdered borax from my local Chinese grocers.

**MuranoSilver** · 25-03-2010, 11:08 AM

I got mine from cooksons

Nic xx

**Ominicci** · 25-03-2010, 11:19 AM

I know they've got some Nic - but a 1kg pot, when you only need a 'few pinches' each time!!?

Peter thanks for that - have just been looking it up - it seems that it is widely available from many sources e.g. as a detergent. I just wanted to make sure it WAS the same product.