melting lead..............
- Thread starter bob1961
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I use a Coleman and an ancient round bottomed plumbers pot that holds about 15 pounds. I then pour ingots and use the ingots in my Lyman electric bottom pour.
It probably doesn't have to be cast iron, but that works mighty well. The electric furnaces are steel, so a steel pot should work. Just be careful of how it balances when adding lead or full. The lead can be odd shapes. I use an old hibachi grate over the Coleman to support the pot as the one on the stove won't do it alone.
It probably doesn't have to be cast iron, but that works mighty well. The electric furnaces are steel, so a steel pot should work. Just be careful of how it balances when adding lead or full. The lead can be odd shapes. I use an old hibachi grate over the Coleman to support the pot as the one on the stove won't do it alone.
I use a copper bottomed pan (stainless steel with the copper bottom) on the charcoal B-B-Q to clean my lead.
Stainless steel soup ladle to get it to the ingot mold.
Don't go too big with the pot, they get heavy quick. 3 qt. seems good to me.
$0.25 -$0.50 for SS in a yard sale sure beats cast iron. Around here cast iron is like gold. Even the ones new with the price tag still on are getting "Genuine Antique Prices". :curse:
Stainless steel soup ladle to get it to the ingot mold.
Don't go too big with the pot, they get heavy quick. 3 qt. seems good to me.
$0.25 -$0.50 for SS in a yard sale sure beats cast iron. Around here cast iron is like gold. Even the ones new with the price tag still on are getting "Genuine Antique Prices". :curse:
I use an RCBS cast iron pot that i got from Midsouth Shooters Supply on my Coleman stove.
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::Stumpkiller, just getting back to you with some info that you asked for. It seems that the sourch that I had decided not to carry any more BP, will see if if the other person that I know of is still carring. Will get back.
The Lee lead pot works great. Doesn't hold much over 4 pounds but it fits great on one of those single burner Coleman stoves. Lyman and RCBS both have one made of cast iron that holds about 10 pounds. A little bigger and heavier. Or go to Wallyworld and buy a cast iron 1 qt pot.
All will work OK. :imo: Just don't cook dinner in it!
All will work OK. :imo: Just don't cook dinner in it!
Bob,
I use an old propane fired plumber's lead furnace that I picked up at a local estate auction for $8. Consists of a steel pot mounted atop a propane tank and a burner unit. Works great. Came with a ladle, igniter, and smaller pots that fit inside to handle smaller amounts of lead. I cast ingots from discarded soft lead from our local recycling yard and have sifted lead from our local range's earthen backstop. I run all ball outdoors with the wind to my back and never had a problem with it. A couple of years ago I had to remount it to the new type propane tank. Unit will be around longer than I will. I've seen these old units for sale at garage sales, estate auctions, and flea markets. Not many takers, exceptin' us ball runners, so the price should be right.
I use an old propane fired plumber's lead furnace that I picked up at a local estate auction for $8. Consists of a steel pot mounted atop a propane tank and a burner unit. Works great. Came with a ladle, igniter, and smaller pots that fit inside to handle smaller amounts of lead. I cast ingots from discarded soft lead from our local recycling yard and have sifted lead from our local range's earthen backstop. I run all ball outdoors with the wind to my back and never had a problem with it. A couple of years ago I had to remount it to the new type propane tank. Unit will be around longer than I will. I've seen these old units for sale at garage sales, estate auctions, and flea markets. Not many takers, exceptin' us ball runners, so the price should be right.
Scary, no?
New York is not flintlock friendly. Still, since I started m/l (1975) I haven't had to resort to substitutes. Thank God for www.powderinc.com & others.
hello bob just started doing this a couple weeks ago so im no expert but i bought the lee melting pot from totw only cost 2.75 hold 4 lbs of lead but wish i would habe bought the lyman one hold 10 lbs not so much for the extra capacity but when using lead pipe and other scrap pieces i wouldnt have to cut them up so fine. i use that on an old coleman stove then pour the lead in a lee ingot mould after i clean it then i put the clean ingots in my lee bottom pour furnace didnt want to put dirty lead in there you sure get a lot of crud with lead pipe :curse: well thats how i do it learned most of this from reading old posts on the forum :front:
curly maple
curly maple
Be careful with that lead pipe that there is no moisture inside of it. Just a little bit can cause one heck of a lead explosion, and you sure don't want molten lead splattered all over ya. :nono:
I use a Lee 10# bottom pour pot. For me, its the way to go as far as making roundballs for my 50 and 62 cal. Contact Lee and ask about their scratch and dent sale. You'll save around $20.00 These minor imperfections will not affect the performance.
If I'm melting lead to pour a bolster or pin for a knife, I will use an old cast iron ladel and a propane torch because it takes less time and is easier to handle.
Whenever you melt lead, they recommend you have plenty of ventilation as it can cause health problems.
If I'm melting lead to pour a bolster or pin for a knife, I will use an old cast iron ladel and a propane torch because it takes less time and is easier to handle.
Whenever you melt lead, they recommend you have plenty of ventilation as it can cause health problems.
the coleman stove at wal-mart where i work is the one that has the tank fer the fuel with the burner built on top with some fanned out grill pieces that hold the pot fer cooking....plus it's the one where i can use unleaded or coleman fuel....and it burns at bout 10,500 BTU's will this be a good enough heat source....i was going to make a grate to go over this burner so the weight of the lead pot wasn't on the burner....as to cast iron cookware at wal-mart all we have is frying pans here....i found a think alum 2qt pot at the flea market saturday fer a buck but didn't buy it cause it was alum....i mean it was 3 1/16" thick looked like a good pot but didn't know if it was good enough............bob
MikeChapin
58 Cal.
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I have a electric buffet range I got about thirty years ago. For running bullets I use a Lee pot that holds about 4 or 5 pounds. For larger chunks I have an old cast iron skillet that I use for making ingots. In keeping with my frugal methods I use aluminum muffin pans for making ingots. 
Bob,
This one (commercial lead pot) is on Ebay Item number: 7158262276.
With shipping it gets pricey, but this is
just FYI.
Casting lead gets in your blood, don't know why
it just does.
Just what the average ML guy needs= "another addiction"
Good Luck
This one (commercial lead pot) is on Ebay Item number: 7158262276.
With shipping it gets pricey, but this is
just FYI.
Casting lead gets in your blood, don't know why
it just does.
Just what the average ML guy needs= "another addiction"
Good Luck
Bob,
Another caution: The pot of lead on top of a single burner Peak style stove is going to have the center of gravity all up in the pot. Be Very, Very careful when stirring in the flux and skimming the dross or you'll have the only lead moccasins at the nest rendezvous. I'd build some kind of metal frame to hold or hang the pot just over the burner without touching the stove.
Another caution: The pot of lead on top of a single burner Peak style stove is going to have the center of gravity all up in the pot. Be Very, Very careful when stirring in the flux and skimming the dross or you'll have the only lead moccasins at the nest rendezvous. I'd build some kind of metal frame to hold or hang the pot just over the burner without touching the stove.
Boonetract
40 Cal.
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I use a bag laddle and an open fire with a Rapine mold.
hey thanks rebel for your concern i was reading another post on this forum and it mentioned about water in lead pipe so i cut this stuff apart and inspect every piece havent found any water yet but if i find a piece questionable then i will spit it with a chisel and hammer and let it dry out i also wear my welding gloves and shirt safety glasses and steeltoe leather boots and dont stand to close when its melting down then after i skim off the crud and pour it into ingots i store them in a dry place.
curly maple
curly maple
