Propane Melting Furnace Kits, 6kg(13LB) Graphite Crucible, Up to 2372℉, Made of Stainless Steel Barrel, Smelt Metal,with Goggles and High Temperature Gloves

Easy to use for a beginner. I take cans from work and melt them down to ingots. Have yet to try any sand casting though. One thing is hole in top is not as large for a can so you'd need to widen it out a bit

This is an awesome little furnace for aluminum. It's a little hard to figure out and there's no instructions but once you get it lit with the gas on and air slide completely shut and it warms up you can open the slide about half an inch or so and get it burning nicely. I only turned the gas on at the red valve as much as was necessary to get the flame going out the top, not all the way. Careful not to burn yourself, keep a distance from it, flames will shoot out the hole in the lid. The metal pictured is about 50 cans of aluminum turned down on my mini lathe. It's very easy to burn your hair off or catch your clothes on fire with this thing, I cannot emphasize enough, be careful, keep a distance and keep a hose or fire extinguisher nearby when using this.

No issues heats up fast melts all sorts of metals I’ve done everything from aluminum to copper no issue

Quickly delivered, most probable conclusion, stock piled at every amazon hub in the nation. Understandable. Need=make money. Make money=good reviews. Good reviews=fast shipping. American need for instant gratification...purchase and receive instantly. That being said and sorry for the rant. This thing WILL do what is needed but not safely. Thus the low "for beginners" rating. For price, sure, beginners swing away. But do so with caution. There is no lockdown latch on the lid, so careful when dropping scrap or removing dross from your melting material. The insulation is NOT pre-coated with refractory cement, so plan on purchasing that and performing all necessary steps involved with properly applying that or just plan on reinstalling new insulation regularly depending on how often you use the furnace. Tongs are crude and rely on compression (against gravity at that) alone to support the weight of 6kg....roughly 13lbs I think. It does not grip around the crucible. And the crucible has no overhang and/or pour spout. Now to anyone who HAS handle 2000 degree viscus materials, read no further. To those uninitiated, without a pour spout and overhang....goodbye fingertips/toes, hands, shins or anything else beneath the area that you are intending to hit with the flaming hot liquid about to ruin your week. This is easily fixed with a couple different files, nitrile gloves, and a pair of disposable clothes. I would conclude that this is opposite of what it's aimed at...beginners. Amateur smelters....steer clear. Spend the extra few bucks and purchase a more refined and thought out kit. For someone who knows what they're purchasing, can for-see the issues with it, and knows how to remedy those problems accordingly, then I say this casting kit is good. Safety glasses fit which is surprising since I own a dozen and have issues with all....and the gloves are awesome!! I have 3 pairs of welding/forging gloves and these are by far my favorite! Thanks. Hope this review helps future patrons.

my first melting furnace very happy with it. not bad for the money

Lacks air flow control. Photo shows air flow control on burner. Has wing screw to hold air control sleeve in place. Without air flow control furnace will gallop/gulp when attempting to adjust to lower temperture/lower propane gas flow.

The media could not be loaded.  Been melting soda & beer cans with ease, just be ready for all that slag!

Easy to use, just make sure there are no leaks in any of the fittings. The graphite crucible definitely is not graphite, since it looks like orange-red brick after just one use. But nevertheless, it worked great in trying to melt some aluminum. The instructions could be clearer in how to start it or turn it off, in my opinion. So make sure you do it all safely so it doesn’t conflagrate in your face when turning on or back into the tube/tank when turning it off.