EXPERIMENTAL Arc Furnace MELTS ANYTHING May, 1933

Handy for arc experiments, Popular Science 1933

HEAT so terrific that no known substance is able to withstand it for long can be developed in your home laboratory with nothing more than a pair of electric light carbons, a small crucible, and some means of controlling the flow of the electric current from the house mains through the arc.

Most electrical experimenters attempt to use an old toaster or electric grill in series with the arc. This works all right, but the current flow is limited to three or four amperes and is greatest when the carbons are in contact and the arc is producing the least amount of heat. Adding another toaster or grill in parallel with the first one doubles the current through the arc, doubles the cost of operation, and still is open to the objection that the current flow is greatest when the arc is least effective.

The difficulty is that a carbon arc, operating on the ordinary 60-cycle, 110-volt current, actually requires only about 35 volts. The difference is wasted in useless heat from the grill or toaster.

Oddly enough, I made a variation of one of these when I was 14.

I pulled the centers out of 2 carbon-zinc D batteries. The round center of a carbon zinc battery is carbon and is about the .25" in diameter in a D size cell. Stuck the carbon rods into the ends of couple of pieces of metal curtain rod that were of similar diameter and wrapped electrical tape around the curtain rod ends so I wouldn't get electrocuted. I found an old 110v 2 prong electrical cord and stripped the end of one wire and crimped it the end of one curtain rod. I did the same for the second conductor. I then cut one of the electrical cord conductors near the plug and punched wire sized holes in two metal can lids. I stripped the two ends where the cord was cut and tied each end of the cut to one of the metal can lids. I got a bowl and put water in it. I added a quantity of table salt to the water to make a saline solution. The saline solution acts as a current limiter and avoids blown fuses or breakers as the case may be. I built up a little brick furnace and stuck the rods in, one on each side. As you brought them together...zap, a very, very bright arc forms. I put a nail in the "furnace" and managed to melt it so it sagged. When the arc is formed the saline solution bubbles and froths like crazy. After playing with it for a little while I decided that without welding glasses I was probably going to go blind. So I disassembled it. But it was fun! and it really worked!

Cool! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

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The big ones using 1000 volts are even more fun. You get to melt crushed cars and the ground shakes, dust flies, and the sound is great too!

the things we think of! mothers of invention <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Melting crushed cars would be a fun time.

I agree. I could just have fun with the scrap crane and electro magnet feeding the furnace though.

WOW - THE THINGS YOU CAN LEARN ON THIS FORUM!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />