Utility of a Blow Torch in Smelting/Casting??

[PBSmith]

Somewhere I recall reading about a rig that a clever lad set up to cook lead over an old hand-held torch - the type fired with white gas. He had a way of directing or funneling the heat at the pot. The plumbers' furnace would be more suited to the job, but they are disappearing.

Has anyone here worked in this fashion? If you have jpgs of your set up, that would be great.

Thanks.
PB

[Sig556r]

search Full.Lead.Taco in youtube

[StuBach]

Here’s a you tube video a gentleman put together for me on a restored Clayton and lambert plumbers furnace that could, and was, be used for smelting.

https://youtu.be/-Vvg5Q8rIN0

My grandpa used one of these for cleaning and alloying scrap lead, gentleman in video was helping me restore it before I ran out of free time. Figured it might be useful for you.

[country gent]

I have melted in this manner in the distant past. It works and is doable. I did keep a torch when casting some jigs and sinkers with inserts to heat the set up after loading the cold inserts / hooks in. I would look for a faster set up if possible. Another consideration is those old torches are getting old and may have issues to contend with.

[lightman]

I've used a weed burner for additional heat when melting hard to melt scrap. Stuff like reclaimed shot or the lead threads on pole or crossarm pins.