Lead melting pot

[ChestnutLouie]

I have been given about 80 lbs of range scrap (I may even start scrounging wheel weights) and do not want it in my casting pot. What is an inexpensive melting pot and inexpensive propane heater??? I see people talking about cast iron but I once had a cast iron skillet break on the stove while pre-heating it! What are you using? Photos of your setup?

How many BTUs? The pics shown below are less than $60

Thanks
Francis

 

[Brad]

I use a turkey fryer from a big box home improvement store hooked to a 20# propane tank. A cast iron dutchoven has been working for decades as a melting vessel.

Range scrap

My wife has been after me to melt down some of the range scrap I have in the garage. I was approaching a 6th five gallon bucket full. Spent about 3 hours today melting down 2 buckets and doing some general cleaning in the garage. This is the last pot melting. I figure I started with...

www.artfulbullet.com

 

[S Mac]

Hard to beat a Dutch oven fish turkey fryer combo.

 

[ChestnutLouie]

How many BTUs?

 

[Bret4207]

You can get inexpensive (under $20) cast iron dutch oven at Wally World. I don't know if Harbor Freight still carries them. You can also get by with a large metal stock pot, but they are somewhat flimsy if you get the inexpensive ones. Some people have used the old style water pails that had the folded seams, but I haven't seen one in years. I suppose a turkey fryer combo is probably the easiest IF the pot looks heavy enough. Lead is a lot heavier than oil. Any turkey fryer will have more than enough BTUs, it just takes a little longer with a smaller one. Zillions of tons of lead alloy have been melted on Coleman stoves or the household stove while Honey Bunch is out with the girls...

 

[S Mac]

Yes, I wasn't suggesting using the aluminum pot that comes with the fryer. Save that to cook with.

 

[Bill]

The goodwill store can be your friend for these kinda things, I use a stainless pot for up to 30 pounds "melts fast" and a big Dutch oven for close to 200 pounds

Bill

 

[Rick]

The burner in your pics look fine, sturdy and should do well. I highly recommend against using an aluminum pot, the aluminum gets quite soft with that much heat and the cheaper ones are pretty thin and the lead is heavy. I've used a cast iron Dutch oven by Lodge for many years without issue. I have heard not to bump & bang them around when hot, makes sense and I try not to.

 

[blackthorn]

I use a short-leg, cast-iron, three-ring propane burner with individual on/off controls for each ring. Sits about 4/5 inches from the floor/ground. For a pot I filled an old 20lb propane cylinder with water, (after I screwed-out the valve). I used a zip-cut to remove a large piece of the cylinder top, drained the water, turned the cylinder on its side and cut the top off just below the rounded shoulder. Later, my boy welded a large washer to each side that will take a one-inch steel bar, which is then used in conjunction with a couple of automotive "jack" stands to relieve the weight. He also fabricated a pour spout and a lid. Sorry no pictures----I am an old luddite!

 

[ChestnutLouie]

I use a short-leg, cast-iron, three-ring propane burner with individual on/off controls for each ring. Sits about 4/5 inches from the floor/ground. For a pot I filled an old 20lb propane cylinder with water, (after I screwed-out the valve). I used a zip-cut to remove a large piece of the cylinder top, drained the water, turned the cylinder on its side and cut the top off just below the rounded shoulder. Later, my boy welded a large washer to each side that will take a one-inch steel bar, which is then used in conjunction with a couple of automotive "jack" stands to relieve the weight. He also fabricated a pour spout and a lid. Sorry no pictures----I am an old luddite!

I like this idea. I can make a pot like you and your son did, then I only have to buy the burner.
Thanks
Francis

 

[RBHarter]

The Walmart combo boilers are inexpensive kits this time of year being in between seasons depending on where you are .

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The weight of the pot is the main issue. Not only is a large pot full of lead heavy, but the grate that holds the pot above the burner will get weaker as it gets hotter. The last thing you want is a pot full of molten lead upsetting because the grate collapsed. So my advice is to plan accordingly.

If you use a large pot, Dutch oven, 1/2 of a propane tank, etc., make certain you have a grate that is strong enough even when compromised by high heat.

When dealing with dirty lead (which I only occasionally must deal with), I prefer an old Coleman gas stove and I keep the weight down. I would rather melt more small batches than one big batch. Unless you're pouring lots of large ingots during one pour, there's really no need to melt all of the lead at once.
If using one of the propane turkey fryers (which are inexpensive and do make lot of heat) be careful not to overload the grate.

The old Coleman "suitcase" stoves are as common as crabgrass and cheap. I think the last one I picked up at a second hand store was less than $10. I burn regular unleaded gasoline in them and I have never had a problem. If an old Coleman stove was to stop working, I've lost nothing.

 

[JonB]

SNIP...

What are you using? Photos of your setup?

I have smelted a few thousand pounds of Lead alloy (40lbs at a time) with a coleman Gasoline campstove and a SS four Qt soup pot.

 

[JonB]

SNIP...

The old Coleman "suitcase" stoves are as common as crabgrass and cheap. I think the last one I picked up at a second hand store was less than $10. I burn regular unleaded gasoline in them and I have never had a problem. If an old Coleman stove was to stop working, I've lost nothing.

I agree. I have a small collection of coleman stoves, I'll buy 'em just for the parts...as parts are getting harder to find and $ spendy when you do find 'em. I've seen then for a buck or two...rusty and busted, but still have some good parts, recently I got a brand new one, in the box for $12 at a garage sale, the box looked like it was from the 1970s. I'm saving that one, in case they ever get collectable, LOL

I use automotive gas as well. The only drawback to automotive gas is, the generator needs to be cleaned once in a while.
These Gasoline stoves burn a lot hotter than propane...unless you get a turkey fryer with a burner that is rated for mega BTU's.

 

[Brad]

Smelting with a vigorously flaming flux in a wood trailer full of more wood must be a MN thing?
Bet Jon keeps a bucket of gas on hand in case the fire gets out of control!

 

[S Mac]

Think he's trying to finish melting the snow.

 

[JonB]

Every year, I coat that trailer with linseed oil thinned with MS...I think it makes the wood fire retardant.
I also have cardboard under the campstove, that helps too, cuz it burns real slow.

 

[Rally]

Yep, I think it is a law or something, that every garage sale in Mn. has to have at least one Coleman stove and two Coleman lanterns, with broken mantles or globes. Usually one Zebco 33 or Mitchell 300 close by also.

 

[358156 hp]

And I just gave away all my Coleman stuff except for one propane lantern and one dual fuel lantern. One fuel stove, two fuel lanterns, a fuel tent heater and one other thing that escapes me at the moment. Along with five one-gallon cans of Coleman Fuel.

Yard sale value around here? Maybe thirty bucks for all of it. The guy I gave everything to was like a kid at Christmas, especially when he found out that everything worked.

 

[Rally]

358156,
That Coleman fuel is selling for $11.00 a gallon now. Most folks are using unleaded gas in them though. I still use the Coleman fuel in my plumbers pot. I'm a bit leery still about using gas in my plumbers pot.