rodwha
58 Cal.
I have an old Coleman "backpacking" single burner stove that sits atop the propane cylinder. Would this be hot enough to melt lead for casting?
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Casting Stove
- Thread starter rodwha
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rodwha
58 Cal.
I suppose casting by these means would just draw out casting day as I'd only be able to melt small amounts of lead at a time, and there would be a bit of a lag when I added new lead to melt.
How much do you believe this stove can handle at one time plus an aluminum pot?
How much do you believe this stove can handle at one time plus an aluminum pot?
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rodwha said:
The aluminum pot is a really bad idea. You need to use steel or cast iron.
Any stove that needs to be be pumped up from time to time would be a bit of a pain. Best best would be a 1500 watt one burner hot plate or a propane or natural gas stove.
I used to use one of those old two burner coleman stoves. Worked good. A tank would last about 4 hrs. Aluminum bad, to close to melting point or at least hot enough it could loose integrity and a bunch of hot lead is no fun. A outdoor turkey frier works good too. Either could be picked up at a thrift store or garage sale.
Dont use the aluminum. It will melt and spill molten lead all over. It can be a real mess! I used to get good service from the 2 burner Coleman stove that uses white (unleaded) gasoline. Now I use a couple of Lee 20Lb furnaces. One of these is probably the same cost as a Coleman 2 burner. Trust me about the aluminum pot. I have burned up a couple of them. I am a slow learner. Cheers!! BobE
rodwha
58 Cal.
I was hoping that I could concentrate on buying molds, pot, ladle, gloves, etc.
Funding for my hobbies is quite limited.
Funding for my hobbies is quite limited.
Before someone looks up the melting temperature of aluminum, I'll save them the trouble.
Depending on the alloy aluminum melts at 980-1200 degrees F.
Although those temperatures are above the temperatures we use to cast lead bullets, melting isn't the problem.
Above 450 degrees F, aluminum looses almost all of its strength.
A empty aluminum pan may have enough strength to maintain its shape at 600 degrees F but if it is half way full of molten lead, just the weight of the lead can easily blow a hole thru the bottom of a pot or pan or cause the entire bottom to fall apart.
Aluminum works fine for a bullet mold because it is thick and doesn't have a lot of pressure trying to destroy it and it rapidly cools off the molten lead.
A aluminum cupcake mold can be used to cast small ingots for the same reason but any aluminum pot or pan should never be used to melt lead.
Depending on the alloy aluminum melts at 980-1200 degrees F.
Although those temperatures are above the temperatures we use to cast lead bullets, melting isn't the problem.
Above 450 degrees F, aluminum looses almost all of its strength.
A empty aluminum pan may have enough strength to maintain its shape at 600 degrees F but if it is half way full of molten lead, just the weight of the lead can easily blow a hole thru the bottom of a pot or pan or cause the entire bottom to fall apart.
Aluminum works fine for a bullet mold because it is thick and doesn't have a lot of pressure trying to destroy it and it rapidly cools off the molten lead.
A aluminum cupcake mold can be used to cast small ingots for the same reason but any aluminum pot or pan should never be used to melt lead.
Kentuckywindage
62 Cal.
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it will melt it but the heat it gives off it horrible and burns your knuckles. Spend the $45 from www.trackofthewolf.com on the lee 4lb burner and you'll be a happy man for years to come.
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I used a aluminum pot for years and had no problems. I guess sometimes ignorance is bliss. I am not advocating to use one. I used a 1/4" thick pot and I wasn't using it to cast. I was using it to smelt in so it was quick and fill the pot again which meant it wasn't getting that hot. Just barely hot enough to melt and cast ingots. I always used a cast iron pot to cast in and knowing what I know now I would get a steel or cast iron pot. Just not worth the chance of a melt down. Also I was smelting wheel weights which melt at a slightly lower temp than pure lead. Thrift stores and yard sales are full of steel and cast iron pots.
Depends what you mean by a "backpacking" stove. I have a small pocket size stove that fits onto a small (disposable) gas bottle. It would probably get hot enough, but would be too dangerous stability-wise. I use a single camping-type burner, hooked up to a propane bottle, and a stainless-steel saucepan (should be able to pick them up cheap at thrift-type stores). I've used this for years to cast fishing sinkers, and now it's being used to make round balls. I used a small metal soup ladle to pour the lead, but I've recently made a ladle with a small spout on it (it's easier to get a fine stream of lead).
Works fine for me, and didn't cost much :wink: .
Works fine for me, and didn't cost much :wink: .
At one time, I used a Coleman stove like the one you mentioned. I used it with an old thin steel pan I probably bought at a flea market for a dollar. I could keep about ten pounds in the pan and it was not too heavy for the stove. It did have a couple of problems though, the little disposable propane tank would only last about an hour, and it got cooler after the tank got past half full. I fixed it by soldering a hose fitting into the disposable tank, and hooking it up to a 20 pound BBQ tank. Worked great until someone relieved me of it. :cursing: Bill
rodwha
58 Cal.
This is basically the stove I have:
http://www.coleman.com/product/per.../2000010642?contextCategory=2005#.Ue02f1FAPzI
http://www.coleman.com/product/per.../2000010642?contextCategory=2005#.Ue02f1FAPzI
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rodwha said:
Yes. I used a coleman stove for years with good success. For larger pots, an old Brinkman fish fryer is great.
rodwha
58 Cal.
Figuring a 1 pound lead ingot has 112,000 grains of lead that ought to plenty for a period of casting. Would this stove hold that as well as the pot and ladle?
And what size pot would be needed for 1 pound of lead? They look a bit small. I'd think a 2 qt pot would be plenty with a nice size lip.
And would the propane tank be enough to melt and hold the temp 'til I'm done casting 600 projectiles?
And what size pot would be needed for 1 pound of lead? They look a bit small. I'd think a 2 qt pot would be plenty with a nice size lip.
And would the propane tank be enough to melt and hold the temp 'til I'm done casting 600 projectiles?
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rodwha said:
I thought a 1 pound lead ingot held 7000 grains.
oh hell no!
That thing is unstable. I had one and threw it away. Just a pot of caned soup is enough to make it top heavy and fall over. It is a terrible design.
Get a coleman 2 burner stove if you want to go with a simple propane burner. The two burner stove won't tip over on ya...
That thing is unstable. I had one and threw it away. Just a pot of caned soup is enough to make it top heavy and fall over. It is a terrible design.
Get a coleman 2 burner stove if you want to go with a simple propane burner. The two burner stove won't tip over on ya...
rodwha
58 Cal.
I don't know what I was thinking! You are correct as there is only 7000 grains to a pound (not an ounce). 
And that doesn't make enough RB's for a day's shoot. I'd need to work with 2 lbs or more, especially if casting conicals.
And that doesn't make enough RB's for a day's shoot. I'd need to work with 2 lbs or more, especially if casting conicals.
