Casting ventilation hood

[TjB101]

About $25 into this for fan and duct. Had under cabinet lights and fireproof drywall in addition to the scrap wood. Hoping the lights can take the heat. Haven’t fired it up yet. I’ve been wanting to cast when the weather is less than accommodating. Maybe a 9mm session this weekend.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200204/b214937cbc5dd1a979a9b07333193198.jpg

[Winger Ed.]

Good job.

If I lived somewhere that had a real winter, and couldn't use a 'flow through the garage' big fan,
I'd be all over making something like that.

[trapper9260]

That is almost like my set up I use a exhaust fan for a bathroom to suck the smoke and fumes out. You will need to test it with smoke to see how it will work for you . I have my closer to the pipe and use a plywood with holes drill in it to spread the suction . Other wise it will suck the heat out of the room. That is why I say to test it . I have the pipe go to the old chimney for all to be blown out of the room this is what I found works for me .I cast anytime of the year this way. But is best to smelt out side.

[TjB101]

This is in an unused, attached garage that we use for projects, heated to 60 in winter. Door to basement is behind me and I’ll use the well window in there for fresh air. Exhaust is good with smoke from an ecig.

[Dusty Bannister]

You may want to add a lip on the front of the top to prevent smoke from fluxing overflowing from the cabinet. Try to keep the discharge hose as short and as straight as you can. Hot air wants to rise. I have considered adding a light lower on the side of the cabinet to make it easier to watch the alloy flow into the mold.

[TjB101]

You may want to add a lip on the front of the top to prevent smoke from fluxing overflowing from the cabinet.

Trying to visualize this ... like a 2” deep plastic or hard rubber panel placed a downward angle?

[RedHawk357Mag]

Thanks for sharing. I have been putting this off for too long. Been looking for a hood on the cheap. Didn't think to fabricate one. Thanks again.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[beagle]

All good ideas. The light to watch the flow is good. Just rigged one on my casting setup and it makes a big difference. I have a "spare" chimney in the house left over from a coal fired stoker furnace. Now, a rig like that would allow me to vent through the spare chimney and I could cast in the cold months.
Good thinking./beagle

[TjB101]

Now, a rig like that would allow me to vent through the spare chimney and I could cast in the cold months.
Good thinking./beagle

Yeah, we had a spare in our basement as well but the wife wanted me in the garage. I used a foam board that slides into the garage window (casement) that the hose is tied into.

[poppy42]

Looks good! I don’t have that problem I cast outdoors. But where I am at in Virginia’s rarely dips below 30°, and if it does it’s only for a day or two. I have more of a problem with rain. Especially since I can’t seem to get the wife to agree to hold an umbrella over me and the lead pot:grin:

[Conditor22]

Nice setup -- I agree with putting a lip in front, I'd go with 6" plexiglass of you'll have smoke rolling out in your face when fluxing.

OR--- attach a 8-12" round tube to the top and have it come down to within a few inches of the top. *** IF there is no air coming into the garage the vent won't work well trying to suck the air out of a closed room

Thought #2, take as much slack out of the vent tube as possible. I ended up going with solid tubing and it worked much better
[this is also true with clothes driers IF you switch out flex hose for solid tubing to the outdoors you'll speed up drying time and lower power consumption.

kind of like this (don't remember where I stole this picture from )
https://i.imgur.com/5hnwBpP.jpg

[TjB101]

Nice setup -- I agree with putting a lip in front, I'd go with 6" plexiglass of you'll have smoke rolling out in your face when fluxing.

I ended up fabricating a 6” high, hinged clear plate that I’ll attach to the top. Great idea and thanks for the feedback.

[Rich/WIS]

Previous home did similar using a range hood, hung on chains with side curtains, and ducted to a window.. Once done removed the side curtains and hooked the chains higher to keep it out of the way. Fan speed was adjustable and it already had a light. Casting area where I am now has two windows and a fan in a box goes into one and crack the other window for cross ventilation.. This fan came from a scrapped range hood as well. Don't smelt indoors so minimal smoke from fluxing.

[Froogal]

I do the smelting outdoors. Casting is done in the basement with a bathroom exhaust fan for ventilation. There are no fumes or smoke from the CLEAN lead. The only smoke is from the candle wax fluxing and it dissipates quickly.

[blackthorn]

If you are concerned about the heat effect on the blub, use a blub designed for a stove oven.

[TjB101]

... 6" plexiglass of you'll have smoke rolling out in your face when fluxing.


Great idea ... added a 6” lid on hinges... did a few tests and smoke rolls nicely and stayed in the box.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200206/95f1562f9f6d59ddff55ddf436a765bb.jpg

[Reverend Al]

When I built my gun / reloading room we used a stainless steel stove fan with 3 speeds and a built in light for my casting bench. It keeps up to my old RCBS 20 pound bottom pour pot no problem. (This was during construction and now of course you can barely see the bench for "stuff" ...) After this photo we ducted it directly outside (the wall directly to the right of the bench by the door with a "dryer flap").

https://i.imgur.com/fAUXOfA.jpg

[smoked turkey]

This is just one more reason why I really like this place. I was thinking of this as well but with an old recycled stove hood (which I don't have but would have to beat the bushes for). The original post idea makes my idea a lot more complex I think. I need to do something like this because now I have to open the door in the middle of winter if I want to cast.

[TjB101]

This is just one more reason why I really like this place. I was thinking of this as well but with an old recycled stove hood (which I don't have but would have to beat the bushes for). The original post idea makes my idea a lot more complex I think. I need to do something like this because now I have to open the door in the middle of winter if I want to cast.

I am right there with you ... I fired it up last night and cast about 300, 125gr 9mm. Worked sweet... the addition of the 6” plexi plate was a must have. Coated and resized today ... so nice not to have to wait till spring.

[jlm223]

I have been wanting to do something like this, great ideas! Thanks

[725]

Used a stove fan unit, too, for the bottom pour. Don't use it too much anymore. I started ladle pouring, instead.

[Ramson222]

This ones mine, the fan is a 800sqfm I got from some pot growers. I have a dimmer switch on it as a speed control. When its on full blast I get an complete air exchange in under one minute for my 700sqf room. Almost lost the cat once.256259

[TjB101]

Ahhh, the fruits of my labor. A few 124gr 9mm coated with Eastwood chrome (ok powder, thin coat but cured really nicely) and a batch of 158gr 357 that will be coated with Eastwood Ford light blue this week. Love that I can now cast pretty much anytime.


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200211/8811094a8b849d4b075d68e2049db3ee.jpg

[Cast_outlaw]

That’s a nice rig. one of the Tinbasher at work is going to build mine for me and help duct it out. He is a ducting specialist and he also gave me a nice fan to I’m looking forward to replacing my 20” box fan held in place with coat hangers a wing and a prayer and good idea on the light I’m going to have to add some in

[glaciers]

I had a 30 inch range hood laying around that has a light and a 2 speed fan in it from the factory. It has the option of venting through the wall or vertical venting/ducting. Mine goes through the wall with a dryer flap on the other side.
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The sides and hood kind of capture the fumes and with the fan on high keeps up with the smoke from fluxing. Sorry. Can't seem to get pictures vertical.
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This is the casting bench and the red boxes are for my molds.
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This is a removable fan that goes into a window over the oven for cooking PC boolits. The fan assembly comes out and goes in another window in the shop just out side of the reloading room door where I do my smelting of raw lead, and CCWW. This is a four season set up.

[TjB101]

... good idea on the light I’m going to have to add some in

The lighting was a really nice freebie the wife had in a drawer. There’s 3 under cabinet lights in mine. It really helps. So far, with a few flare ups from fluxing, the lights are hanging in there.

[TjB101]

This is a removable fan that goes into a window over the oven for cooking PC boolits.

Nice set up ... I read that cooking PC doesn’t give off anything toxic... have you heard differently? Granted it gives off a funky smell.

[fcvan]

Lots of great ideas, inspiring. I already have a range hood from a remodel, and so fan/light with speed control. I intend to use sheet metal as heat shielding as well as for ease of cleanup.

I really don’t plan to cast a lot in the Rockies as I cast more when in N CA. Grand babies on the coast, grand babies in the mountains, duplicate reloading gear in both houses. I prefer to cast during baseball season as I have done for decades.

Being able to cast during winter when in the Rockies will be a plus, and the warmth of the pot and gear is good enough if dressed properly. It would be nice to heat the shop, likely another project (solar water heat exchange) to make my small shop more cozy without having to layer up too much. Small dreams, good thoughts.

[Cast_outlaw]

One of my coworkers/friends is a sheet metal journeyman with a specialization in ducting so he built me this out of scraps and a spare fan he had laying around and we just finished installing it. Still needs ducting in but at least I have it now

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Just need to install a light in it thinking of using my 2’ fixture and get a daylight led bulb for it.
Will be a while befor I use it because I told my self I’m not allowed to cast any more boolits until I finish smelting the 55gallon barrel of wheel weights down its 2/3 full still ugg

[TjB101]

Will be a while befor I use it because I told my self I’m not allowed to cast any more boolits until I finish smelting the 55gallon barrel of wheel weights down its 2/3 full still ugg

Wow... really nice setup ... let me know if you need some help whittling down your drum :-)

[Cast_outlaw]

Wow... really nice setup ... let me know if you need some help whittling down your drum :-)

Never know think I can get another barrel to, and it’s always nice to get some help, I only get 100 to 200lb a day done

[jsizemore]

One of my coworkers/friends is a sheet metal journeyman with a specialization in ducting so he built me this out of scraps and a spare fan he had laying around and we just finished installing it. Still needs ducting in but at least I have it now

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Just need to install a light in it thinking of using my 2’ fixture and get a daylight led bulb for it.
Will be a while befor I use it because I told my self I’m not allowed to cast any more boolits until I finish smelting the 55gallon barrel of wheel weights down its 2/3 full still ugg

A bit of pipe insulation around the edges, short run of rigid with few turns for the exhaust and it's good to go. What's the cfm rating on the fan?

[Cast_outlaw]

A bit of pipe insulation around the edges, short run of rigid with few turns for the exhaust and it's good to go. What's the cfm rating on the fan?

Not sure of the cfm of the fan, as it’s an old now my Tinbasher friend had laying around. I’m thinking of getting some deadening pads to sick on the sheet metal, as it’s verry noisy to any bumps or vibrations from the fan. As for pipe insulation I don’t think it’s necessary as it will be a less than 4’ run of pipe, I just have to shorten the output and add a 90, about 2feet out the window behind. I’m probably going to frame in and delete the window. Although that is on my round-to-it list, so it may take a while to get around to it

[glaciers]

Nice set up ... I read that cooking PC doesn’t give off anything toxic... have you heard differently? Granted it gives off a funky smell.

Well I will be doing Hi-Tec cooking also, haven't started with Hi-Tec yet, but, clean air is always preferred. Why take the chance.
As this fan assembly is going to be used for smelting dirty CWW as well, it just makes since.

[jsizemore]

Not sure of the cfm of the fan, as it’s an old now my Tinbasher friend had laying around. I’m thinking of getting some deadening pads to sick on the sheet metal, as it’s verry noisy to any bumps or vibrations from the fan. As for pipe insulation I don’t think it’s necessary as it will be a less than 4’ run of pipe, I just have to shorten the output and add a 90, about 2feet out the window behind. I’m probably going to frame in and delete the window. Although that is on my round-to-it list, so it may take a while to get around to it

I was talking about the bottom edge of the box so you don't bump your head.

[Cast_outlaw]

I was talking about the bottom edge of the box so you don't bump your head.

Oh I get ya we set it back of the edge of the bench and tested the hits to my head it’s a couple inches higher than when I’m sitting on my chair probably won’t be a problem if it is then the pipe insulation is a good idea I’ll file that one away in the old gray matter rolodex although my head is pretty hard with a thick skull so it might be more to protect the hood from me :-D

[Burnt Fingers]

Some of ya are ignoring basic physics.

Lead particles at casting temperature can only get a very small distance from the top. Like a millimeter.

[Cast_outlaw]

Some of ya are ignoring basic physics.

Lead particles at casting temperature can only get a very small distance from the top. Like a millimeter.

Well I was never worried about that as I know my pot is no where near the temperature needed to vaporize lead it’s the smoke from fluxing I want to be rid of.

[dakotashooter2]

I have a kitchen hood which i vent into an unused chimney. Works good for me. Usually can find them out on the berm after kitchen remodels.

[Tazlaw]

Would a bathroom fan be sufficient to remove the smoke and odors? I have a basement with a bathroom. If I casted in the basement, I’d be 7-9 feet away from the vent?

[Cast_outlaw]

Would a bathroom fan be sufficient to remove the smoke and odors? I have a basement with a bathroom. If I casted in the basement, I’d be 7-9 feet away from the vent?

It would draw some but at that distance the smoke will hang in the air for a while like a Smokey kitchen I would try to get something closer maybe setup under a window and use one of the 20” box fans propped up in it that worked ok for me for a while

[curioushooter]

Darn good idea.