El Hornito
(the little furnace)

El Hornito is the small furnace
I made by cutting down a water heater
and using castable refractory.

I have only melted a few pounds
of scrap aluminum so far, but it looks promising.

Cutting open the water heater


Poured Lid and Plinth Blocks


Starting the dryout with a small hand torch


Dryout continues


Dryout finished - ready to melt something!


El Hornito up close


Flames rising


First aluminum ingots


First runaway!


Open-faced sand mold


Poured sand mold


Sample castings