Porcelain Coated Cast Iron Pot for Smelting

[NHGrumpyGramps]

I picked up an old cast iron Dutch oven at the recycling/exchange center. It would be just the right size for smelting, but it is porcelain coated. Has anyone actually tried melting lead in a porcelain coated pot? I am curious what would happen to the porcelain coating. It is already chipped off in spots and it is definitely cast iron not steel or aluminum (it”s magnetic). If the porcelain chipped off it would just float to the surface I would think and wouldn’t affect the lead. Anyone got any first hand experience?

[leadman]

I started casting with a porcelain pan, about 1 or 1 1/2 quarts. Still have it and use it to cast slugs for barrels and other small jobs. The porcelain is about in the same shape as I got in in the mid 1970s'.
If you di chip it it would float being lighter then lead.
I would watch the temperature as it is probably not as think as a cast iron pot.

[NHGrumpyGramps]

The walls are 3/16" thick which is heavier than my 20# cast iron pot. I guess I will give it a try and see what happens. I think it is a 5 qt pot so should hold quite a bit. I have quite a bit of COWW to melt down and the small pot I have used in past would be slow.

[thekidd76]

Let us know how it works for you, as I see them at the thrift stores occasionally.

[waksupi]

I have a couple that I use for cooking, chipped or not. You can do tomato based sauces without buggering up seasoning.

[MT Gianni]

Most of the real quality dutch ovens, $150+ are porcelin or ceramic coated cast iron. You might look for a $20 harbor freight special if you don't cook. I have some cheap stamped steel porcelin coated that I would be fearful of putting a hundred lbs of PB into. It is also magnetic. If it is abnormally heavy it is probably cast, kind of light it is probably steel.

[I'll Make Mine]

I've been smelting and casting in porcelain coated cast iron -- works fine for me (may differ from brand to brand, though).

[patsher]

I, too, have a porcelain coated cast iron pot that I use for smelting -- works great, stands up to smelting temperatures just fine.

+1 on the "if it's heavy, it's probably cast iron" thing.