How To Make An Electrical Arc Furnace

How to hack flashlight batteries and a fire brick, into a desktop arc reaction chamber. ...For hobby metal melting, and for science!

Some quick links to a few of the materials I used:

Endcard Links:

See What Else I’m Up To:

WARNING:

Risk of electric shock, fire hazards, and toxic fumes depending on what material you're working with. Dust from refractory brick should never be inhaled, as it can damage lungs and cause long term respiratory challenges. This project can reach temperatures in excess of 3,000ºF (1,648ºC) which is well beyond the melting point of hobbyists. Caution, care and expert planning are required to mitigate risks. Have fun, but always think ahead, and remember that every project you try is at your own risk.

Project Inspired By:

This project was originally inspired by Theo Grey and his book, "Mad Science". After seeing the concept, I couldn't find any information anywhere on the internet or in libraries about arc furnace experiments, so I set out on my own to achieve these results.

Project History & More Info:

If you're wondering where you can get fire brick locally, try a quick Google search for “refractory materials” in your city. I called a couple of companies near me and asked if they'd sell to the general public. All of them said yes.

If you can't find anything locally, try searching major hardwares stores online. They usually have inventory online that they don't carry in the stores.

The insulating fire bricks I got were the 3” x 4.5” x 9” Alumina-Silicate Brick variety. I got a box of 10 for $33, effectively making them around $3.30 each. I went one step further and designed the furnace so that 2 of them could be made from one brick, cutting the cost in half, making each furnace a pro-rated $1.65 each!

They're extremely lightweight, and capable of withstanding the temperatures used in steel working, but soft enough you can cut and carve them with kitchen utensils if you need to.

In reading and studying history a bit, I learned that some of the earliest forms of light were made using carbon arc lighting. Large amounts of electricity were pumped through carbon rods, making a bright arc and providing light.

In this project I tried melting the zinc casings from the lantern batteries, and casting them into a small ingot, formed with a mini muffin tray. Be cautious of the zinc oxide fumes produced. I haven't personally suffered any ill effects from working with it, but some people claim it can give flu like symptoms, or a fever if inhaled in large quantities.

Zinc has a relatively low melting point 787.2°F (419.5°C), so the Arc Furnace is able to melt each casing into liquid zinc in around 5-10 seconds. That's amazing!

I don't have an exact purpose for the zinc yet, but it's an easy metal to work with, easy to cast, and great to have on hand for a future projects. It's also one of the main metals used for making a simple carbon-zinc battery.

The black stuff pulled out of the battery casings is manganese dioxide. It's a useful chemical for experiments with hydrogen peroxide, so it's worth hanging onto.

The longest I've run the unit continuously is around 3-4 minutes, and the electrodes get so hot at that point they can seriously burn your hands, or melt your gloves. I wouldn't recommend running it any longer than that.
#tkor #thekingofrandom

[chrishayes]

this guys a legend.. wish he was still around, his vids are second to none.

[arsalansaeed]

Gone almost 2 years and still changing lives.

Legends never die.

[Deutscher_Boy]

Man, the day he died we lost a legend, this was one of my favorite videos all those years ago, he really influenced my creativity and made me and my friends love science, and fun experiments.

[tfconfirmedbuthv]

Man I wish TKoR uploaded build videos still, I miss watching these videos while building along to them, even though I never did build, I enjoyed them much much more than the current content style

[supercraquelin]

I miss the real king of random, he was doing real craft and science instead of content for kids

[xaliradbass]

R.I.P relax in paradise. I tried this at home, did it 9 times with different metals each time. I had 2 muffin trays of different metals! Worked great for me!

[meatloaf]

You can also source carbon electrodes at most welding supply shops, they're used for carbon arc touches like you made and carbon arc gouging, the latter being the most common use for them today.

[condore]

Love that his videos are still up an running, he inspired people to invent, discoverand to think outside the box . He will truly be missed. I still rewatch these videos for inspiration.

[steelavocado]

I JUST MADE THIS!!!! I used my welder for the positive and negative leads. It was perfect. I could melt iron like nothing. Thanks for sharing this years ago.

[eepikki]

Before: An smart pilot who is like an engineer who teaches us.

Now: 5 minute crafts

[WhereWhoMe]

I can see how/why the book came out. This style of teaching/showing science and the building is very interesting. While I don't think I will be making an electrical arc furnace anytime soon, it is very interesting to watch the process. I am very glad I decided to watch these videos from the beginning. It looks like I still have 5 years of content to go through. Onwards to the next video!!!

[nathanielepps]

Be careful which batteries you choose, alkaline batteries will not work because (as far as I know) they do not have inner carbon rods, and also have highly corrosive alkaline material inside. You will make a mess and potentially get caustic gunk everywhere. What you want are Zinc Carbon batteries, usually labeled as "heavy duty". Double check the battery casing and make sure it doesn't say "Alkaline" anywhere on it.

[yingxiawei]

Then: Make an electrical arc furnace
Now: We MeLtEd SoMe StArBuRsTs

[edenkl]

I was so sad watching
Because of what happend

[PRASANTKSAHOO]

Idk why but drilling the brick with the forstener was so satisfying

[N-O-I-S-E]

This guy literally was my childhood for brilliant designs

[sflakee]

Hes not the king of random anymore... he’s the king of our hearts.

[_stqtic_]

R.I.P the legend he has done his quest to educate us all before his passing

[Wkspendlove]

This was my favorite video of his. Rest In Peace, The King of Random

[Pinkpipola]

Rest in peace
1980 - 2019
You will be missed, and never forgotten.
💐