Audi’s compact A3 has long been the vehicle of choice for buyers looking for the least expensive way to get into the German luxury brand. Now in its second generation and riding on the all-new Mark VII platform, this new model looks to address the issues of the first-generation and take on the likes of new competition from Mercedes, Acura, BMW, and Lexus.

Part 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-jQz15dUVU
The Co-optional Lounge is a casual show where the Co-optional crew play various boardgames. I don’t usually upload the VoDs but the Battlestar Galactica playthrough was something special so I thought I’d put it up.

This show originally aired live on the 1st of March.

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How to hack flashlight batteries and a fire brick, into a desktop arc reaction chamber. …For hobby metal melting, and for science!

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Music By:
Scott & Brendo (“Photographs” – Instrumental) http://bit.ly/ScottBrendoiTunes

Project Inspired By:

This project was originally inspired by Theo Grey and his book, “Mad Science”. After seeing the concept, I couldn’t find any information anywhere on the internet or in libraries about arc furnace experiments, so I set out on my own to achieve these results.

WARNING:

Risk of electric shock, fire hazards, and toxic fumes depending on what material you’re working with. Dust from refractory brick should never be inhaled, as it can damage lungs and cause long term respiratory challenges. This project can reach temperatures in excess of 3,000ºF (1,648ºC) which is well beyond the melting point of hobbyists. Caution, care and expert planning are required to mitigate risks. Have fun, but always think ahead, and remember that every project you try is at your own risk.

Project History & More Info:

If you’re wondering where you can get fire brick locally, try a quick Google search for “refractory materials” in your city. I called a couple of companies near me and asked if they’d sell to the general public. All of them said yes.

If you can’t find anything locally, try searching major hardwares stores online. They usually have inventory online that they don’t carry in the stores.

The insulating fire bricks I got were the 3” x 4.5” x 9” Alumina-Silicate Brick variety. I got a box of 10 for $33, effectively making them around $3.30 each. I went one step further and designed the furnace so that 2 of them could be made from one brick, cutting the cost in half, making each furnace a pro-rated $1.65 each!

They’re extremely lightweight, and capable of withstanding the temperatures used in steel working, but soft enough you can cut and carve them with kitchen utensils if you need to.

In reading and studying history a bit, I learned that some of the earliest forms of light were made using carbon arc lighting. Large amounts of electricity were pumped through carbon rods, making a bright arc and providing light.

To scavenge carbon electrodes, I took a lesson from NurdRage (youtube.com/NurdRage) a couple of years ago I saw his video on what could be scavenged from a carbon-zinc lantern battery (http://bit.ly/IBNurdRageBattery). It’s useful to know what common everyday materials are made of, and these heavy duty batteries are containers packed with carbon rods, zinc metal, and manganese dioxide. I tucked the information in the back of my mind until now.

In this project I tried melting the zinc casings from the lantern batteries, and casting them into a small ingot, formed with a mini muffin tray. Be cautious of the zinc oxide fumes produced. I haven’t personally suffered any ill effects from working with it, but some people claim it can give flu like symptoms, or a fever if inhaled in large quantities.

Zinc has a relatively low melting point 787.2°F (419.5°C), so the Arc Furnace is able to melt each casing into liquid zinc in around 5-10 seconds. That’s amazing!

I don’t have an exact purpose for the zinc yet, but it’s an easy metal to work with, easy to cast, and great to have on hand for a future projects. It’s also one of the main metals used for making a simple carbon-zinc battery.

The black stuff pulled out of the battery casings is manganese dioxide. It’s a useful chemical for experiments with hydrogen peroxide, so it’s worth hanging onto.

Although I haven’t verified it, I believe any stick welder can be used to power the mini arc furnace, and for most hobbyists, that would definitely be the easier and safer way to go. I just don’t own a welder, so I used the one I made instead. You can see how to make it here: http://bit.ly/ARCWelder

The longest I’ve run the unit continuously is around 3-4 minutes, and the electrodes get so hot at that point they can seriously burn your hands, or melt your gloves. I wouldn’t recommend running it any longer than that.

Support Julian, the podcast animator: http://www.patreon.com/cooptionalanimation

Download the audio version of the podcast: https://soundcloud.com/totalbiscuit/the-co-optional-podcast-ep-70-ft-adam-kovic-strong-language-mar-5-2015

TotalBiscuit and Dodger sit down with Adam Kovic on this episode of the Co-Optional Podcast! Enjoy!

Original air date: March 3rd, 2015

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Dodger
http://youtube.com/presshearttocontinue
Tweets by dexbonus

Adam Kovic
Tweets by adamkovic
https://www.youtube.com/funhaus

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Thanks for watching The Co-Optional Podcast!

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The Co-optional Lounge is a casual show where the Co-optional crew play various boardgames. I dont usually upload the VoDs but the Battlestar Galactica playthrough was something special so I thought I’d put it up. This is the first part, the game takes quite a few hours to complete. I give a basic explanation of the rules at the beginning of the game. This show originally aired live on the 1st of March.

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TotalBiscuit brings you another Hearthstone Arena run.

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TotalBiscuit takes a look at the recently released sci-fi tactics game from Iridium Studios.
Review key was supplied by the developers free of charge.
Get it on Steam: http://bit.ly/1FRs6k9

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TotalBiscuit takes a look at the recently released RPG/turn-based internet argument simulator from Nonadecimal Creative.
Review key was supplied by the developers free of charge.
Get it on Steam: http://bit.ly/1K4sli2

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Eager to prove that its entry-level offering is more then just a fancy Civic, Acura gives its smallest offering the refresh it needed with the 2016 ILX. Highlights include standard LED headlights, an all-new powertrain, a quieter and more luxurious cabin, and the complete suite of Acura Watch safety tech. The big question remains, is this least expensive offering now a full-fledge Acura?