My friend and I are currently trying to come up with a way to melt aluminum. We looked up some ignition temperatures online, and found that cigarettes can melt aluminum. However, an entire cigarette just barely deformed the surface of a pop can''s opening tab. (We did the tab because when we tried the entire can, the body of the can spread the heat so well that the cigarette did nothing). Currently I''m thinking of pouring a flammable liquid into the can and dropping a match inside it. Any other ideas? Oh, and the reason we want to melt aluminium is to make the body of a flamethrower. To shape the metal, we''re going to hit it with a rock while it''s still soft. ___________________________________________________________ Where to find the intensity (Updated May 1, 2004)

the flame would go out due to lack of oxygen. What you could do is try an open fire...but most likely the can will melt holes away...I''ve done this before at bonfires a lot...

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That''s really funny Amish, it''s like you''re forging a sword or something Also, are cans pure aluminum? They might be mixed with something that gives them different properties.

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Original post by amish1234
My friend and I are currently trying to come up with a way to melt aluminum. We looked up some ignition temperatures online, and found that cigarettes can melt aluminum. However, an entire cigarette just barely deformed the surface of a pop can''s opening tab. (We did the tab because when we tried the entire can, the body of the can spread the heat so well that the cigarette did nothing).

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You''re going to need something a bit more powerful than a cigarette.

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Currently I''m thinking of pouring a flammable liquid into the can and dropping a match inside it.

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The problem with that is that the heat isn''t evenly distributed-the top of the can, near the flame, will soften first, and likely all you''re going to end up with is either 1) spilled, flaming liquid everywhere and a deformed aluminum can, or 2) a contained flame in a deformed aluminum can. There isn''t much chance of getting a uniform, softened glob of aluminum which you can forge like steel.

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Any other ideas?

Oh, and the reason we want to melt aluminium is to make the body of a flamethrower. To shape the metal, we''re going to hit it with a rock while it''s still soft.

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Flamethrower? Keep in mind that whatever you make a flamethrower out of, it has to melt at a higher temp. than the flame burns. Honestly, I wouldn''t try to make one out of aluminum cans. Honestly, I wouldn''t try to make one at all. Reevaluate why you''d want one, then read this and reevaluate your design.

If you still want to go ahead(carefully) then do it right. Find some store that''ll sell you pipe and aluminum sheeting that you can use. Check legalities in your area, stock up on fire extinguishers, and get the garden hose ready. These are dangerous things, watch how you use them. Your local fire department might have more information.

As for legality, it may be illegal in your area to use flammable materials in such a way. Even if there isn''t a restriction, you could still be arrested for arson or worse if you do something stupid.

You have to be careful when heating aluminum because it melts at 658C, but the oxid layer utmost melts at 1200C. So if you get an welding apparatus the inside will melt before the outside. Aluminum are soft so it''s no problem use an hammer to shape it. You only need something hard to lay it on.

Goto a hardware supply store and pick up some Fire Bricks, the largest square bricks you can find. Cut them with a tablesaw to the dimentions of the flamethrower shell, and then grab an oxyacetylene torch, (you can rent one for about 10/hr, or buy one for about 800 bucks) attach the brazing tip and heat up a big cast iron pot filled with aluminum cans, lets them melt, and then pour the molten aluminum into the firebrick cast.

Obviously, you wont be able to get much of shape out out the cast since it's painfully hard to cut firebricks (or any brick for that matter) without the proper skills and a large enough cutting base. The next step would be to take a bench grinder and a dremel and shape the (cool) casted aluminum further to meet your needs for shape and thinkness and weight.

I would avoid using aluminum cans however, since they are often coated with a glaze, and the inks used will probably form a slag which will cause the final cast to be much more heat sensitive than you'd want for something as volitile as a flamethrower.



[edited by - raymondo on May 23, 2004 6:13:33 AM]

My brother''s friend made a flamethrower out of a match and a can of WD-40. It looked really cool, but in hindsight, it was really dangerous. I think it goes without saying, but make sure you are prepared for emergencies

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>> Home-made flamethrower <<
Jesus bumming Christ. If the Lord came back
today he'd be doing shit like this. Filling
a common or garden water pistol with petrol
and using it as a flamethrower in his garage.
Just like this chap, who we also worship.

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It had to be posted:
Home made flame thrower
Enjoy!

(from the guys at B3TA)

[edited by - benryves on May 23, 2004 1:51:28 PM]

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Original post by Peon
That''s really funny Amish, it''s like you''re forging a sword or something

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One of my friends made a sword out of all his family''s silverware. His mom wasn''t to happy when she found that there was no silverware, but a huge sword laying on the table.

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Original post by etothex
Your local fire department might have more information.

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Yes, drop by the fire department and pick up their brochure on making flame throwers.

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Original post by Raymondo
Goto a hardware supply store and pick up some Fire Bricks, the largest square bricks you can find. Cut them with a tablesaw to the dimentions of the flamethrower shell, and then grab an oxyacetylene torch, (you can rent one for about 10/hr, or buy one for about 800 bucks) attach the brazing tip and heat up a big cast iron pot filled with aluminum cans, lets them melt, and then pour the molten aluminum into the firebrick cast.

Obviously, you wont be able to get much of shape out out the cast since it's painfully hard to cut firebricks (or any brick for that matter) without the proper skills and a large enough cutting base. The next step would be to take a bench grinder and a dremel and shape the (cool) casted aluminum further to meet your needs for shape and thinkness and weight.

I would avoid using aluminum cans however, since they are often coated with a glaze, and the inks used will probably form a slag which will cause the final cast to be much more heat sensitive than you'd want for something as volitile as a flamethrower.



[edited by - raymondo on May 23, 2004 6:13:33 AM]

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Do you mind if I provide a more another soultion. Firebricks sound expensive and difficult to work with.

Try diging a hole in the ground, and shaping the hole like the flame thrower shell. Go to Walmart and buy a small torch, they are located near plumbing stuff. The torch cost about ~$20 and replacement gas cylinders are about $10.00. To the best of my knowledge there are two types of gas available for the torches. I think one is propane, and the other is map-gas. The map-gas torch will produce more heat than the propane torch.

Next, find some aluminium cans melt them with the torch and pour the molten aluminium in the hole you dug in the ground.

Finally, let the aluminium cool and you should have a solid cylinder of aluminium that you can drill or shape to make the flamethrower shell.

Of course, it would be easier to just buy a cylindrical piece of aluminium.

Edit: Or you could just buy and use metal pipes to create you flamethrower.

[edited by - CH on May 23, 2004 3:54:20 PM]