Mixing Molten Metals. What Could Go Wrong??

I attempt to alloy copper and aluminum together while in a molten state. Interesting idea, but it doesn't go as planned.

The idea was to get swirls of different metals in the casting. Mixing the two together in 1 crucible would have made 1 homogeneous alloy, not produced swirl patterns.

I may do some experimenting with the same idea but using tin and zinc to make bronze/brass. It all depends on what the alloys of these metals will produce. If I can find one that doesn’t produce a weak and brittle alloy it might still work.

FYI the boiling temperature of aluminum is 4400F.

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[FarmCraft]

It’s cool that so many people are commenting and trying to predict the results. I’m reading all the comments, but there are too many for me to reply to all of them. And it seems I’m not the only one who didn’t predict the crappy alloy problem. 🤦‍♂️ Appreciate all the interaction. Have a great weekend everybody!

[RealLloyd]

First thing I thought was: Never do experiments with molten metal in shorts! 😂

[bigstackD]

I’m guessing if you’re pouring it in together and making a 5050 mix it will probably not be that great. I tried this years ago in the ingot broke when I dropped it, I really hope you have found a

[vza]

There are no failures in projects like this, just varying levels of success! Thank you.

[wpattison]

One of the most underrated channels out there. Thank you for posting videos like this - you learned, and we all learned.

[richspillman]

See 'Welding Metallurgy' by Linnert. It has been my go to source for 30+ years. The book could be considered a bible to anyone considering a life in metals. It explains why stainless is stainless and which aluminiums are weldable. It helped me to weld aluminium to steel. The copper section is extensive and describes the various alloying agents.

[ab_ab_c]

Mix the heated metals prior to pouring them. Once you have a nice hard Cu-Al cast, apply a thin coat of one or the other pure metal to your casting by dipping your casting into the molten metal. Make sure the molten metal is as liquidy as possible to produce the thinnest layer as possible. Once cooled down, grind smooth for a textured dual metal surface look.

Just an idea. :)

Happy creating!

[jscancella]

have you thought about pouring the aluminum out onto a metal table top, letting it cool, then pouring the copper next to it? The heat of the copper should melt only a little bit of the aluminum and I think you would get the effect you wanted.

[larryreich]

Years ago i was pouring small bronze sculptors and making my own bronze using copper (90%) and tin (10%) by weight. I made a gas fires foundry . I melted the copper first and then added the tin in the molten copper using the same crucible. then I added crushed coke cola bottle glass the glass melted to form a gas seal on the molten bronze, a cold metal rod poked into the bronze would remove the glass and a hand full of borax was add to the bronze as a flux before pouring

[tobhomott]

All I could think when trying to predict was "2 crucibles at once?! Craziest damn thing I ever heard of." Lol, and also "they probably won't mix evenly before freezing". You made that cannon though, so I gave it a chance. Glad I did. Fun video. I love my homemade aluminum bronze axe, keep trying! Keep in mind, even 13% is enough Al to get a glass-brittle alloy. From my own research and experience making and casting Al-bronze, one good way to get it evenly mixed is to alloy it in one crucible; add the Al after the Cu melts and mix the ingredients with a smooth up and down motion with something like a skim tool rather than a stirring motion, taking care not to agitate the surface of the melt. Mind you, I do this with the crucible still in my propane furnace with the burner running. An electric furnace would mean pulling it out and having to hurry more before things cool down too much. But if you are able to rig up a way to pour 2 crucibles simultaneously, I'm sure you can figure that out too. Then pour ingots to remelt when you go to pour your actual molds; that should help with getting the ingredients even more fully mixed together. Good luck!

[BeerontheBrain]

As someone that makes beer for a living, I deal the specific gravity all the time. I have to assume there is going to be a oil and water kind of separation effect.

[arminwebster]

I stumbled upon this video and found it very interesting. Along with the fact that I learned something that I have never even thought about. Thanks for the information.

[iknownothing-mc]

My first thought was "this might explode", my second thought was... "naw, he know what he's doin'". ;D

[trevor]

i had to pause on your 'this is not a drill' shirt because i was wheezing. i love shirts like that. big dad energy

[EtherTrace]

Copper and aluminum have different rates of thermal expansion, so even if you do get some interesting swirls going on, I think they'll separate and crack as they cool. Also, they have different densities, so the aluminum may end up floating on top of the copper.

Is there a reason you didn't just heat the aluminum up in the same furnace to 2000F? Will that cause excessive oxidation?

[aomanchutube]

I did this a long time ago just with some copper wire and an aluminum can melted together in a steel can. Ended up with the same stuff you sanded to a shine. Eventually this intuition helped me design something really cool with other slightly different metals.

[mtraven]

"what am i doing today?"
"double fisting crucibles of molten metal."

"what should I wear?"
"shorts, yah, definitely shorts."

[johndavies]

Had no idea what would happen but very impressed with your control when pouring cheers from UK

[firsttpt]

5:20 The abrupt temperature increase to the aluminum... I don't know... can aluminum burn?

[gregtheredneck]

I've no clue what's about to happen but I'm giddy with anticipation.