What should I do with this lead?

[el34]

You should at least be aware of the Lee 4-20 bottom pour pot for boolit casting, $63, as an option to making one from a tank. Many folks use this guy.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/7-90947

Sold by most distributors of reloading equipment.

[Wayne Smith]

My guess is that he was talking about making a bottom pour pot for volume casting ingots, not casting boolits. If you are, and have hoisting equipment, don't bother with a bottom pour. It will just be trouble. Make your pot with a pour lip and handles that balance it full. Grab the handles with lifting equipment, grab the pot with a hooked stick, and tilt pour into ingot molds. That's how they handle tons of fluid steel, after all.

[Randy C]

I paid 55$ for each mould with wood handles they are a work of art everything is cut square and all seems are tight I think this is what it takes to have moulds that release your led ingots with out having to beat on them, all the welding is on back side. I paid $2.20lb for 20 to 1 alloy.

[Randy C]

I use two Lee 4-20 bottom pour pot for boolit casting I have a 10lb pot also. They all work great for the price. one has a PID on it.

[jsizemore]

I got a smelting pot from the scrap yard that's the bottom 16" of a stainless beer keg. It was past it's last test date and somebody else had cut it with a torch. I've never tested it's max capacity but 300lbs is easy.

[F_L]

Update - I cut about 10lbs off the keel yesterday with an acetylene torch. It went better than expected and I think I can refine the technique and speed up the process. The biggest PIA with the torch method is the paint on the keel. It is nasty, smoky stuff. But using a fan and respirator makes it bearable. Here is the first cut.

I appreciate the pot recommendations but have a bottom pour almost built following the steps here.

[jonas302]

Maybe there is a member in Texas with some experience that you could get to help looks like a good two man job

[NewbieDave007]

I never would've thought that I would want a scrap sail boat. Nice.

[Randy C]

I think I would want to grind or buff off the paint before smelting, just thinking I'm sure it would burn off in the smelting process.

[lwknight]

The acetylene torch is an expensive way to go compared to a propane weed burner.
The weed burner is slower on the start but will pay back after you get things going.

[MaryB]

torch the boat and let it melt into a thinner sheet? Just kidding!

[DRNurse1]

Fred:

Be careful cutting that tank. I cut holes in the rim of mine to accommodate a bail which I can hang from an overhead tripod (made from rebar). It provides support in case the burner is out of balance.

[Toymaker]

Wish I were in TX, I'd come over to help you out. You want to cut a couple of 10# chunks off that keel I'll buy them. I don't need it smelted and cast into ingots.
I'll be following your thread to see how you're doing.

[tygar]

Chainsaw off a small piece.
Test the hardness with a cabin tree tester.
Test it for zinc with HCl.
Post it for sale or trade on the forum
PROFIT

And if you are in VA I can help.

Yep & I'm not far from Brent & will be glad to have some of that stick to the bed of my truck after we help.

[F_L]

Re: Scrapping sailboats
Be careful of any "free" sailboats. Not all of them have lead keels. The smaller trailerables (up to 22-23') as a general rule have cast iron retractable keels. There isn't enough salvage value to beak even on disposal. The larger boats usually have lead keels but I have been disappointed a couple of times to haul a boat and find cast iron. And even the bigger "free" boats cost me quite a bit to haul out on one of my sailboat trailers, drop the mast, strip the goodies, and haul to the dump. Sailboats can be a great source of lead if you are careful.

Re: Weed burner
I will get my hands on one. I have an acetylene torch so I had to try it. It works pretty well with the acetylene cut back to 8psi.

Re: Pot stability
Hot lead scares me and I will not cut any corners here. The burner is well built and with pot and my additional 200lbs, is very stable. Just for grins I am going to add legs to the pot. I have too much scrap steel laying around to skip a simple safety step.

Thanks,
Fred

[propwashp47]

thanks for the heads up on the free boats. I am glad I let them go before before I busted my hump only to find I had junk. it looks like it must be right time right place and right boat to work out . i all so think you are on the right track with the amount of weight you will be handling you will need a strong set up so there will be no problems or burns involved. good luck and give me a call if you need help. Don

[drinks]

An axe will do to get chunks off soft lead and not only does not burn fuel, but does burn some fat.
Anyone worried about cutting a propane cylinder, consider a refrigerant cylinder, they are not refilled and are usually free from an a/c shop.

[WILCO]

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
Fred

Hi Fred!

Sell it off. Purchase a known alloy and enjoy life.

[F_L]

My first 10 lbs. No molds yet so use the bottom of the propane cylinder. Actually decided it would work great for my personal use.

The bad news is if I figured in my hourly rate this lead is costing around $10/lb! I am sure I can speed it up as I figure out pot temps, fluxing, etc.

Fred

[WILCO]

The bad news is if I figured in my hourly rate this lead is costing around $10/lb!

See post #38............