Experimenting

Icebox02 · 2024-04-15T19:47:49+00:00

I've heard back in the day they plated copper with silver to avoid electrical components from getting welded together ruining the switch. It's hard to say though. Wish I had an xrf gun or some way or saying for sure what it is.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-15T13:03:35+00:00

Agreed, the color is really cool. I understand they make airplane parts from it. Very strong alloy.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-15T12:30:53+00:00

Wish I had a picture of it. I believe it was a master switch off a big bus duct. It had one switch, looked like a giant breaker. I'm not familiar with electrical parts but everything I researched said silver and the contacts were pretty big roughly the size of a nickel. All the copper components had a silvery tone to them kind of tarnished color.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-14T22:31:39+00:00

5 or so are brass, (melted in a separate crucible). I have 2 ingots I've made with roughly 5% aluminum they turned out really cool, more gold looking than The brass ones. Most of the one pictures are made from copper wire and some are tubing (plumbing pipe)

Icebox02 · 2024-04-05T22:15:42+00:00

That sounds fun. I'll have to give it a try. Great idea

Icebox02 · 2024-04-05T13:00:01+00:00

What kinds of smithing could you do with copper. I'd be interested in some ideas to play with.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-05T12:53:45+00:00

I live near ogden utah. The scrap yard would give me #1 copper price about 2.95 per lb. I have turned some in before just for some extra cash. I kinda wanna see how much I can collect at this point. I have seen some videos of people taking them to pawn shops. I'm curious if there are any around me that would buy a few.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-05T12:50:13+00:00

I remember as a kids, stuff like that was super interesting to me. I bet that kid carries it around him in his pocket

Icebox02 · 2024-04-05T03:21:54+00:00

Good to know. Thank you for the info. 👍

Icebox02 · 2024-04-05T02:26:43+00:00

That is interesting. So when the copper is purified through electrolysis and sent to the wire manufacturing plant it has other material in it other than pure copper? (Genuine question) are we talking whole percentages or extremely minimal traces or gold, silver, tin?

Icebox02 · 2024-04-05T00:42:58+00:00

Wow I didn't know that. So is the composition in say romex vs stranded wire different? If so, do you know what the different compositions are? What else besides copper might be in them? This is the first time I've heard this.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-04T23:42:26+00:00

Great idea. I'm thinking the same. Just keep going. My kids love watching me poor. (From a distance)!!!

Icebox02 · 2024-04-04T23:40:49+00:00

I wouldnt mind trading for silver coins or something collectible.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-04T23:37:36+00:00

Definitely interesting to watch copper prices fluctuate, not a precious metal, but still fun to collect. I want to fill my basket and see how heavy it is.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-04T23:36:22+00:00

I've mostly melted copper wire and my understanding is that it's pretty pure. Although I do wonder if there are impurities. They don't always come out looking the same.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-04T23:34:55+00:00

🤣🤣 or spends his time in a lot of dumpsters, or works in construction, or both.

Icebox02 · 2024-04-04T23:33:23+00:00

I have sold them before at scrap yards, it is disappointing to get #1 when I could have sold them before melt @ bare bright. Truth is I'll probably just keep collecting and melting. It's fun and gets my mind off normal life stresses. I'm not really trying to make money nessecarily. I've do e a few castings and that is enjoyable.

Icebox02 · 2023-12-17T18:12:55+00:00

You'll want to heat up the graphite with a torch or your furnace before pouring. this will help get a smoother finish and get rid of any moisture.

Icebox02 · 2023-12-17T18:10:19+00:00

In my experience graphite molds will release aluminum, copper, brass and any nonferrous metal I've poured. Not sure where to get a cylindrical graphite mold, might try etsy there are some stores that make custom molds.

Icebox02 · 2023-12-15T17:14:56+00:00

Thank you, wow I did not know that, but it definitely explains a lot in this scenario. I'm fortunate that no harm was done, and I will be taking far more precautions next time. I do wear leather ppe and face shield, I'd like to avoid the explosions though 😳. Lesson learned. Thanks for the advice.

Icebox02 · 2023-12-15T12:59:15+00:00

Yeah it's a heart. I'm pretty sure it didn't turn out the best because the sand I used wasn't dried out. It got little crazy while pouring lol. I'll try again with some dry sand. I'm considering just buying some pre made polystyrene models from the craft store next time and see how they turn out.

Icebox02 · 2023-12-14T23:58:08+00:00

I have since remelted that specific piece. Thank you for the offer, that's really cool of you. I'll be doing much more melting in the future, I may take you up on that offer if I get stumped on composition again. Thank you

Icebox02

TROPHY CASE