Wanted: inexpensive way to smelt lots of lead

[ghh3rd]

I'd like to get something to smelt a large quantity of lead at one time. I've heard that turkey fryers work OK, but all of those I've seen are expensive and come with things that I don't want.

Anyone have a clever idea that could get me going on a tight budget?

Thanks - Randy

[ktw]

Mail order (burners and cast iron pots) from Harbor Freight

If you have the facilities, I have heard of people simply building a good wood fire underneath/around a large cast iron pot full of wheelweights.

-ktw

[par0thead151]

Mail order (burners and cast iron pots) from Harbor Freight

If you have the facilities, I have heard of people simply building a good wood fire underneath/around a large cast iron pot full of wheelweights.

-ktw

this cast iron pot?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44705

[Bigjohn]

Your cost will depend on how much lead you want to melt at once. I can safely lift a pot containing 30 pound of metal; You may not be able to. If you cannot and want to melt this or greater amount in on go then you will need to ladle the metal from pot to ingot mold.

All I am using is a gas ring set into an old tyre rim with a pot made from a piece of pipe with a base welded on. This pot uses detachable handles so they don't heat up; one handle for lifting the other for tilting the pot to pour. It has a pressed pouring spout.
11203
The pot will hold more than I can lift so it only gets three quarter filled.
Total cost without the bottle of gas was about $60.00 AUD ten years back. Very little maintenance since; new gas line only.

There are many other types out there.

Best of luck,
John

[ktw]

this cast iron pot?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44705

I would look for one without the legs. Other than that, yes.

-ktw

[Diesel]

My gas grill gets hot enough to melt about 60lb. easily. Have an old pot laying around?

[snaggdit]

On the gas grill, do you remove the grate and set the pot down on the deflector panels? Just curious. I would think to get enough heat you would need to get the pot close to the flames.

[Willbird]

The turkey fryers usually go on deep discount at the end of the season at the big box stores like Lowes and Menards, I have bought the whole kit for as little as $25. You can order the same burner from morebeer.com but you'll pay more.

http://morebeer.com/search?search=burner&=Search

The 55,000 btu one for 29.50 is the same one that comes in the turkey fryer kits...plus they come with a variable regulator which the 29.50 ones does not.

[high standard 40]

If you don't want the legs on the pot you could use a cut-off wheel and cut them off.

[IcerUSA]

Check this out at Agri Supply : http://www.agrisupply.com/gas-burner-with-pot-stand-qt-/p/53292/cn/5400001/ , I got one and did a little reinforcement on the legs to make sure it could handle the weight .

If I keep putting WW's in it after I start to get some melting I can get over 6 gals in it , and I can pour about 8 muffin tins full 2 or more times and have enough melt in the pot to make the next smelt go faster than the first one .

Keith

[mtgrs737]

If you are handy, you can make a burner/cooker using parts from a scrap yard. The turkey cooker I have uses the same cast iron burner as a gas hot water heater. You can use the regulator and hose from a gas cooking grill, the rest is scrap steel that you can pickup here and there. I would spend the extra bucks on a harbor freight cast iron dutch oven for a pot though as other materials like aluminum are a no-no as they will fail and possibly injure you.

[par0thead151]

My gas grill gets hot enough to melt about 60lb. easily. Have an old pot laying around?

wont catch me mixing lead with areas i cook my food... but thats just me.

[Avery Arms]

I have cooked more than a few wheel weights using a flea market turkey fryer base and an old .50 ammo can for a pot.

Even when heated orange hot while empty the welds on the ammo can showed no signs of weakness.

Before I had the turkey fryer I smeltered in my lee casting pot as I cast, not the best way but it can be done.


PP

[fourarmed]

Here's one way.

[WickedGoodOutdoors]

I saw this and said to myself. Hey If I built a wood fired smelter in the back yard....... and then I thought what my wife would do to me ..... So I abandoned the idea.

"But you can do it!"


http://www.submarineboat.com/images/metal_working/wood_fired_lead_smelter_1_small.JPG http://www.submarineboat.com/images/metal_working/wood_fired_lead_smelter_2_small.JPG


Does this belong to anyone on the Cast Boolits website?

http://www.submarineboat.com/images/metal_working/wood_fired_lead_smelter_3_small.JPG

[montana_charlie]

If you don't want the legs on the pot you could use a cut-off wheel and cut them off.
I did that to mine, and now I wish I hadn't. So, I'm searching the hardware stores for a put-back wheel...
CM

[pdawg_shooter]

Built my burner using propane and compressed air from my air compressor. Really stretches the propane used. Have to be a little careful, it will melt cast iron.

[blackthorn]

You can build a melting pot to whatever size you want by cutting the top off a 20 (or bigger) propane cylinder. I remove the valve, fill the tank with water, use a cut-off wheel to cut about a 4 inch square hole, dump the water, lay the tank on it's side and cut it off at the very top of the shoulder. Next I had my welder son weld on two big steel washers with a 1" hole oposite each other, to take a 1" steel bar for lifting/swinging. I also had him fabricate a lid to keep in the heat and keep down the smoke (it works too!). This set up is filled to the top with cold WW and they are allowed to melt. My burner is cast iron and sits only about 3+" off the ground. This pot will hold way more than I could lift so I dip the alloy out and pour it into ingot moulds. I also have about a 10 quart cast pot that I use for melting stick-ons.

[Beerd]

My smelting pot is also a cut off propane tank. Didn't cost anything but my time.
..

[snaggdit]

Now that would be one solid melting pot. I'll have to check my shed. There are lots of the old valve style tanks around, though. Replacing the valves costs as much as a new tank, so why reuse? Isn't that how we have been indoctrinated? I traded my old tanks for a premium to a gas station exchange when the law changed, but might have one left around. As others have pointed out to me, the cast aluminum pot I have been using is not safe. Glad I found out the easy way!

[WickedGoodOutdoors]

Its great to recycle those Propane Tanks into all kinds of things: Melting Pots, Hung Drums, Waterwheels, Cattle Feeders, Garden Planters, etc,,,etc,etc.

HOWEVER BE SURE it is EMPTY and filling with water or Inert Gas is best.


If you want to see how much energy is in a little tank try shooting one at 100 yards or better. (Highly reccomend 200 yards or better!) Talk about concussion! WOW! Use a High Power 30-06 Rifle or bigger. .223 will penatrate and I find if I hit it quick with 20-30 rounds that I can make it dance.

HERE is what NOT TO DO! Get the cow out of the way, put yer hardhat on and

HOLD MY BEER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ1DwXM3olg

[snaggdit]

Wow, those guys give hillbillies a bad name!

[MT Gianni]

Pull the valve and turn it upside down for a week then fill with water before you cut.