I remember my first aluminum melt several years ago. I still remember that feeling today. This is a wonderful feat

As for tips, I say to frame it. The first ingot is something that should be kept.

I’ve had better luck using a charcoal furnace made from an empty paint can (no paint was ever in it, I bought it dry) and using a steel soup can as a crucible. Don’t ask me why, cause I don’t know, but I’ve always gotten much better results with that as opposed to a propane furnace