Pop can ingot molds

[Johnch]

I was helping a freind make up a batch of WW ingots tonight .
Got the pot of WW cleaned and fluxed .
I ask him for his ingot mold , he didn't have one , he thought I was going to bring mine .

So we looked around .

His kids DRY empty pop cans were all we could find , with out raiding his wifes kit. for a muffin pan .

He started cutting tops off as I filled them .
A can will hold about 4 - 5 lb .

When cool we peeled the can off the lead .
The resulting ingot will fit into my Lee 20 lb pot .

Boy dose a ingot that size take a long time to cool . [smilie=l:

Johnch

[SharpsShooter]

As the say…necessity is the mother of invention. I bet they did take a while to cool off.

[shooter575]

Gee-wiz,them soda cans are worth a dime apiece here in Mi. Stores have a automatic can counter that reads the UPC code.I t will even take out of state cans.Canook can will not pay though.I know a couple retired guys that hit all the rest areas,truck stops etc and he claimes to make 20K a year?
Anyway Im just too cheep to waste that dime!

[sundog]

John, yea, takes a long time to heat, too! I use Coors Light (Silver Boolits, doncha know), 1) because that's what I drink, and b) they're a little skinnier around. Last big melt I finished up with the flat stickons done separately and put them in the can so I know they are different. They work okay as long as they are dry. Don't ask me how I know.... sundog

[eka]

I used the cans also, because I don't have but one real ingot pan. I cut the cans in half and made the ingots the size of 1/3 of a can so they would be more managable. I put the clean cut cans in the oven on the lowest setting for about fifteen minutes just to make sure there wasn't any moisture in them. I'm not sure I will continue using this once I get some muffin pans in my collection. The cans are a nice free alternative for now though.

Keith

[sundog]

You can also float them on the melt for a few seconds to dry them out. sundog

[Maxthompson]

I like to fill them about half full through the spout. I then keep one in the fridge to hand to my son in laws. Do it outside because they will crack tile.

Mike

[slughammer]

Fulls cans do NOT fit in a 10lb pot. Don't ask me how I know....

[jsm02f]

I always use soda cans for ingots, but differently than you guys. I rip off the tab from the top of the can and flip then over, mouth down. I then pour into the little cavity on top. While the ingots are small, if you have just a few cans you can cast a bunch of ingots fast. The trick is to make a line of coke cans and pour into the base from a large ladle. As soon as it is solidified, just tap the can with a gloved finger or the ladle, and the top heavy can will flip over, seperating the ingot from the can. Since the can is hollow you can grab the can at the base almost immediatly, even without gloves, and set them back up ready for the next round!

[boogerred]

now that is an idea!small enough to get a good bit of weight into a lee 10# bot pour to start and add 1 or2 to keep the pot level up without lowering the melt temp too much.im gonna have to try that!

[anachronism]

You can still recycle the alumimum from the cans, after you peel it off your ingot. Lead ingoted this way stacks very neatly.