I was smelting lead today. On 6 ocassions I had an explosion in the smelting pot. Relax I did not get burnt. I do not understand what the problem was. I have smelted numerous times before with no problems.
I use a Coleman stove with a cast iron pot. This is what I was smelting.
Wheel weights both COWW and SOWW.
About 700 commercially cast boolits with lube
Lead shot
Range scrap with jacketed and coated boolits
Some lead pipe joints.
Of this what could cause a small explosion?
I have smelted all the above except lead shot. One pot had four explosions in close
proximity to each other.
Could bullet lube cause a explosion?
Could a coated bullet explode?
Could lead shot if oxidized explode?
The pipe joints were layered and appeared to have some rust. Could that cause a problem? The joints were very soft.
I am sure there was no water involved. All lead has been indoors for the lastime 2 weeks. Range scrap 6 months.
By explosion I mean a crack with enough force to blow out a bullet abouto 6 feet from the pot. I would load the lead into the pot and as it was melting,5-10 minutes later it would explode. Apparently as the material would fall into the molten lead it would pop.
Your thoughts