Thread: Value of a Smelting Furnace Kit

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello All,

I going on a bit of planned trip very soon. As things sometimes happen I came across an advertisement for a smelter furnace kit in the very same town that I will be visiting. For the experienced smelters out there - does $350 represent value for money for the kit shown in the attached photograph? Or should I just look somewhere else.

However, opportunity is said to only knock once. Should I take advantage of the opportunity while I am in the neighbourhood? I can confirm I did not set out to find a smeltering kit tonight. Have I been interesting in smeltering? Yes - for quite some years.

What is that knocking sound? Teehee. Despite this, I am also conscious of another saying ... it mentions an association with less than learned people and their liquid finances becoming separated from them... Hence my asking more experienced people's advice.

Kind regards
Lionel

Hi! It seems to be missing a few bits like a crucible, I would be finding out if it's a decent brand or some chineseium brand like this: VEVOR VEVOR Propane Melting Furnace Metal Forge W/ 6KG Graphite Crucible Casting Tool | VEVOR AU

Not saying that vevor brand is completely crap ive been looking at one also, it would probably get an amateur smelter going for quite some time. This kit comes with a crucible and tongs for less money than what you are looking at and look like it's a very similar Chinese brand.

Good luck, if you buy a smelter please post some photos of your work!

Cheers

Originally Posted by LRJim

Hi! It seems to be missing a few bits like a crucible, I would be finding out if it's a decent brand or some chineseium brand like this: VEVOR VEVOR Propane Melting Furnace Metal Forge W/ 6KG Graphite Crucible Casting Tool | VEVOR AU

Not saying that vevor brand is completely crap ive been looking at one also, it would probably get an amateur smelter going for quite some time. This kit comes with a crucible and tongs for less money than what you are looking at and look like it's a very similar Chinese brand.

Good luck, if you buy a smelter please post some photos of your work!

Cheers

Hello LRJim,

Thank you for the link to the Chineseium Vevor unit. I did notice that there was no crucible in the photo. However, in the description it does say about it including gloves, tongs and some other things. I have contacted the seller to find out if 'some other things' includes the crucible.

However, looking at the link you sent and after having a bit of an explore of the site they have a 10 kg crucible kit for less money than what is advertised as only a 4 kg kit - possibly without the crucible. This is for less money than the second hand kit. The new kit price even includes freight! I do not need another gas bottle which is the only advantage of the second-hand kit over a new one - if the used kit comes with a crucible.

I have watched lots of YouTube clips about converting things like steel garbage cans and old gas cylinders into furnaces via DIY. In reality, there is greater likelihood of my just paying for a Chineseium kit than my DIYing my own. Just to use it as a stepping stone for greater projects. The 10 kg kit seems like a good place to start. Plenty of people sell crucibles online via eBay or Amazon if I want to go to a smaller size crucible or get a better quality crucible.


The Vevor forge dual burner kit looks good for a starter unit too. LR Jim do you know of other brands as an alternative to the Vevor kit? If so, what are they.

Kind regards
Lionel

Amazon have heaps. Here is just one:

Originally Posted by Tins

Amazon have heaps. Here is just one:

Cheers Tins!

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello LRJim,

Thank you for the link to the Chineseium Vevor unit. I did notice that there was no crucible in the photo. However, in the description it does say about it including gloves, tongs and some other things. I have contacted the seller to find out if 'some other things' includes the crucible.

However, looking at the link you sent and after having a bit of an explore of the site they have a 10 kg crucible kit for less money than what is advertised as only a 4 kg kit - possibly without the crucible. This is for less money than the second hand kit. The new kit price even includes freight! I do not need another gas bottle which is the only advantage of the second-hand kit over a new one - if the used kit comes with a crucible.

I have watched lots of YouTube clips about converting things like steel garbage cans and old gas cylinders into furnaces via DIY. In reality, there is greater likelihood of my just paying for a Chineseium kit than my DIYing my own. Just to use it as a stepping stone for greater projects. The 10 kg kit seems like a good place to start. Plenty of people sell crucibles online via eBay or Amazon if I want to go to a smaller size crucible or get a better quality crucible.


The Vevor forge dual burner kit looks good for a starter unit too. LR Jim do you know of other brands as an alternative to the Vevor kit? If so, what are they.

Kind regards
Lionel

G'day, no problem hope it helps you make a decision on what your going to buy. I'm not aware of any other brands but I'm sure there will be, I just punched it into google to see what came up. It's quite strange with brands like vevor, edisons, protege, baumag etc ive bought pumps, random cheap tools etc from a few of them and sometimes the cheaper ones have more power, features, accessories etc I thinks it's mainly a supply demand thing. Most people don't want eg a big 10kg furnace and will go for the smaller ones driving the price up but that's just my opinion.
I am not a smelter or blacksmith in any way apart from melting lead in pots for sinkers and making shot pellets for shotgun shells. Looking forward to seeing what you do it may inspire me to buy one myself!
Cheers

My son is making the hammer in the vid. I 3D printed the casting blank for him.

IMG_3667.jpg