I have recently seen several posts(on multiple social media sites) by guys that are starting to pour, It is awesome to see so many people getting involved in pouring. This is by far the most fun hobby I have ever had. That being said if you are going to do more then a couple of ounces at a time or do lots of pouring, or even aren't that handy with a torch- the melting furnace is a great way to go.
After I began pouring, we did a lot of research to find the right furnace that would work for what I wanted to do, although I wasn't sure what that was yet. We finally settled on a furnace that I hoped would work and didn't hurt the wallet too bad.
It also has available replacement parts and I like to be able to repair my own stuff. About 2 months after getting it, Ihad some issues with the on/off switch, I replaced it with a heavier duty switch that filled the same hole and it worked great.
This is available on Ebay ranging from $280-$800 same furnace as far as I can tell but it is Feebay. Once the furnace arrived I was pouring non stop it seemed. What I quickly learned is that your crucibles
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(Not the homework nightmare from high school but the graphite container you melt the metal in)
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have a very short life and at approx $30 each can add up quickly, ( Dixiesilvergirl hates to hear the word crucible), we have learned that it is not worth it to take chances and use a potentially worn out crucible- Same as bad sushi, When in doubt throw it out!
A couple of weeks ago, as I was working in the shop, I had several ounces of copper in my furnace and all of a sudden I smelled something and realized my copper was no longer in the crucible but instead was inside the furnace and all over the heating coil. After it cooled down, I took it apart and we made a list of parts, for about half the cost of the furnace I was able to order everything I needed to make the repairs. I did the work live on Instagram during our Wednesday night Shop talk and thought I would share this info with everyone here
There are many styles to choose from and prices to fit almost any budget. If you do decide to get a furnace, be prepared for the Crucible expense and know that there is always a chance your crucible could break but it doesn't have to be the end of the furnace. https://pmcsupplies.com/ is a great link you should bookmark if you are looking to pour, they are super helpful and have lots of furnace options and parts. now don't even get me started on the price of dirt LOL
Thanks for looking and Happy Stacking!
Sources: http://www.catholic365.com/article/7932/crucible.html
https://imgur.com/gallery/oTKBMs3