Press "Enter" to skip to content

Argh. Why Is Copper So Difficult?


hey guys welcome back to another day of

hey guys welcome back to another day of backyard metal melting in yesterday’s

backyard metal melting in yesterday’s

backyard metal melting in yesterday’s video I tried using green sand casting

video I tried using green sand casting

video I tried using green sand casting and some styrofoam to create a custom

and some styrofoam to create a custom

and some styrofoam to create a custom copper gear the problem is it didn’t

copper gear the problem is it didn’t

copper gear the problem is it didn’t turn out as perfectly as I wanted it to

turn out as perfectly as I wanted it to

turn out as perfectly as I wanted it to and I think that’s because copper has a

and I think that’s because copper has a

and I think that’s because copper has a really high melting point which means it

really high melting point which means it

really high melting point which means it cools down a little bit too quickly so

cools down a little bit too quickly so

cools down a little bit too quickly so for this video I wanted to revisit that

for this video I wanted to revisit that

for this video I wanted to revisit that experiment because my OCD is kicking in

experiment because my OCD is kicking in

experiment because my OCD is kicking in and I want to get one of these things

and I want to get one of these things

and I want to get one of these things near perfect now I just took my copper

near perfect now I just took my copper

near perfect now I just took my copper gear that I’m not extremely proud of and

gear that I’m not extremely proud of and

gear that I’m not extremely proud of and I cut it in half so that we can remelt

I cut it in half so that we can remelt

I cut it in half so that we can remelt it and I also made a trip down to the

it and I also made a trip down to the

it and I also made a trip down to the hardware store and got another $30 of

hardware store and got another $30 of

hardware store and got another $30 of copper tubing and this time we just cut

copper tubing and this time we just cut

copper tubing and this time we just cut it and smashed it flat so we can cram

it and smashed it flat so we can cram

it and smashed it flat so we can cram more of it in the crucible so believe it

more of it in the crucible so believe it

more of it in the crucible so believe it or not this a little bit of metal here

or not this a little bit of metal here

or not this a little bit of metal here you’re looking at about $60 of copper I

you’re looking at about $60 of copper I

you’re looking at about $60 of copper I also have a little copper nugget left

also have a little copper nugget left

also have a little copper nugget left over from the casting we did yesterday

over from the casting we did yesterday

over from the casting we did yesterday so I’m going to throw that back in load

so I’m going to throw that back in load

so I’m going to throw that back in load this crucible up with copper and then

this crucible up with copper and then

this crucible up with copper and then prep our sand casting mold for another

prep our sand casting mold for another

prep our sand casting mold for another round okay we’re going to stick this in

round okay we’re going to stick this in

round okay we’re going to stick this in and let it

and let it

and let it [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

so update guys we just got our styrofoam

so update guys we just got our styrofoam gear set back in the box we’ve got our

gear set back in the box we’ve got our

gear set back in the box we’ve got our green tent packed in nice and tight

green tent packed in nice and tight

green tent packed in nice and tight and we are ready to cast once again I

and we are ready to cast once again I

and we are ready to cast once again I think one of the problems we were having

think one of the problems we were having

think one of the problems we were having yesterday when we report in the copper

yesterday when we report in the copper

yesterday when we report in the copper is we waited too long to get it into the

is we waited too long to get it into the

is we waited too long to get it into the mold one very interesting observation we

mold one very interesting observation we

mold one very interesting observation we saw was as we got the crucible close to

saw was as we got the crucible close to

saw was as we got the crucible close to the styrofoam it melted just from the

the styrofoam it melted just from the

the styrofoam it melted just from the radiant heat and that was very cool

radiant heat and that was very cool

radiant heat and that was very cool but the solidifying point of copper is

but the solidifying point of copper is

but the solidifying point of copper is very very high so even just having the

very very high so even just having the

very very high so even just having the crucible up for 35 to 40 seconds I think

crucible up for 35 to 40 seconds I think

crucible up for 35 to 40 seconds I think made so much of a difference that it

made so much of a difference that it

made so much of a difference that it wasn’t quite as liquid as we needed it

wasn’t quite as liquid as we needed it

wasn’t quite as liquid as we needed it to be

to be

to be so we tried pouring our copper this time

so we tried pouring our copper this time

so we tried pouring our copper this time I’m going to try it in two stages on the

I’m going to try it in two stages on the

I’m going to try it in two stages on the first pass I’m going to take the

first pass I’m going to take the

first pass I’m going to take the crucible out and use the heat to melt

crucible out and use the heat to melt

crucible out and use the heat to melt down the styrofoam and then place the

down the styrofoam and then place the

down the styrofoam and then place the crucible back in the foundry I’m going

crucible back in the foundry I’m going

crucible back in the foundry I’m going to let it heat up for about another five

to let it heat up for about another five

to let it heat up for about another five to ten minutes so it’s ripping hot so

to ten minutes so it’s ripping hot so

to ten minutes so it’s ripping hot so we’re going to pull the crucible back

we’re going to pull the crucible back

we’re going to pull the crucible back out and pour the copper immediately

out and pour the copper immediately

out and pour the copper immediately before it has any chance to cool down

before it has any chance to cool down

before it has any chance to cool down and see if we get any better results

and see if we get any better results

and see if we get any better results with that method nice and toasty you can

with that method nice and toasty you can

with that method nice and toasty you can see it hasn’t quite melted yet that’s

see it hasn’t quite melted yet that’s

see it hasn’t quite melted yet that’s okay because we don’t need it most in

okay because we don’t need it most in

okay because we don’t need it most in yet we’re just going to use this to melt

yet we’re just going to use this to melt

yet we’re just going to use this to melt the styrofoam all right now we’re just

the styrofoam all right now we’re just

the styrofoam all right now we’re just going to use the heat from the crucible

going to use the heat from the crucible

going to use the heat from the crucible look at that

look at that

look at that oh I think my crucible touched the top

oh I think my crucible touched the top

oh I think my crucible touched the top of the sand oh no it did okay so that

of the sand oh no it did okay so that

of the sand oh no it did okay so that was kind of a bummer guys I got the

was kind of a bummer guys I got the

was kind of a bummer guys I got the crucible to close and actually made

crucible to close and actually made

crucible to close and actually made contact with the stand which crushed it

contact with the stand which crushed it

contact with the stand which crushed it and kind of ruin my mold so I’m gonna

and kind of ruin my mold so I’m gonna

and kind of ruin my mold so I’m gonna have to use my other styrofoam gear and

have to use my other styrofoam gear and

have to use my other styrofoam gear and make another one kind of cool though

make another one kind of cool though

make another one kind of cool though look at that it makes like a styrofoam

look at that it makes like a styrofoam

look at that it makes like a styrofoam shell it’s all it on this side shell on

shell it’s all it on this side shell on

shell it’s all it on this side shell on this side what’s kind of interesting all

this side what’s kind of interesting all

this side what’s kind of interesting all right another fail you can see that

right another fail you can see that

right another fail you can see that copper hasn’t melted yet but that’s okay

copper hasn’t melted yet but that’s okay

copper hasn’t melted yet but that’s okay because we’re just going to use that

because we’re just going to use that

because we’re just going to use that radiant heat to burn out this parasol oh

[Music]

[Music] that’s

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] all right put the food back in with a

all right put the food back in with a

all right put the food back in with a nice and molten there in the bottom

all right I think that’s good enough I’m

all right I think that’s good enough I’m tempted to try and pull the styrofoam

tempted to try and pull the styrofoam

tempted to try and pull the styrofoam out but pretty sure I’m going to wreck

out but pretty sure I’m going to wreck

out but pretty sure I’m going to wreck the mold if I do so I’m just going to

the mold if I do so I’m just going to

the mold if I do so I’m just going to leave that last layer on there fire the

leave that last layer on there fire the

leave that last layer on there fire the copper up until it’s ripping hot and

copper up until it’s ripping hot and

copper up until it’s ripping hot and then pour it right in the center and let

then pour it right in the center and let

then pour it right in the center and let it flow out so see if that works any

it flow out so see if that works any

it flow out so see if that works any better fingers crossed

better fingers crossed

better fingers crossed in the meantime we’ll cover it up to

in the meantime we’ll cover it up to

in the meantime we’ll cover it up to keep it clean update guys I think our

keep it clean update guys I think our

keep it clean update guys I think our copper is just about ready it’s been

copper is just about ready it’s been

copper is just about ready it’s been sitting in the foundry for over 20

sitting in the foundry for over 20

sitting in the foundry for over 20 minutes and it looks really really hot

minutes and it looks really really hot

minutes and it looks really really hot our mold is prepped and ready to go so

our mold is prepped and ready to go so

our mold is prepped and ready to go so let’s go ahead and turn off the foundry

let’s go ahead and turn off the foundry

let’s go ahead and turn off the foundry and see just how quickly we can actually

and see just how quickly we can actually

and see just how quickly we can actually make the transfer all right time is our

make the transfer all right time is our

make the transfer all right time is our enemy

enemy

enemy that looks riffin hot over here and you

that looks riffin hot over here and you

that looks riffin hot over here and you pour

pour

pour [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

a lot of proper right look at just oh

a lot of proper right look at just oh man it just popped out that chunk of

man it just popped out that chunk of

man it just popped out that chunk of sand the sand just came out that’s

sand the sand just came out that’s

sand the sand just came out that’s really discouraging what is up with this

really discouraging what is up with this

really discouraging what is up with this guy’s what is up with this look it

guy’s what is up with this look it

guy’s what is up with this look it didn’t even complete there either

didn’t even complete there either

didn’t even complete there either and this thing is already cooled down

and this thing is already cooled down

and this thing is already cooled down well maybe not affect it still click I

well maybe not affect it still click I

well maybe not affect it still click I could still break that and chunk it pour

could still break that and chunk it pour

could still break that and chunk it pour that back and boundary then okay failing

that back and boundary then okay failing

that back and boundary then okay failing all over the place

all over the place

all over the place why cannot we get this to work well I

why cannot we get this to work well I

why cannot we get this to work well I guess we just make another one so I have

guess we just make another one so I have

guess we just make another one so I have to admit at this point I’m a little bit

to admit at this point I’m a little bit

to admit at this point I’m a little bit lost burning out the mold didn’t seem to

lost burning out the mold didn’t seem to

lost burning out the mold didn’t seem to make a difference if anything it kind of

make a difference if anything it kind of

make a difference if anything it kind of left us and go in the sand flow to the

left us and go in the sand flow to the

left us and go in the sand flow to the top so at this point I’m just going to

top so at this point I’m just going to

top so at this point I’m just going to have made a new styrofoam gear we’re

have made a new styrofoam gear we’re

have made a new styrofoam gear we’re going to take the copper out pour it as

going to take the copper out pour it as

going to take the copper out pour it as fast as we can and hope for the best

fast as we can and hope for the best

fast as we can and hope for the best here we go that looks toasty alright

here we go that looks toasty alright

here we go that looks toasty alright quickly quickly

quickly quickly

quickly quickly [Music]

oh that was definitely more molten but

oh that was definitely more molten but look another one of our little sand

look another one of our little sand

look another one of our little sand pieces came out right that’s because our

pieces came out right that’s because our

pieces came out right that’s because our green sand isn’t quite stable you know

green sand isn’t quite stable you know

green sand isn’t quite stable you know that is very very frustrating I’m

that is very very frustrating I’m

that is very very frustrating I’m getting very upset about that everything

getting very upset about that everything

getting very upset about that everything about that was beautiful it’s a little

about that was beautiful it’s a little

about that was beautiful it’s a little chunky no

that looks pretty cool though huh oh

that looks pretty cool though huh oh that was almost perfect so close so here

that was almost perfect so close so here

that was almost perfect so close so here we are guys I went ahead and made

we are guys I went ahead and made

we are guys I went ahead and made another one I think technically this is

another one I think technically this is

another one I think technically this is our sixth Foam gear we’ve tried casting

our sixth Foam gear we’ve tried casting

our sixth Foam gear we’ve tried casting I did something a little bit different

I did something a little bit different

I did something a little bit different this time I went to sand down a little

this time I went to sand down a little

this time I went to sand down a little bit more I’m thinking part of the

bit more I’m thinking part of the

bit more I’m thinking part of the problem we were having earlier is maybe

problem we were having earlier is maybe

problem we were having earlier is maybe the stand was a little bit too dry

the stand was a little bit too dry

the stand was a little bit too dry that’s why it was flaking out so I added

that’s why it was flaking out so I added

that’s why it was flaking out so I added a bit more moisture now the things that

a bit more moisture now the things that

a bit more moisture now the things that we’ve got a new batch of copper melted

we’ve got a new batch of copper melted

we’ve got a new batch of copper melted so we’re going to give it a pour and

so we’re going to give it a pour and

so we’re going to give it a pour and just hold our breath and hope it works

just hold our breath and hope it works

just hold our breath and hope it works if it doesn’t I think we’re just going

if it doesn’t I think we’re just going

if it doesn’t I think we’re just going to go with whatever we get because I’m

to go with whatever we get because I’m

to go with whatever we get because I’m not doing that again

not doing that again

not doing that again let’s rock is our last chance so we

let’s rock is our last chance so we

let’s rock is our last chance so we better work all right here you go

better work all right here you go

better work all right here you go [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] Oh see those 10% still popping out their

Oh see those 10% still popping out their

Oh see those 10% still popping out their toes all three of them popped out no way

the rest of the gear shape filled up

the rest of the gear shape filled up pretty nicely though it’d take these

pretty nicely though it’d take these

pretty nicely though it’d take these chunks of standout headaches overdrive

chunks of standout headaches overdrive

chunks of standout headaches overdrive well that looks a little more molten

well that looks a little more molten

well that looks a little more molten this time our copper was hot enough to

this time our copper was hot enough to

this time our copper was hot enough to even out the only problem was the little

even out the only problem was the little

even out the only problem was the little impressions of our sin top that as well

impressions of our sin top that as well

impressions of our sin top that as well staying it oh well I’m going with it

staying it oh well I’m going with it

staying it oh well I’m going with it I got a copper here I’m keeping it I’m

I got a copper here I’m keeping it I’m

I got a copper here I’m keeping it I’m calling it good that’s harden up quite a

calling it good that’s harden up quite a

calling it good that’s harden up quite a bit sure does get crispy crispy fan

bit sure does get crispy crispy fan

bit sure does get crispy crispy fan let’s see how well that held its shape

well it actually looks pretty decent on

well it actually looks pretty decent on that side I like it oh look it’s

that side I like it oh look it’s

that side I like it oh look it’s actually got a little radioactive

actually got a little radioactive

actually got a little radioactive indentations there let sniff looks like

indentations there let sniff looks like

indentations there let sniff looks like it cool down a little bit before it

it cool down a little bit before it

it cool down a little bit before it popped off oh look at that obviously

popped off oh look at that obviously

popped off oh look at that obviously still hot

go ahead and quench it in a bucket of

go ahead and quench it in a bucket of water

water

water [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

well guys I feel like that took way way

well guys I feel like that took way way longer than I ever wanted it to take and

longer than I ever wanted it to take and

longer than I ever wanted it to take and after six attempts here I’m starting to

after six attempts here I’m starting to

after six attempts here I’m starting to lose confidence that casting copper and

lose confidence that casting copper and

lose confidence that casting copper and Greenspan is even a viable idea at all

Greenspan is even a viable idea at all

Greenspan is even a viable idea at all I’ve never actually seen anybody else do

I’ve never actually seen anybody else do

I’ve never actually seen anybody else do it and that’s why I want to try for

it and that’s why I want to try for

it and that’s why I want to try for myself but it seems the two problems we

myself but it seems the two problems we

myself but it seems the two problems we keep running into is either the copper

keep running into is either the copper

keep running into is either the copper cooled down too quickly to form an ice

cooled down too quickly to form an ice

cooled down too quickly to form an ice mold or it destroys the stand and breaks

mold or it destroys the stand and breaks

mold or it destroys the stand and breaks up all the details in the other case it

up all the details in the other case it

up all the details in the other case it was worth a shot and we learned

was worth a shot and we learned

was worth a shot and we learned something about the process and now I’ve

something about the process and now I’ve

something about the process and now I’ve got a $60 copper paperweight I can go

got a $60 copper paperweight I can go

got a $60 copper paperweight I can go throw on my shelf if you’ve ever tried

throw on my shelf if you’ve ever tried

throw on my shelf if you’ve ever tried green sand casting with copper and had

green sand casting with copper and had

green sand casting with copper and had success with intricate molds leave your

success with intricate molds leave your

success with intricate molds leave your comments down below I’d love to connect

comments down below I’d love to connect

comments down below I’d love to connect with you and see how to get this to work

with you and see how to get this to work

with you and see how to get this to work until the next video thanks for joining

until the next video thanks for joining

until the next video thanks for joining for this experiment guys I’ll be looking

for this experiment guys I’ll be looking

for this experiment guys I’ll be looking for in the next one talk to you then

for in the next one talk to you then

for in the next one talk to you then just around them thought here we could

just around them thought here we could

just around them thought here we could probably drill these pieces out and

probably drill these pieces out and

probably drill these pieces out and clean out with a file I might work

clean out with a file I might work

clean out with a file I might work [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you’ll put your crucible in water hey

you’ll put your crucible in water hey

you’ll put your crucible in water hey guys thanks for watching and remember

guys thanks for watching and remember

guys thanks for watching and remember I’m giving away prizes now on every new

I’m giving away prizes now on every new

I’m giving away prizes now on every new video all you have to do to qualify is

video all you have to do to qualify is

video all you have to do to qualify is subscribed to my channel ring the bell

subscribed to my channel ring the bell

subscribed to my channel ring the bell and select to be notified when my next

and select to be notified when my next

and select to be notified when my next videos get released the secret link to

videos get released the secret link to

videos get released the secret link to my giveaways will be pinned in the

my giveaways will be pinned in the

my giveaways will be pinned in the comments for the first 12 hours if you

comments for the first 12 hours if you

comments for the first 12 hours if you like what I’m doing show your support

like what I’m doing show your support

like what I’m doing show your support right now by giving this video a big

right now by giving this video a big

right now by giving this video a big thumbs up and share with a friend I love

thumbs up and share with a friend I love

thumbs up and share with a friend I love you back I’ll see you next time

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *