Lead Oxide/Dross

[Tshaw574]

So I determined my current casting setup is way too hot and I was producing a good amount of slag/dross. Has anyone ever attempted to reduce lead oxide back into pure lead? I know it would be way more economical to simply buy more lead but it seems like it would be an interesting project.
Also, I've been using the same casting pot for a while now (cheap cooking pot found at goodwill) and I've noticed some red buildup around the edges of the pot. I usually just leave the lead inside to cool and heat up later so I'm not sure what the bottom of the pot looks like. Should I be concerned about rust at all? I know that steel breaks down pretty fast when using it as a crucible for casting aluminum, but I never really considered if that could also be an issue with lead.

 

[TNGhost]

So here's a patent on a process for extracting the lead from lead oxide:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2691575A/en
To save you a long read, lets just say for the amount you may get on top of your melt, no, it is not worth it and could be considered unsafe in a residential environment.

What may be worth it is a casting thermometer to help you keep you melt at a temperature so as to keep the oxidation at a minimum. Judging by your description of the red (rust?) it may be that your melt is just too hot.

Also, as to lead oxide there is this:

"The tetragonal form is usually red or orange color, while the orthorhombic is usually yellow or orange"

Which may be pertinent to you, in that lead oxide is poisonous if injested or inhaled,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead(II)_oxide
Don't know what kind of pot you are using, but I use a Lee Production pot (actually have three of them), and the interiors are made of steel and they recommend leaving the pot full of lead when not in use to prevent rust.

A couple of books that can give you a wealth of information, not only on casting but the nature of lead and its alloys when heated/melted

Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook

and

Cast Bullets by E.H. Harrison

For quicker gratification the castboolits forum provides a wealth of information on the topic at y our fingertips and there are interesting articles at the Los Angeles Silhouette Club website on bullet casting and alloys.

 

[mooman76]

If you don't have a thermometer your lead when poured into the mould should solidify enough to drop after like 3 or 4 seconds. That way it is hot enough for good fill out and not too hot where it takes too much time too cool slowing down the process and also like TNGhost said you get too much oxidation. Just turn the pot down. If the lead solidifies quicker, turn the pot up more so it keep getting good fill out and consistant cast.

 

[nhmoose]

Use you Lee pots to reduce junk expect it to LEAK

 

[TNGhost]

Use you Lee pots to reduce junk expect it to LEAK

Yeah, I learned the hard way not to leave it alone after plugging it in to heat up. A ten pound "spill" of lead ain't easy to clean up off the work bench.

Works fine once its heated up, you just have to be there to give the spout plug a twist from the slot in the top when it starts dripping.