While watching caveman TV last week we started melting beer cans. It got me thinking about making something I could melt beer cans in and then create camping coins. So here is the full on redneck campfire forge in all its glory. I'd make it nicer but the baby only sleeps about an hour during the day.
Nice forge. Is the stamping press for the coins next? Who's image will be on the front? I assume a SMB will be on the back.
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Larrie
Read detailed trip reports, see photos and videos on my travel blog, luinil.com.
Current van: 2002 Ford E350 extended body camper with Colorado Camper Van pop top and Agile Offroad 4WD conversion.
First forging went pretty well but I ended up burning through the steel crucible. Modifications will be made to generation 2 of the redneck forge. We melted around 60 cans and only made 3 coins.
I have to say it was the most fun I had around the campfire since I poured diesel on one in boy scouts. Everyone around the fire was mesmerized by the molten aluminum. I'm thinking of using steel cookie cutters for a form on the next go around. A van shaped form would really be the cats ass.
Can't quite make out what's in the second photo. I see a tire inflator valve stem, do you use a compressor to blow onto the coals to ramp up the heat?
There are some really cool videos on casting aluminum parts using lost wax/lost styrofoam techniques. Very interested in seeing how the coins turned out.
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