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joel0407
07-29-2009, 07:18 AM
Do I need an electric lead pot or can I use a cast pot on a gas burner with a thermometer and a laddle.

imashooter2
07-29-2009, 07:27 AM
Many a ton has been cast with that basic equipment. It will work fine. Some even prefer it.

Bret4207
07-29-2009, 08:37 AM
Ladle, pot, heat source. That's all you need. Everything else is for convenience.

joel0407
07-29-2009, 02:26 PM
Will just a cast pot do the job and how big do I need?

imashooter2
07-29-2009, 05:16 PM
A 1 or 2 liter iron or steel pot will be fine to cast from. Smelting, most folks prefer to go considerably larger.

zxcvbob
07-29-2009, 05:22 PM
Revereware is good (reasonably sturdy stainless steel, with a copper bottom.) You might can find a piece at The Salvation Army store or Goodwill (a lot easier than you'll find used cast iron.) You also don't have to worry about it cracking.

10mmShooter
07-29-2009, 07:05 PM
Joel

here is a link to new sturdy little pot, its small only hold 50lbs. When you make your pot purchase make sure the pot is sturdy, also consider how you are going to heat and support your pot, one quart(about .9 litre) is gonna weight 25lbs(11.3 kilos). Lots of people use cast iron pots in the 4-8 quart range. The weight of lead in them could easily go over 100-150 pounds so your heat source and frame should be able to support whatever weight of lead you intend on melting.

Thick steel pots are okay too.....but NO ALUMINUM

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,3442.html

Just a caution although iron pots hold and maintain heat very well, do not beat on your pot when its full of molten lead.

joel0407
07-30-2009, 03:52 AM
Thank heaps for the replys guys. I think I should be right to find a pot now.

I'll duck into a Salvo store and see if I can get a stainless with copper bottom.

joel0407
07-30-2009, 04:23 AM
Revereware is good (reasonably sturdy stainless steel, with a copper bottom.) You might can find a piece at The Salvation Army store or Goodwill (a lot easier than you'll find used cast iron.) You also don't have to worry about it cracking.

Just checked Revereware web site and they say they are only safe to 175C. A quick google says lead + tin melt at 183c. I would think thats cutting it a bit fine.

Sixgun Symphony
07-30-2009, 06:13 AM
Thank heaps for the replys guys. I think I should be right to find a pot now.

I'll duck into a Salvo store and see if I can get a stainless with copper bottom.

Check ebay for a lead melting pot. Also check the thrift stores for used cast iron pots.

joel0407
07-30-2009, 06:19 AM
I checked Egay but there are none here in Australia and it would cost a fortune to send here from US.

Wayne Smith
07-30-2009, 11:52 AM
I don't think it's Revereware but I use a 1qt ss kitchen pot for melting my pure lead. I've used it for years and had no problems. Well, the handle is a little loose now.

zxcvbob
07-30-2009, 12:17 PM
Just checked Revereware web site and they say they are only safe to 175C. A quick google says lead + tin melt at 183c. I would think thats cutting it a bit fine. I've had mine up glowing red (accidently) without any problem. I routinely use it for smelting lead oxide; that's *way* hotter than you'd ever get melting lead alloys. The metal is a little discolored is all.

Are you sure you're not talking about the maximum oven temperature for use with the lids that have bakelite handles? (some of the larger lids have metal loop handles instead of bakelite plastic)

MtGun44
07-30-2009, 06:34 PM
The tin copper bottom of a Revere pan would not be of significant benefit with lead.
The reason for it is that stainless steel is a terrible conductor of heat so when you are
heating sauces or similar thick liquids on a uneven heat source like an electric range
coil, you can burn the sauce locally due to the heat not being spread well laterally thru
the stainless. The thin copper spreads the heat more evenly.

You are unlikely to burn your lead. . . . .

Cast iron would be fine and is strong. Don't get too big a pot or you won't be able
to move it around easily, esp when molten and spilling is possible.

Bill

mooman76
07-30-2009, 07:41 PM
I cast for years on a stove top both gas and electric with a 1qt cast iron pot.

joel0407
07-30-2009, 07:44 PM
I cast for years on a stove top both gas and electric with a 1qt cast iron pot.

I bet this stove was not in your wifes kitchen.

bohokii
07-31-2009, 08:23 PM
i use a coleman 425e and a 6 inch skillet it melts enough lead for me to make about 500 9mms which is about all i can stand to make at one time with a 2 cav

i guess i have no stamina

never used a thermometer and i use a spoon to fill my molds

the back of my left hand looks like edward james olmos due to spatter

leadman
08-01-2009, 01:00 AM
I started by smelting in an old turkey roasting pan, the ones with the blue enamel finish with white spots on it. This fits over both burners of my camp stove.

I used a white enameled pan for melting the lead to cast with a bent gravy ladle. The white pan has a welded on steel handle so the pan would have to break for it to come loose. A one quart size is not bad.

The enamel has not been hurt by years of use.

joel0407
08-01-2009, 03:47 AM
About what temp will the enamel handle?

pauly
08-01-2009, 06:24 AM
G'day from downunder . :>)

G'day Bloke , if you have a look in a camping store in canberra you will be able to get a cast iron pot really cheap , I shop at Mitchells camping store in Adelaide in south australia and they sell them for under $30.00 aussy .
If you cant find one over there send me a P.M. and I will see about getting you one over here .

Regards Paul . :>)

leadman
08-01-2009, 01:58 PM
joel0407, don't know what temperature will damage the enamel pot, but it has been very hot.
The turkey roaster and the enamel pan are probably 12 or more years old and still in good shape. A camp stove or other such burner would have a hard time causing the steel to melt in these pans.

Coheeba
08-12-2009, 10:14 AM
never used a thermometer and i use a spoon to fill my molds

the back of my left hand looks like edward james olmos due to spatter


That creates a hilarious mental picture.

I've never expelled sweet tea through my nose before.....not exactly pleasant!!!

tackstrp
08-24-2009, 11:12 PM
read all of the posts. I sat down looking for why it is taking so long for ten pounds of lead to get liquiid. I waited almost two hours. for the ingot so melt enough to some what ladel out and put in a Lyman pot that is at least 20 years old with a bottom pour. I am using a bbq grill single burner so sure not that many btu's no top on the cast iron 12 inch skillet, and some wind blowing and a fan to blow fumes away from me... Can't thing of any thnig else i did wrong.

I Will try again and add a top , less lead and a wind shield.

I thought that a cast iron skillet and a propane burner would be cheaper to run than electric.. Dont think so now.. My electric pot allows me to cast good bullets, I know from experience.

imashooter2
08-25-2009, 07:03 AM
Melting lead is a simple equation. Your problems were not enough BTUs and the fan is blowing the heat away form the pot.

joel0407
08-26-2009, 05:36 AM
Lashed out today spent $3 and bought a pot. Holds 4 Litres (4.2 quart) to about 1/4 inch from the rim so it should hold about 3.5 Litres comfortably. Next I need a laddle and Ignot mould (Cup cake tin). 3 ring Gas burner is sorted $56 Egay special.
(AUS $)

http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss50/joel0407/100_3059Small.jpg

Just Duke
08-26-2009, 08:21 AM
read all of the posts. I sat down looking for why it is taking so long for ten pounds of lead to get liquiid. I waited almost two hours. for the ingot so melt enough to some what ladel out and put in a Lyman pot that is at least 20 years old with a bottom pour. I am using a bbq grill single burner so sure not that many btu's no top on the cast iron 12 inch skillet, and some wind blowing and a fan to blow fumes away from me... Can't thing of any thnig else i did wrong.

I Will try again and add a top , less lead and a wind shield.

I thought that a cast iron skillet and a propane burner would be cheaper to run than electric.. Dont think so now.. My electric pot allows me to cast good bullets, I know from experience.


500 POUNDS IN 2 HOURS OR SO. [smilie=s:

http://www.campchef.com/store/item/132/SH140L_maximum_output_single_cooker.html

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/50%20CALIBERFORUM/CAMPCHEFBURNER.jpg

They have them at Sports Authority $74.99

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=848738




.

Just Duke
08-26-2009, 08:23 AM
Then do this.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=35087&highlight=MAGIC+CHEF

joel0407
08-27-2009, 07:49 AM
Lashed out today spent $3 and bought a pot. Holds 4 Litres (4.2 quart) to about 1/4 inch from the rim so it should hold about 3.5 Litres comfortably. Next I need a laddle and Ignot mould (Cup cake tin). 3 ring Gas burner is sorted $56 Egay special.
(AUS $)

http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss50/joel0407/100_3059Small.jpg

If my calculations are right it should hold about 34kg (75lbs) of lead or about 1300 x 405 grain boolits.:smile:

dogbert41
08-30-2009, 08:59 PM
Walmart ended up having some inexpensive cast iron....