muffin tin ingot mold

[Brokennock]

If one wants to use a muffin pan, specifically one designed to make "mini" muffins, as a mold to cast lead ingots, does material matter? Are aluminum pans okay? What about coatings?

 

[mooman76]

Aluminum are fine. Steel, the lead will stick and you won't get it out unless you destroy the pan or remelt. Coated is debatable as the heat and coating can cause vapors that may or may not be harmful. Cast iron is good too. It ca come in different shapes.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I just raided my wife's pantry (with her permission) and grabbed a light weight tin (actually stamped steel). It is for normal size muffins and has 6 holes. Each hole will mold about 1 1/2 pounds of lead when filled about 2/3 full. I just used it a couple of days ago with some range lead I was cleaning up. Some folks have indicated that the lead may stick in a steel pan, but I haven't had that problem. Once the lead has set and while still hot I simple turn it over and drop it a few inches onto the garage floor and the ingots pop out.

 

[Kansas Jake]

The tin I use for lead is no longer used for cooking. I was going to get one from a thrift store, but the local shops didn't have anything and I'm too cheap to buy new.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I bought a cast iron pot at a flea market to melt lead in, most of my lead is rifle range recovery lead from a range that only has BP shooters.



My pot is also my ingot mold and will make a 15 pound ingot when 3/4 full. There is 106 lbs shown in the picture.



My ingots fit right back in the pot when it is time to cast more bullets.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I use an electric Lyman pot so when I clean range lead, I use smaller ingots. Either works depending on ones set up.

 

[Black Hand]

Steel, the lead will stick and you won't get it out unless you destroy the pan or remelt.

Lead should not stick to steel, otherwise my lead pot and ladle would have been retired long ago...

 

[Brokennock]

Interesting "ingots" Eric. Watch your toes when moving those. Haha. I am going to use an old cast iron pot to melt,flux, and skim bulk lead from different sources, mostly my indoor pistol range. The ingots need to be small enough to fit my little electric pot designed to be poured directly from.

I've been holding out for some cast iron or steel muffin pans showing up at a thrift store but no luck. Aluminum ones aren't that pricey new at Walmart. Just wasn't sure if aluminum could take he stress.

 

[mooman76]

Steel, the lead will stick and you won't get it out unless you destroy the pan or remelt.

Lead should not stick to steel, otherwise my lead pot and ladle would have been retired long ago...

I guess there is more to it. I've never tried it or had a need but heard from allot of others that had to destroy the pans to get the lead out. It sort of soldered itself in place. I use an ingot mould and for smaller ones I have an aluminum pan similar to muffin but on 3/8" deep. I like them for my small 4# pot. Get creative. Go to a thrift store and there are lots of options. I used to use soda/beer cans. Worked well to but rather big. Make sure though, they are absolutely dry inside. I learned to pour a little at a time in the cans. Let it cool before the next layer that way you can separate the lead in sections when needed and the can itself helps keep the lead somewhat clean in storage.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I use an empty salmon can which is tapered and formed on the bottom with no seams to cast ingots. I fill it about three inches. It lasts for about twenty five ingots, then it starts warping which makes removing the ingots difficult. So I just eat another can of salmon and have a new mold. :idunno:

 

[bpd303]

I always "smoke" whatever I use for molding ingots, never have a problem with the lead releasing.

 

[excess650]

Aluminum muffin pans will work for a while. Eventually the heat will take its toll and they'll give up.

I try to smelt in as large of batches that I can so the resultant ingots are similar. I HAD a propane fired plumber's rig with 40# pot, but when the hose and regulator needed upgrading, I bought a turkey fryer and use a dutch oven. I have cast iron ingot moulds, and several of them as they get hot when pouring ingots from a full dutch oven.

I do my casting with a Lyman ladle from a 10# or 20# electric pot.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Smoking the ingot mold is something I had not considered. That makes sense because we smoke the bullet molds to keep them from sticking. I've not had trouble with sticking in my sheet metal muffin tin, but will try the smoking trick to help eliminate any possible sticking.

 

[George]

I use an old cast iron cornbread pan to make my ingots. Since I use a small Lee bottom-pour pot which pours fairly slowly, the smaller ingots work well for me. They will also fit back in the pot to melt when I'm ready to cast.

Never treated the pan in any way, never had it stick.



Spence

 

[azmntman]

Dang cool pan Spence, I woulda loved to get my hands on it before you leaded it up! :thumbsup:

 

[BullRunBear]

I've used aluminum muffin tins in the past with no problem but switched to a cast iron ingot mold picked up at a yard sale. But leave it to Spence to come up with something whimsical for a mold. :hatsoff:

 

[George]

Dang cool pan Spence, I woulda loved to get my hands on it before you leaded it up! :thumbsup:

Yeah, neat, isn't it? Look at the upper tight corner and you can see that it has a chunk broken off, otherwise I would never have sacrificed it.

Spemce