Need a smelting burner

[bosterr]

I've looked at all the stickies and have narrowed things down to three burners for smelting WW (I just scored 4 5 gal. buckets). the Bayou Classic SP10 55,000 BTU 10lb. regulator,the Bayou Classic SP1 185,000 BTU jet burner 20lb. regulator and the Camp Chef SHP-RL 60,000 BTU I assume has a 10lb. regulator. I'll beef up the legs if need be, no problem doing that and if the jet is noisy, I can put up with that if the higher BTU's is worth it. I may go with a 12 inch dutch oven, I haven't decided on that yet. I just need to upgrade from a 750 watt hot plate. Any advice on these three burners, any advantages or disadvantages to each would be greatly appreciated.

[jsizemore]

When I started out I used a 4 quart dutch oven and the smaller 55K-60K BTU burner was fine with a wind shield. I found a 10 quart dutch oven and wanted to do 150lbs at a shot so I upped my burner to 175K BTU with a 10psi regulator. Still use a windshield and lid. I can process about a ton of WW off a 20lb tank. I guess it depends on how much you need to process.

[retread]

Got a weed burner for Harbor Freight and adapted it as shown. The pot is from dcrocket on this site. Really works fast and is very controllable.

[bosterr]

Thanks jsizemore. I should go the route you took and go for max BTU.

[retread]

OOps! got the same picture twice!

[bosterr]

Nice one retread!

[Jeff Maney]

I use the Bayou Classic, 55K BTU, 10# regulator; 10 quart cast iron Dutch oven and it works well. First fill melts in about 35 minutes, refills melt in about 20 minutes.

Jeff

[ACrowe25]

Got a weed burner for Harbor Freight and adapted it as shown. The pot is from dcrocket on this site. Really works fast and is very controllable.

Now I'd buy a stand like the one shown there!!!

[country gent]

I use a weed burner from Harbor frieght also Mine has been modified with the "Jet valve removed and a lever valve added for on of and a ball valve to adjust flame. This allows the temp setting to be kept and the first valve ( lever) to turn on and off. A 90* elbow and appropriate 1/8" pipe nipple set the hieght of the burner for my turkey frier stand. I recently broke the 7qt Dutch oven ( 20 some years old) and replaced it with one made from a 25 lb propane cylinder. This set up has worked for me for many years. I smelt and cast both with it.

[MrWolf]

I just used the Bayou Classic SP10 for the first time on Saturday. Was windy so for the next batch I am creating a smelting station out of a discarded Weber grill station. I used a propane tank I had cut and it worked perfect. The stand easily held a full bucket of wheel weights. Everything worked great.

[bosterr]

I just used the Bayou Classic SP10 for the first time on Saturday. Was windy so for the next batch I am creating a smelting station out of a discarded Weber grill station. I used a propane tank I had cut and it worked perfect. The stand easily held a full bucket of wheel weights. Everything worked great.

My SP10 is supposed to arrive this Friday. Too many negative reviews about the jet model for me to take a chance. I'll be using a 3 quart cast iron sauce pan. Thanks everybody for the help!

[MrWolf]

I found it easy to setup and use. Like I said, I strongly suggest a wind screen. Have fun.