Restoration and preparation

 

The photo above shows my electric furnace heated to 650 degrees - inside of the heating chamber.

A few days ago one of my graphite crucibles ruptured during a metal melt - see photo of the base of the ruptured crucible below. 

Unfortunately the hot metal just disappeared - I was not sure where it had gone and the furnace was too hot to deal with. So I just turned it all off and walked away.

This morning I investigated the furnace and found the metal had cooled into a blob at the base of the heating chamber - see photo below. However it could not be removed because the ceramic rim was quite a bit smaller in diameter than the base of the heating chamber.

Short restoration version - I managed to unscrew the metal frame holding the ceramic rim, removed the rim itself and was able to remove the metal blob (photo below) and put the furnace back together - photo below.

I tested the furnace with a replacement crucible and poured a few stars - below.

I gave the metal blob a grind - see below - grey and shiny and interesting texture . Not quite sure what I will do with this metal form.

I also cut salvaged silver plates placemats in preparation for making olive ladles and a few cone shaped bowls.

Good to be back in the shed using the tools.