Can a guy leave lead cooling in his casting pot?

[Canuck Bob]

Is it ok to leave a ladle casting pot with lots of lead in it to cool? Any problems with reheating ?

[AJ Peacock]

It will be just fine, it will melt after you turn it on again.

AJ

[FISH4BUGS]

Boy I hope not. I have been doing that for 40 years.

[Hickory]

I have always left my pot at least half full, unless I'm switching alloys.

[D Crockett]

if we can't nobody told me and I have 3 pots full of lead I keep my pots full that way I just have to turn it on let melt and go to work yea it's ok to do it D Crockett

[Mk42gunner]

I usually refill my Lee 4-20 at the end of my casting sessions, it seems to help when starting the next time.

I also leave between 1/2 and 3/4 inch of lead in the bottom of my smelting pot, The extra contact with the bottom helps totramsfer heat to the WW.

Robert

[Canuck Bob]

Just wanted to be sure. It seemed like a stupid question but every once in a while the answer to stupid questions is anything but stupid or obvious.

Strikes me that a full pot of lead would eliminate rust and dirt from infiltrating a cast iron pot as well.

[Lloyd Smale]

i keep mine full all the time. It makes heating the lead a bit faster and prevents corrosion in your pot.

[FISH4BUGS]

Just wanted to be sure. It seemed like a stupid question but every once in a while the answer to stupid questions is anything but stupid or obvious.

Strikes me that a full pot of lead would eliminate rust and dirt from infiltrating a cast iron pot as well.

One of the things that is great about this site is that everyone is willing to share information. I have learned TONS about Hensley & Gibbs moulds (thanks Tom!), zinc ww's, linotype, alloying, smelting, and casting. It has enriched my hobby of casting and shooting a great deal.
For a better example, go to the thread I started about the Star Sizer issues. That says it all.
Ask away........don't be shy. We will help out.
Happy New year!

[jhrosier]

It probably don't hurt to leave it full, but I always cast the rest of the pot into ingots because I change my alloy frequently for different applications.

Jack

[Cowboy T]

Go ahead and leave it in there. I sure do. However, if your pot's a downpour-spout type, occasionally it's a good idea to drain it completely and give the spout a cleaning, just to get any gunk (carbon, oxides, whatever) out of there. Maybe every 20 or 30 pots-full.

[Canuck Bob]

I'll be ladle casting for awhile. I'm waiting on my PAL, our Canadian gun control license, before taking delivery of my 32-20 Winoku 92. Will cast for it only until I can afford a nice Win 94 or 64 preferrably.

[GP100man]

I leave lead in mine & when it kools I spray it down if it`s gonna be a while before I get back !

I don`t leave my thermometer in it though , calibrated tool subjected to that much expanding & contracting can`t be good for it !

[brad925]

Just wanted to be sure. It seemed like a stupid question but every once in a while the answer to stupid questions is anything but stupid or obvious.

Strikes me that a full pot of lead would eliminate rust and dirt from infiltrating a cast iron pot as well.

The only stupid question is the one that does'nt get asked.

[Canuck Bob]

The only stupid question is the one that does'nt get asked.

That is one of our common sense quotations that remains perhaps the most sensible and hardly common enough in practice.

I would never have worried about the tinsel fairy until I dropped some coffee in a melt without the warnings.

[hoosierlogger]

I leave mine full in both of my pots. Once it is cool I write the alloy mixture on it so I know whats in it for next time.

[canyon-ghost]

I've always done that in my little electric pot, I think Lyman recommends that you leave it full, or at least above the heating element.

Ron

[geargnasher]

Like most of us it appears, I refill, scrape, stir, flux, skim and add tin (if necessary) at the end of every session unless changing alloy. Makes the next casting session easier since I just turn it on and go. Might as well take advantage of a hot pot with a little molten lead in it at the end of a session to melt in the ingots rather than starting off cold and empty.

Gear

[WHITETAIL]

I always keep mine full.
I was under the impresion
that it is good for the heat coil
so they do not burn out.

[a.squibload]

If you use an enamel pot or a frying pan the lead in the bottom will remind you
not to take it camping to cook in.