Melting lead
- Thread starter Waterfowler
- Start date
BlackPowderBurner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- the chesterfield
Lee production pots work pretty great and don't break the bank. If you mean kitchen pots, cast iron or steel will work just fine. With steel pots be careful that the rivets keeping the handle on aren't aluminum as they can melt off.
For melting down ingots I used an old tank that had compressed air in it. I cut the top off then welding handles to it. You can also use an old propane tank (obviously empty the tank prior to cutting it...). Otherwise old frying pans, steel or cast steel pots. Don't use aluminum or cast aluminum. They likely won't melt but they are close to the temp and the last thing you want is molten lead all over the place.
You could use a casting furnace but I would only use clean lead to avoid drips assuming it's a bottom pour.
As for a heat source I bought a fish fryer that uses propane, it's not meant for the weight of a turkey but I've stood on top of it and it held my weight (200+lbs). Or a proper tube framed turkey fryer if you don't want to bother reinforcing it. Others have used Colman stoves, hot plates etc but those would only do small batches.
For the ladle itself you can buy them or use an all steel kitchen ladle. I made one from a stainless steel measuring cup.
For removing the dross and wheel weight clips I use a large kitchen spoon with holes in it.
You could use a casting furnace but I would only use clean lead to avoid drips assuming it's a bottom pour.
As for a heat source I bought a fish fryer that uses propane, it's not meant for the weight of a turkey but I've stood on top of it and it held my weight (200+lbs). Or a proper tube framed turkey fryer if you don't want to bother reinforcing it. Others have used Colman stoves, hot plates etc but those would only do small batches.
For the ladle itself you can buy them or use an all steel kitchen ladle. I made one from a stainless steel measuring cup.
For removing the dross and wheel weight clips I use a large kitchen spoon with holes in it.
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Spawn covers it pretty well.
We also use a turkey/fish fryer with half a 20 lb propane tank as the pot. We have also used stainless steel kitchen pots in the past. Clips and dross are skimmed with a dollar store straining spoon.
Do you have a welder or a buddy with one?
If so weld a short treaded 1/2 inch nipple on the pot and try to get your hands on an old style gas valve
to make it into a bottom pour pot.
The old style is fully made out of brass with a tapered insert instead of a ball.
You have to have a propane torch handy to get it started but then it works a lot faster and than ladling it.
If so weld a short treaded 1/2 inch nipple on the pot and try to get your hands on an old style gas valve
to make it into a bottom pour pot.
The old style is fully made out of brass with a tapered insert instead of a ball.
You have to have a propane torch handy to get it started but then it works a lot faster and than ladling it.
I find the hardest thing is finding a pot that has a sturdy handle. they always seem to loosen up . the other thing is they get dam hot even with thick gloves on. I have to wrap the handle with a cloth and use insulated work gloves and it can still get too hot.
I am liking the idea of cutting an old propane tank. I think I will do that and weld on some longer handles that will allow me to pick it up and tip it up for pouring.
I am liking the idea of cutting an old propane tank. I think I will do that and weld on some longer handles that will allow me to pick it up and tip it up for pouring.
Then also weld on a bottom pour spout.
If you are melting two pails of WW your pot might weigh 150+ pounds.
I don't want to try to pick that up and pour...
Many years ago I built a tripod for my lead pot. It is three pieces of pipe about 2 feet long. There is an old piece of scrap iron welded around the outside to hold it together. There is a piece of bar iron bent into a J-hook that I hang my tiger torch from. I would set the lead melting pot on the top of the tripod and the tiger torch would be several inches below that. I reccomend two melting pots, just one would get pretty hot fast, with two you could be pouring off one and loading it while the other melted.
Some body here wanted to make one out of a 20 lb propane tank butwas worried abou carrying it to pour. I wouldn't carry it, I would weld two short pieces of pipe on the tank about half way up and two slightly larger pieces for them to sit in. I think this is called a trunnion. Weld a piece of pipe to the vessel so you can tilt it over and pour out the melt, no lifting and carrying required.
Some body here wanted to make one out of a 20 lb propane tank butwas worried abou carrying it to pour. I wouldn't carry it, I would weld two short pieces of pipe on the tank about half way up and two slightly larger pieces for them to sit in. I think this is called a trunnion. Weld a piece of pipe to the vessel so you can tilt it over and pour out the melt, no lifting and carrying required.
I wouldn't use your good melting pot, use a 20 lb propane tank and cut it in half. My local propane dealer told me I could take as many expired bottles as I wanted, it's cheaper for them to give bottles away than scrapping them. Remove the valve, fill with water and drain, then a cut along the seam with an angle grinder. I've got half of one you can have if you come pick it up. 
For the heat I bought a deep fry burner from Canadian Tire for $60. It can melt 60 lbs in about 20 minutes. I used a tiger torch before and it works ok too.
I made a bottom pour pot using the top half of a 20lb propane bottle which is already tapped for a valve. I found it's easier to ladle out the top thanto manipulate the ingot mold around the spout.
For the heat I bought a deep fry burner from Canadian Tire for $60. It can melt 60 lbs in about 20 minutes. I used a tiger torch before and it works ok too.
I made a bottom pour pot using the top half of a 20lb propane bottle which is already tapped for a valve. I found it's easier to ladle out the top thanto manipulate the ingot mold around the spout.
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Lonesome Donkey
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Alberta
I would vote for the cast iron frying pan method.
I really did not want to be handling a huge weight of molten lead.
Since I never really had much lead to deal with, I just used a small diameter pot with a bail handle, and cut up my lead to fit. Did all the skimming, fluxing, and scraping with that, and then poured it into small tuna cans, or directly into another identical clean pot, which I used a Lyman egg-shaped dipper with to pour bullets.
Used the old Tourist Coleman stove and white gas for all bullet casting.
Then cleaned out the first pot.
Since I'm planning to expand my lead-melting operations, I'll have to look at these other methods.
I really did not want to be handling a huge weight of molten lead.
Since I never really had much lead to deal with, I just used a small diameter pot with a bail handle, and cut up my lead to fit. Did all the skimming, fluxing, and scraping with that, and then poured it into small tuna cans, or directly into another identical clean pot, which I used a Lyman egg-shaped dipper with to pour bullets.
Used the old Tourist Coleman stove and white gas for all bullet casting.
Then cleaned out the first pot.
Since I'm planning to expand my lead-melting operations, I'll have to look at these other methods.
