Figured out the hard way why you never skip preheating your crucible

Had a batch of bronze at Harrison's Foundry last Tuesday crack the crucible right down the middle because I was in a rush and skipped the slow warm-up, so now I run it at 200 degrees for 15 minutes first - any of you guys had a crucible blow out on you from rushing it?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_laura10d ago

I mean, I've definitely taken some shortcuts with my setup and never had a crucible crack on me, are you sure it wasn't already damaged or something?

fionanguyen10d agoMost Upvoted

The trick is to always ramp the heat up slowly. If you blast it from cold you're asking for micro fractures.

emma_lee2210d ago

Gotta say I've noticed this same thing with SO many other things in life, not just crucibles. Like with cast iron skillets, people say the same thing about heating them up slow or they'll warp. Or even with car engines, you don't just redline it from a cold start unless you want trouble. @fionanguyen is totally right that patience in the beginning saves you a headache later. I've seen friends crack their favorite coffee mugs by pouring boiling water straight in too fast. It's like the universe's way of reminding us to slow down once in a while.