Rebuilding the "old standby"

First I need to remove the old rings.

I‘m using my $13.00 flea market hand-held grinder to cut "lugs" from a 1/2" diameter rod.

At this point I‘m welding the lifting lugs onto the crucible.

Here we have the lifting lugs attached.

Here is the ring all welded on. I tilt the crucible by lifting this ring with a hook.

Here is the new and improved crucible. Now I can lift it straight up and out with a lifter that has two hooks on it to grab the lugs.

Here are the new lifting hooks.

And here's the new and improved crucible with lifting hook in action.