Nolan, I think it would be cool to make an imprint of your name or symbol on the bottom of the base, after you pour, but before the aluminum cools. That would be a cool way to identify your work. A reverse image made of cast iron?
It's too bad that I live in an apartment. If I owned a house, and I still lived in Florida, I would jump at the chance to attack the anthills in my lawn with this sort of thing!
Very nice. I like #2 the best, but they were all pretty good. I had 3 fire ant mounds marked last weekend. Our ground ended up being to wet, so I only attempted 2 of the 3. The first one spit a bit of metal back at me just after I started pouring, so I stopped the pour, while trying to get out of the way of it. I never dug that one up yet, but then tried the 2nd one and poured almost a whole crucible into it b4 it did the same thing, but I was ready for that one, I dug it up and managed to get a decent cast on it. Your ground looked really dry, think I will wait a bit till some of this rain tapers off b4 I try anymore. Good luck and I look forward to seeing more of your anthill pours.
About 15 min from a cold furnace. Only 5 min from a hot furnace. I wait about 5 min for it to solidify and then cool it down with a hose. If I don’t have a hose or water nearby then I have to wait over night.
The only difference is more mosquitoes lol, and the molten aluminum looks cooler when it’s dark out. I prefer to pour during the day though so I don’t have to be digging during mosquito hour. I might try a night time pour and then dig it up in the morning. The ants immediately die either way but they are less active at night I think.
Are you sure those were fire ants? The ones we get in my yard occasionally are big sprawling things. These ones looked more like the mounds the FL harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex badius) build with the flattened middles and the little volcano-esque shape around it. Or was it just a weird camera angle that made them look that way?
I'm new to this art - which is amazing, by the way - but what I'm wondering is this; are these nests active just before you begin your pour? (They're obviously very INACTIVE when you're done.) If so, they just don't react to all this INDUSTRY going on right next door to them? I don't see you getting swarmed at all while you're doing this; or do I just have the great fortune to not know how fire ants operate.
As long as you don’t directly touch their mound they stay pretty calm. There’s always a few fire ants wandering around and if I lay my hand in the near by grass while preparing I’ll get bit but I avoid doing that.
@@NolansAnthillCastings thanks for the explanation. I live too far north for these types of ants, so I've always pictured them as somewhere between those jungle leaf-cutter swarming things and the 'Arachnai' from Klendathu. (You look at their mounds funny, and a few billion of them will come out after you.) Still, fantastic artwork, and a real creative way of removing an invasive species!
We’re both wrong. I found out later that they were pyramid ants. Harvester ants are much larger ants than these were and these ants didn’t have the tell tale chambers and helix shape tunnels that harvester ants do.
I watched an Australian ant excavation, but it wasn’t nearly as rewarding as watching yours. They used industrial construction equipment, ran in fast forward, had no narration, and did about 20-25 at once! Very hard to watch, and I couldn’t really see any individual structures. Terrible presentation. You’ve got it right, so I wish you much luck in your channel. This one was not narrated tho. I like the commentary, but your pieces are great to watch. I’m subscribed and I’ll be back for more.
Their bite becomes blistered and it's VERY painful. It itches burns and just plain hurts. Small children could actually die from the bites from a fire ant hill.
You are doing a great job an elderly woman died in Florida with over 1,625 bites and she isn't the only one those ants are vicious.
These are so cool. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the smaller ones!
Nolan, I think it would be cool to make an imprint of your name or symbol on the bottom of the base, after you pour, but before the aluminum cools. That would be a cool way to identify your work.
A reverse image made of cast iron?
They'd look cool as aquarium pieces. Some kinda underwater plant or tree
Wow that’s actually a great idea.
Cool idea,. U guys hv to try it out,.. with sum underwater lighting tat will look awsome..
@@NolansAnthillCastings Then maybe listen to it?!?!???!!!?!?
Be careful with the metal you use though. Some metals will screw up the ph balance of your tank and will actually kill your fish
I thought of putting farie lights in one.
Do you guys go to other people's properties to do this for them if they have a problem with ants ??
Would you ever try an anthill casting using copper?
i think these baby ones are my favorites.
It's too bad that I live in an apartment. If I owned a house, and I still lived in Florida, I would jump at the chance to attack the anthills in my lawn with this sort of thing!
Imagine working and you get engulfed by molten lava
Death comes either by drowning, overheating, or near instantaneous combustion
Molten metal doesn't kill by drowning, they're charcoal before they can inhale it.
Very nice. I like #2 the best, but they were all pretty good. I had 3 fire ant mounds marked last weekend. Our ground ended up being to wet, so I only attempted 2 of the 3. The first one spit a bit of metal back at me just after I started pouring, so I stopped the pour, while trying to get out of the way of it. I never dug that one up yet, but then tried the 2nd one and poured almost a whole crucible into it b4 it did the same thing, but I was ready for that one, I dug it up and managed to get a decent cast on it. Your ground looked really dry, think I will wait a bit till some of this rain tapers off b4 I try anymore. Good luck and I look forward to seeing more of your anthill pours.
How long does it take to melt down a bar of aluminium? And how long before you dig?
About 15 min from a cold furnace. Only 5 min from a hot furnace. I wait about 5 min for it to solidify and then cool it down with a hose. If I don’t have a hose or water nearby then I have to wait over night.
I wonder how much molten aluminum you can mix into molten glass before transparency becomes markedly reduced.
About how long does it take to get your aluminum melted to the correct consistency?
15 min from cold and about 10 min if the furnace is hot
Dude. Put on some safety pants n boots. Omg lol
Don’t know why I love that sound.
Three trophies in one day ! Hm legend
Neat looking castings.
So there is a bad ant problem in Florida then?
Yes the southeast us has a big fire ant problem
this guy would singlehandedly take out the formics from enders game by just pouring planets worth of molten metal on them
I have seen channels where they only do the casting after dark. Is there a difference in your opinion?
The only difference is more mosquitoes lol, and the molten aluminum looks cooler when it’s dark out. I prefer to pour during the day though so I don’t have to be digging during mosquito hour. I might try a night time pour and then dig it up in the morning. The ants immediately die either way but they are less active at night I think.
thanks for the answer:-)
Cool!
Gorgeous pieces! Wow!
Molten aluminum. Kills red imported fire ants dead.
Very awesome video!
Fun to watch👍👍👍👍👏🏻
Great job they are pretty ❤🦋
When the sand mountains appear and surround "ant utopia," prepare to meet the destructor. On the bright side, they will forever be preserved. 🤣🤣🤣
All it takes is one little drop to land on those shoes.
Been there done that. Got a scar on the bottom of my foot.
They are cute little ones ❤❤❤
Are you sure those were fire ants? The ones we get in my yard occasionally are big sprawling things. These ones looked more like the mounds the FL harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex badius) build with the flattened middles and the little volcano-esque shape around it. Or was it just a weird camera angle that made them look that way?
I'm new to this art - which is amazing, by the way - but what I'm wondering is this; are these nests active just before you begin your pour? (They're obviously very INACTIVE when you're done.) If so, they just don't react to all this INDUSTRY going on right next door to them? I don't see you getting swarmed at all while you're doing this; or do I just have the great fortune to not know how fire ants operate.
As long as you don’t directly touch their mound they stay pretty calm. There’s always a few fire ants wandering around and if I lay my hand in the near by grass while preparing I’ll get bit but I avoid doing that.
@@NolansAnthillCastings thanks for the explanation. I live too far north for these types of ants, so I've always pictured them as somewhere between those jungle leaf-cutter swarming things and the 'Arachnai' from Klendathu. (You look at their mounds funny, and a few billion of them will come out after you.) Still, fantastic artwork, and a real creative way of removing an invasive species!
Do you sell these?
Manifesting this for all ants
Those don't appear to be fire ants. Those were textbook Pogonomyrmex badius mounds. Florida harvester ants.
We’re both wrong. I found out later that they were pyramid ants. Harvester ants are much larger ants than these were and these ants didn’t have the tell tale chambers and helix shape tunnels that harvester ants do.
Looks like those thrree were all pretty small. I was thinking the two that were close to each other could have been connected.
They look like little bonsai trees
Was that a bullet? When the aluminum brick was being hosed down.
I assume the shape of the nest is based on the species of ant.
You could use them to put rings and necklaces on them very cool
Hah they look like jellyfish 😅
very nice
I watched an Australian ant excavation, but it wasn’t nearly as rewarding as watching yours. They used industrial construction equipment, ran in fast forward, had no narration, and did about 20-25 at once! Very hard to watch, and I couldn’t really see any individual structures. Terrible presentation. You’ve got it right, so I wish you much luck in your channel. This one was not narrated tho. I like the commentary, but your pieces are great to watch. I’m subscribed and I’ll be back for more.
These smaller ones remind me.of bonsai trees.
Lol at that one sentry ant patrolling the perimeter! Gonna be a bad day for you and yours,little one.
That awesome the difference in species of ants build they're homes
Great just great love this so satisfying to see the lava get poured down the ants knowing that they will be casted in aluminum
You can skip the first 4:38
It’s all interesting to me, so no. Glad I didn’t take your advice.
@@marylynne9104 Me too! 🤗
You’d think the little m’er’fers would respond to the vibration of the propane smelt pot. But no.
Why are you killing them?
They are invasive. Do some research on the red imported fire ant.
Their bite becomes blistered and it's VERY painful. It itches burns and just plain hurts. Small children could actually die from the bites from a fire ant hill.
Who?
where?
Puny ones
The is no E in RID
I’ve been waiting for this day. I realized as soon as I watched the video after uploading. I now have to face my failure.
🎙
What. Know ppe. Need more than just a clove. And. Sneakers not a good idea
A loo min num
British