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While this article gives you good general instructions for melting brass, there are many factors to consider when setting up a furnace. Seek advice online or from foundry workers to find a furnace setup suitable for your budget, the volume of metal you plan to melt, and all types of metal you might want to use it for. Popular metalworking forums online include IForgeIron. The hobbyists and professionals there should be able to advise you. Melting brass requires a great deal of preparation, and a special furnace that can heat the brass rapidly before too much of the component metals oxidize. Purchase a metal melting furnace that can reach 2,000F (1,100C), constructed from a refractory material that can withstand this heat. Most brass will melt at temperatures as low as 1,650F (900C), but a higher maximum temperature will give you a margin of error, and make the brass easier to pour. Select a furnace large enough to hold the crucible and brass you intend to melt. Consider the fuel you will be using. Waste oil is a free fuel source, but the furnace may be more expensive. Propane furnaces are cleaner, but require you to keep purchasing more fuel. Solid fuel furnaces may be cheapest to purchase, or make yourself, but require significant fuel expense and cleanup if used frequently. You may already have brass items ready for melting, but if you want more raw material, thrift stores and yard sales are often treasure troves. Failing that, you can try contacting local scrap yards. Remove the brass from other materials, especially non-metallic objects such as glass, plastic, paper, and cloth. . Wash the brass with soapy water to remove surface contaminants such as oils and excess oxidation prior to performing the melt. If the brass is lacquered, remove the lacquer with acetone, lacquer thinner, or paint stripper. Always wear gloves and work in a ventilated area while removing lacquer, especially if using paint stripper. A crucible holds the molten metal while it is in the furnace. For brass alloys, a graphite crucible may be the best option owing to its durability and ability to be heated quickly. Crucibles made from other materials are available, but make sure they can withstand the high temperature required. Before using a new graphite crucible, heat it to 200F (95C) for 20 minutes and let cool. This removes excess moisture that can cause spattering. Each crucible should only be used for one alloy. If you also plan to melt aluminum, iron, or other metals, they will each need their own crucible. You'll need tongs, a skimming spoon, and a pouring shank to handle the metal. Steel tongs are used to grip the crucible and place it in or out of the furnace. A steel skimming spoon is used to remove dross from the surface of the metal before pouring. Finally, a pouring shank is needed to hold the crucible in place and allow you to tilt it for pouring. If you are able to weld, you may fabricate these tools yourself from scrap. Optionally, purchase a pyrometer for measuring high temperatures, to make it easier to determine when the brass is ready to pour. An outdoor area is almost a necessity for melting brass, as the creation of toxic fumes is almost impossible to avoid. An open garage or similar structure may be a good option. Even when melting other metals, make sure your furnace has sufficient ventilation. Furnaces require a great deal of air, and may produce carbon dioxide and other gases, depending on the fuel source. Even apparently dry materials, especially concrete, can contain trapped moisture. If a drop of molten metal comes into contact with moisture, the liquid will transform into steam and rapidly expand, spraying the molten metal with force. To avoid this scenario, place a box of dry sand near the furnace, and always carry and pour molten metal above this sand. The easiest way to handle molten brass is to pour it into metal ingot molds. Casting the brass into more complex shapes takes considerably more preparation. Look up information on sand casting or foam inclusion casting if you are interested in casting machine parts or artwork. Find expert supervision for these processes if possible, as success rate can be low for beginners.
Seek advice specific to your goals. Prepare a metal melting furnace. Separate out your brass items for melting. Clean the brass Acquire a crucible. Gather miscellaneous materials. Place your furnace in a well-ventilated area. Add a box of dry sand. Gather ingot molds.