chances are you’ve thrown these things in the trash without even knowing it
in the trash without even knowing it
in the trash without even knowing it but if you use them like this they’ll
but if you use them like this they’ll
but if you use them like this they’ll spawn an electric arc ought enough to
spawn an electric arc ought enough to
spawn an electric arc ought enough to melt any metal known to man and even
melt any metal known to man and even
melt any metal known to man and even turn rocks into lava in this project
turn rocks into lava in this project
turn rocks into lava in this project we’re modifying a fire brick and some
we’re modifying a fire brick and some
we’re modifying a fire brick and some flashlight batteries to build an
flashlight batteries to build an
flashlight batteries to build an electrical arc furnace on a budget let’s
electrical arc furnace on a budget let’s
electrical arc furnace on a budget let’s start this project with a heavy-duty
start this project with a heavy-duty
start this project with a heavy-duty Lantern battery and this alumina
Lantern battery and this alumina
Lantern battery and this alumina silicate refractory brick the brick is
silicate refractory brick the brick is
silicate refractory brick the brick is three inches tall four and a half inches
three inches tall four and a half inches
three inches tall four and a half inches wide and nine inches long let’s get to
wide and nine inches long let’s get to
wide and nine inches long let’s get to work making the furnace by measuring
work making the furnace by measuring
work making the furnace by measuring lengthwise and marking it three inches
lengthwise and marking it three inches
lengthwise and marking it three inches four and a half inches in six inches
four and a half inches in six inches
four and a half inches in six inches this is where it needs to be cut so it’s
this is where it needs to be cut so it’s
this is where it needs to be cut so it’s a good idea to draw perpendicular lines
a good idea to draw perpendicular lines
a good idea to draw perpendicular lines with something like a combination square
with something like a combination square
with something like a combination square to make it as accurate as possible now
to make it as accurate as possible now
to make it as accurate as possible now get a mask ready because according to
get a mask ready because according to
get a mask ready because according to the safety sheet silica dust is
the safety sheet silica dust is
the safety sheet silica dust is something you really don’t want getting
something you really don’t want getting
something you really don’t want getting into your lungs
into your lungs
into your lungs these refractory bricks are extremely
these refractory bricks are extremely
these refractory bricks are extremely lightweight and full of air bubbles
lightweight and full of air bubbles
lightweight and full of air bubbles which is why they’re so great at
which is why they’re so great at
which is why they’re so great at insulating heat but it also means we
insulating heat but it also means we
insulating heat but it also means we won’t need any fancy tools to cut them a
won’t need any fancy tools to cut them a
won’t need any fancy tools to cut them a simple wood saw is all you need because
simple wood saw is all you need because
simple wood saw is all you need because the bricks are so soft
the bricks are so soft
the bricks are so soft in reality you could probably carve them
in reality you could probably carve them
in reality you could probably carve them all with kitchen utensils if you really
all with kitchen utensils if you really
all with kitchen utensils if you really needed to I put a couple of bricks under
needed to I put a couple of bricks under
needed to I put a couple of bricks under the edges to help channel the dust and
the edges to help channel the dust and
the edges to help channel the dust and prevent the blade from scratching the
prevent the blade from scratching the
prevent the blade from scratching the table when it cut through okay the three
table when it cut through okay the three
table when it cut through okay the three lines are cut and you can see they
lines are cut and you can see they
lines are cut and you can see they separate the brick into four pieces
separate the brick into four pieces
separate the brick into four pieces I designed it this way so that one fire
I designed it this way so that one fire
I designed it this way so that one fire brick will make two furnaces effectively
brick will make two furnaces effectively
brick will make two furnaces effectively cutting the cost in half as well let’s
cutting the cost in half as well let’s
cutting the cost in half as well let’s move on to carving out the reaction
move on to carving out the reaction
move on to carving out the reaction chamber and giving the furnace some
chamber and giving the furnace some
chamber and giving the furnace some special features I’m using a 3/8 inch
special features I’m using a 3/8 inch
special features I’m using a 3/8 inch drill bit and a two inch Forstner bit I
drill bit and a two inch Forstner bit I
drill bit and a two inch Forstner bit I got at my local hardware store the
got at my local hardware store the
got at my local hardware store the Forstner bit makes it easy to target the
Forstner bit makes it easy to target the
Forstner bit makes it easy to target the exact center of the brick and doesn’t
exact center of the brick and doesn’t
exact center of the brick and doesn’t take much of an effort to begin chewing
take much of an effort to begin chewing
take much of an effort to begin chewing away at the refractory material drilling
away at the refractory material drilling
away at the refractory material drilling too fast could rip the brick apart so
too fast could rip the brick apart so
too fast could rip the brick apart so let’s take it slow and steady until the
let’s take it slow and steady until the
let’s take it slow and steady until the holes around two inches deep which
holes around two inches deep which
holes around two inches deep which should leave a one-inch base of
should leave a one-inch base of
should leave a one-inch base of insulation at the bottom clean out the
insulation at the bottom clean out the
insulation at the bottom clean out the dust you’ll see we’ve got a nice little
dust you’ll see we’ve got a nice little
dust you’ll see we’ve got a nice little chamber for our reactions to take place
chamber for our reactions to take place
chamber for our reactions to take place now let’s trim the brick on its side and
now let’s trim the brick on its side and
now let’s trim the brick on its side and use a 3/8 inch drill bit to burrow down
use a 3/8 inch drill bit to burrow down
use a 3/8 inch drill bit to burrow down near the top when it penetrates into the
near the top when it penetrates into the
near the top when it penetrates into the chamber keep going straight down into
chamber keep going straight down into
chamber keep going straight down into the other side and when it pops out the
the other side and when it pops out the
the other side and when it pops out the bottom gently push the bit outward to
bottom gently push the bit outward to
bottom gently push the bit outward to break through the wall exposing the
break through the wall exposing the
break through the wall exposing the holes let’s do the same thing with the
holes let’s do the same thing with the
holes let’s do the same thing with the front end of the furnace except this
front end of the furnace except this
front end of the furnace except this time we’re not going to go through the
time we’re not going to go through the
time we’re not going to go through the other side we’ll need to modify this
other side we’ll need to modify this
other side we’ll need to modify this hole by drilling inward at
hole by drilling inward at
hole by drilling inward at a 45-degree angle until the tip of the
a 45-degree angle until the tip of the
a 45-degree angle until the tip of the bit meets the bottom of the chamber if
bit meets the bottom of the chamber if
bit meets the bottom of the chamber if we carefully work the bit upward until
we carefully work the bit upward until
we carefully work the bit upward until it breaks loose and clean up the edges a
it breaks loose and clean up the edges a
it breaks loose and clean up the edges a bit the bottom half of the furnace is
bit the bottom half of the furnace is
bit the bottom half of the furnace is finished and looks awesome the holes on
finished and looks awesome the holes on
finished and looks awesome the holes on the sides are for the electrode then
the sides are for the electrode then
the sides are for the electrode then this last one has a dual purpose for
this last one has a dual purpose for
this last one has a dual purpose for watching the reaction and pouring molten
watching the reaction and pouring molten
watching the reaction and pouring molten metals now the two smaller pieces are
metals now the two smaller pieces are
metals now the two smaller pieces are the lids for the furnace and should only
the lids for the furnace and should only
the lids for the furnace and should only need a very small modification to 3/8
need a very small modification to 3/8
need a very small modification to 3/8 inch holes drilled one inch from the
inch holes drilled one inch from the
inch holes drilled one inch from the ends and three-quarters of an inch from
ends and three-quarters of an inch from
ends and three-quarters of an inch from the sides to form a place where we can
the sides to form a place where we can
the sides to form a place where we can safely store the electrodes when they’re
safely store the electrodes when they’re
safely store the electrodes when they’re glowing orange and too hot to put
glowing orange and too hot to put
glowing orange and too hot to put anywhere else
anywhere else
anywhere else speaking of electrodes we’re gonna need
speaking of electrodes we’re gonna need
speaking of electrodes we’re gonna need carbon rods like these to strike the RF
carbon rods like these to strike the RF
carbon rods like these to strike the RF because they’re the only things that’ll
because they’re the only things that’ll
because they’re the only things that’ll handle the extreme temperatures I went
handle the extreme temperatures I went
handle the extreme temperatures I went to a local Super Center and picked up a
to a local Super Center and picked up a
to a local Super Center and picked up a 2-pack of 6 volt lantern batteries for
2-pack of 6 volt lantern batteries for
2-pack of 6 volt lantern batteries for under five dollars these ones are the
under five dollars these ones are the
under five dollars these ones are the heavy-duty kind and don’t worry if
heavy-duty kind and don’t worry if
heavy-duty kind and don’t worry if they’re newer you is because completely
they’re newer you is because completely
they’re newer you is because completely dead batteries will work just as well
dead batteries will work just as well
dead batteries will work just as well now we need to crack open the container
now we need to crack open the container
now we need to crack open the container and my tool of choice for doing that is
and my tool of choice for doing that is
and my tool of choice for doing that is a pair of wire cutters if we break the
a pair of wire cutters if we break the
a pair of wire cutters if we break the lid off the top and cut the two wires
lid off the top and cut the two wires
lid off the top and cut the two wires holding it on
holding it on
holding it on we’ve got easy access to the four
we’ve got easy access to the four
we’ve got easy access to the four battery cells inside go ahead and snip
battery cells inside go ahead and snip
battery cells inside go ahead and snip the wires connecting the cells together
the wires connecting the cells together
the wires connecting the cells together then pinch the caps in the center and
then pinch the caps in the center and
then pinch the caps in the center and gently pry them upward with a little bit
gently pry them upward with a little bit
gently pry them upward with a little bit of effort they should pop right out of
of effort they should pop right out of
of effort they should pop right out of the casing and just like that you’ve got
the casing and just like that you’ve got
the casing and just like that you’ve got a carbon electrode ready to go but
a carbon electrode ready to go but
a carbon electrode ready to go but that’s not all these batteries have all
that’s not all these batteries have all
that’s not all these batteries have all kinds of fun things hiding inside the
kinds of fun things hiding inside the
kinds of fun things hiding inside the casings on these cells are made of zinc
casings on these cells are made of zinc
casings on these cells are made of zinc and they’re packed with manganese
and they’re packed with manganese
and they’re packed with manganese dioxide so use something like a
dioxide so use something like a
dioxide so use something like a screwdriver to scrape around the inside
screwdriver to scrape around the inside
screwdriver to scrape around the inside pulling all that crumbly gunk out the
pulling all that crumbly gunk out the
pulling all that crumbly gunk out the manganese dioxide could be saved for
manganese dioxide could be saved for
manganese dioxide could be saved for other experiments but in this project
other experiments but in this project
other experiments but in this project we’re just interested in the carbon rods
we’re just interested in the carbon rods
we’re just interested in the carbon rods and Azen casings and I’m really excited
and Azen casings and I’m really excited
and Azen casings and I’m really excited because we just scavenged eight of them
because we just scavenged eight of them
because we just scavenged eight of them now just for fun I wedged the zinc
now just for fun I wedged the zinc
now just for fun I wedged the zinc battery casings in my bench vise and
battery casings in my bench vise and
battery casings in my bench vise and started cranking to see if it would make
started cranking to see if it would make
started cranking to see if it would make the casings a bit smaller apparently you
the casings a bit smaller apparently you
the casings a bit smaller apparently you can crush them down so they’re really
can crush them down so they’re really
can crush them down so they’re really compact and that’s great because we need
compact and that’s great because we need
compact and that’s great because we need them small for an experiment we’re gonna
them small for an experiment we’re gonna
them small for an experiment we’re gonna try in just a minute the last thing we
try in just a minute the last thing we
try in just a minute the last thing we need to make for the mini arc furnace is
need to make for the mini arc furnace is
need to make for the mini arc furnace is a pair of adjustable stinger grips I
a pair of adjustable stinger grips I
a pair of adjustable stinger grips I made a trip to the hardware store four
made a trip to the hardware store four
made a trip to the hardware store four to five foot lengths of eight gauge
to five foot lengths of eight gauge
to five foot lengths of eight gauge stranded copper wire to half-inch copper
stranded copper wire to half-inch copper
stranded copper wire to half-inch copper couplings number twenty stainless steel
couplings number twenty stainless steel
couplings number twenty stainless steel hose clamps and two sets of six inch
hose clamps and two sets of six inch
hose clamps and two sets of six inch locking pliers I modified the pliers by
locking pliers I modified the pliers by
locking pliers I modified the pliers by removing the rubber handle grips to
removing the rubber handle grips to
removing the rubber handle grips to expose the metal then strip the end of
expose the metal then strip the end of
expose the metal then strip the end of the cables to expose the copper so they
the cables to expose the copper so they
the cables to expose the copper so they can be secured directly to the pliers
can be secured directly to the pliers
can be secured directly to the pliers with the hose clamps
with the hose clamps
with the hose clamps now if you put the copper couplings on
now if you put the copper couplings on
now if you put the copper couplings on the other ends of the cables and Hammer
the other ends of the cables and Hammer
the other ends of the cables and Hammer them flat or clamp them with a bench
them flat or clamp them with a bench
them flat or clamp them with a bench vise they make little copper lugs you
vise they make little copper lugs you
vise they make little copper lugs you can hook up to an arc welder for power
can hook up to an arc welder for power
can hook up to an arc welder for power like this homemade version I put
like this homemade version I put
like this homemade version I put together with microwave parts you might
together with microwave parts you might
together with microwave parts you might remember that project where we Center
remember that project where we Center
remember that project where we Center tap the two transformers so it could
tap the two transformers so it could
tap the two transformers so it could power the arc furnace on 120 volts ac
power the arc furnace on 120 volts ac
power the arc furnace on 120 volts ac however it works much better on 240
however it works much better on 240
however it works much better on 240 volts so let’s just leave it as is now
volts so let’s just leave it as is now
volts so let’s just leave it as is now since the electrode grips are adjustable
since the electrode grips are adjustable
since the electrode grips are adjustable they can be set to byte perfectly on to
they can be set to byte perfectly on to
they can be set to byte perfectly on to any size carbon rod we need and hold
any size carbon rod we need and hold
any size carbon rod we need and hold them firmly in place but there is
them firmly in place but there is
them firmly in place but there is something you need to know about these
something you need to know about these
something you need to know about these scavenged rods before you use them the
scavenged rods before you use them the
scavenged rods before you use them the first time they make electrical contact
first time they make electrical contact
first time they make electrical contact are gonna catch on fire there’s some
are gonna catch on fire there’s some
are gonna catch on fire there’s some kind of wax in the rods that burst into
kind of wax in the rods that burst into
kind of wax in the rods that burst into flames as soon as they touch and it’ll
flames as soon as they touch and it’ll
flames as soon as they touch and it’ll take anywhere from 20 to 30 seconds to
take anywhere from 20 to 30 seconds to
take anywhere from 20 to 30 seconds to burn it all out it generates a lot of
burn it all out it generates a lot of
burn it all out it generates a lot of heat and a lot of smoke so try to do it
heat and a lot of smoke so try to do it
heat and a lot of smoke so try to do it outside and away from anything flammable
outside and away from anything flammable
outside and away from anything flammable at this point our mini arc furnace is
at this point our mini arc furnace is
at this point our mini arc furnace is completely ready for operations so let’s
completely ready for operations so let’s
completely ready for operations so let’s test it out with the zinc battery
test it out with the zinc battery
test it out with the zinc battery casings we scavenged earlier with one
casings we scavenged earlier with one
casings we scavenged earlier with one casing in the chamber let’s go ahead and
casing in the chamber let’s go ahead and
casing in the chamber let’s go ahead and set the lid in place then power up the
set the lid in place then power up the
set the lid in place then power up the arc welder so the electrodes are charged
arc welder so the electrodes are charged
arc welder so the electrodes are charged and ready for action the magic happens
and ready for action the magic happens
and ready for action the magic happens when the rods are pushed through the
when the rods are pushed through the
when the rods are pushed through the holes on the sides and subtly bump into
holes on the sides and subtly bump into
holes on the sides and subtly bump into each other striking a dangerous and
each other striking a dangerous and
each other striking a dangerous and blindingly hot arc of electricity in
blindingly hot arc of electricity in
blindingly hot arc of electricity in less than 10 seconds you can see the
less than 10 seconds you can see the
less than 10 seconds you can see the rods are already blazing hot and
rods are already blazing hot and
rods are already blazing hot and amazingly the metal is already liquefied
amazingly the metal is already liquefied
amazingly the metal is already liquefied eight casings later the chamber is full
eight casings later the chamber is full
eight casings later the chamber is full of liquefied zinc so now that it’s runny
of liquefied zinc so now that it’s runny
of liquefied zinc so now that it’s runny let’s test out the functionality of our
let’s test out the functionality of our
let’s test out the functionality of our built-in pour spout this is how easy it
built-in pour spout this is how easy it
built-in pour spout this is how easy it is to transfer molten metal from the
is to transfer molten metal from the
is to transfer molten metal from the mini arc furnace into makeshift ingot
mini arc furnace into makeshift ingot
mini arc furnace into makeshift ingot moulds now zinc has a relatively low
moulds now zinc has a relatively low
moulds now zinc has a relatively low melting point but this furnace is
melting point but this furnace is
melting point but this furnace is resilient enough to tackle high
resilient enough to tackle high
resilient enough to tackle high temperature metals like copper and even
temperature metals like copper and even
temperature metals like copper and even steel as well so if you’re in the mood
steel as well so if you’re in the mood
steel as well so if you’re in the mood to see glowing streams of molten copper
to see glowing streams of molten copper
to see glowing streams of molten copper or sparks flying around the room look
or sparks flying around the room look
or sparks flying around the room look for those extreme experiments in another
for those extreme experiments in another
for those extreme experiments in another project video all right our zinc muffin
project video all right our zinc muffin
project video all right our zinc muffin is hardened so let’s knock it out of the
is hardened so let’s knock it out of the
is hardened so let’s knock it out of the muffin tray with a screwdriver then dip
muffin tray with a screwdriver then dip
muffin tray with a screwdriver then dip it into a bowl of water to quickly cool
it into a bowl of water to quickly cool
it into a bowl of water to quickly cool it the rest of the way the result is a
it the rest of the way the result is a
it the rest of the way the result is a beautiful chunk of solid zinc to add to
beautiful chunk of solid zinc to add to
beautiful chunk of solid zinc to add to our homemade metal collection as a word
our homemade metal collection as a word
our homemade metal collection as a word of caution if you breathe in any of the
of caution if you breathe in any of the
of caution if you breathe in any of the zinc oxide fumes when melting zinc
zinc oxide fumes when melting zinc
zinc oxide fumes when melting zinc there’s a small chance of catching metal
there’s a small chance of catching metal
there’s a small chance of catching metal fume fever so if you’re recycling zinc
fume fever so if you’re recycling zinc
fume fever so if you’re recycling zinc yourself be sure to wear a respirator or
yourself be sure to wear a respirator or
yourself be sure to wear a respirator or do your experiments outside to reduce
do your experiments outside to reduce
do your experiments outside to reduce the red
the red
the red well now you know how to extract carbon
well now you know how to extract carbon
well now you know how to extract carbon electrodes from old flashlight batteries
electrodes from old flashlight batteries
electrodes from old flashlight batteries and carve insulating fire bricks into
and carve insulating fire bricks into
and carve insulating fire bricks into custom arc reaction chambers by the way
custom arc reaction chambers by the way
custom arc reaction chambers by the way if you cut the brick into 3 inch blocks
if you cut the brick into 3 inch blocks
if you cut the brick into 3 inch blocks you’ll get 3 furnaces you can even
you’ll get 3 furnaces you can even
you’ll get 3 furnaces you can even modify them to hold graphite crucibles
modify them to hold graphite crucibles
modify them to hold graphite crucibles for smaller experiments well that’s it
for smaller experiments well that’s it
for smaller experiments well that’s it for now if you like this project perhaps
for now if you like this project perhaps
for now if you like this project perhaps you’ll like some of my others check them
you’ll like some of my others check them
you’ll like some of my others check them out at the king of random calm hey guys
out at the king of random calm hey guys
out at the king of random calm hey guys thanks for watching this has been one of
thanks for watching this has been one of
thanks for watching this has been one of my favorite projects so far and I’d love
my favorite projects so far and I’d love
my favorite projects so far and I’d love to hear whether you liked it as well so
to hear whether you liked it as well so
to hear whether you liked it as well so leave me a message in the comments if
leave me a message in the comments if
leave me a message in the comments if you want to check out some of my other
you want to check out some of my other
you want to check out some of my other project videos I recommend the ones over
project videos I recommend the ones over
project videos I recommend the ones over here on the side and if you haven’t
here on the side and if you haven’t
here on the side and if you haven’t already please subscribe because I put
already please subscribe because I put
already please subscribe because I put out a new video every five days now some
out a new video every five days now some
out a new video every five days now some of you have told me you’re not getting
of you have told me you’re not getting
of you have told me you’re not getting notified of my new releases so I’m going
notified of my new releases so I’m going
notified of my new releases so I’m going to show you how to fix that right now
to show you how to fix that right now
to show you how to fix that right now but you have to be on a computer to do
but you have to be on a computer to do
but you have to be on a computer to do it look under this video for the
it look under this video for the
it look under this video for the subscribe button if you’re not
subscribe button if you’re not
subscribe button if you’re not subscribed the button will be read so
subscribed the button will be read so
subscribed the button will be read so click to subscribe then look for a
click to subscribe then look for a
click to subscribe then look for a little gear icon next to it click the
little gear icon next to it click the
little gear icon next to it click the gear icon and check the two boxes that
gear icon and check the two boxes that
gear icon and check the two boxes that say send me updates and show only
say send me updates and show only
say send me updates and show only uploads in feed if you’re lucky enough
uploads in feed if you’re lucky enough
uploads in feed if you’re lucky enough to have a menu option change it from
to have a menu option change it from
to have a menu option change it from occasionally to always and then click
occasionally to always and then click
occasionally to always and then click Save and you’re done that’s how to do it
Save and you’re done that’s how to do it
Save and you’re done that’s how to do it so take 10 seconds right now to update
so take 10 seconds right now to update
so take 10 seconds right now to update your settings on my videos and you’ll
your settings on my videos and you’ll
your settings on my videos and you’ll never miss an upload again thanks again
never miss an upload again thanks again
never miss an upload again thanks again for joining me in this project and I’ll
for joining me in this project and I’ll
for joining me in this project and I’ll see you in the next video talk to you
see you in the next video talk to you
see you in the next video talk to you then
”
Be First to Comment