WidenersReloading EverythingTitan ReloadingLee Precision
Inline FabricationLoad DataRotoMetals2MidSouth Shooters Supply
Repackbox
Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Hot Plate for melting lead???

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    northeast pennsylvania
    Posts
    18

    Hot Plate for melting lead???

    Do any of you folks use a hot plate for melting their lead. I have been using the electric kitchen stove and I figured a hot plate would be a similar heat source. I have a great heavy fabricated stainless lead pot and ladle and I have been getting fine results , but I would like to move the operation out of the kitchen. I have considered buying a LEE electric lead pot , but I can't begin to afford it any time soon. Thanks in advance for any advice.
    Mike

  2. #2
    In Remebrance


    Bret4207's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    St Lawrence Valley, NY
    Posts
    12,924
    I use a Walmart $8.00 hotplate. Mine is 900 watts IIRC. Another guy here bought one at Walmart and it turned out to only be only 6-700 watts and wouldn't work for him. If you can find one that's at least 850-900 watts it should work. I've used mine with a 10 lb Lyman cast pot and my favorite- a 12 cup stainless steel measuring cup that holds 25+ pounds. It will hold within 10-15 degrees with 3/4 full pot. Being a confirmed ladle man I see no reason to change.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    176
    I bought a cheap hot plate from big lots for $10.00. I then bought a small pot from a thrift store for $2.00. I can get the temp up to 725 degrees, and about 25 lbs of lead in the pot.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    1,171
    This is all I have ever used to smelt my lead. I did bypass the temp control though. It has worked very good for me. I have melted a whole lot of lead in this pot. Burner and pot was purchased from Walmart.


  5. #5
    Boolit Master

    monadnock#5's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,270
    +1 to all of the above. Hot plates work very well. My only comment would be that if you're using the hot plate for ladle casting, get two. Use the second plate for preheating your moulds and ingots. Preheating the moulds gets you up to speed much faster than without. Preheated ingots drives the moisture out, and gets the melt back up to temp faster.

  6. #6
    In Remebrance


    Bret4207's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    St Lawrence Valley, NY
    Posts
    12,924
    Update- I checked my HP- It's 1100 watts, not 900. Get the biggest you can find.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    zxcvbob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    S.E. Minnesota
    Posts
    1,081
    Get one with open coils. I have two hotplates; the 700W open-coil will get hot enough to smelt "heavy black sand" and dross back into lead metal (add a little motor oil, and cook it with the lid on for about 45 minutes.) The 1000W hotplate with the cast iron element barely gets hot enough to melt lead at all.

    In case you're wondering, I get a lot of range scrap and it's badly oxidized. When I melt it down, I save the ash and dross, then when I get enuf I smelt it to keep the lead out of the landfill. Six to 8 pounds of slag yields about 3 pounds of good lead.

  8. #8
    In Remebrance


    Bret4207's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    St Lawrence Valley, NY
    Posts
    12,924
    Ah! Good point Bob. My HP is the open coil type. I have a closed coil fancy job that doesn't get hot enough to do much.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    le Cannet south of FRANCE
    Posts
    366
    i have a hot plate 750 w it's just to melt the scrape lead ,i must heat the top with a propane torch ,i use it only to make lingots ,to cast i use a rcbs pro melt
    regards

  10. #10
    Boolit Master rondog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    1,838
    Huh, never dreamed a hot plate would work! I have a 2-burner stashed in my garage that I've held onto for who-knows-how-many-years. Never could come up with a use for it, but couldn't bear to throw it out. Now I may have a use for it!

    Wish I still had the dumpster-found cast iron dutch oven that I'd dragged around for 20 years, then finally tossed out in a fit of garage cleaning. Sure would make a good melting pot now.

  11. #11
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Central TX.
    Posts
    26
    forgive my ignorance of hot plates, when you say open coiled, I am picturing the same thing as an electric stove. Is this correct?

    I am just starting getting my things together to cast and want to keep my ww and scraps out of my smelter, but on a budget. Very interested in using a hot plate to cast ignots, just not very familiar with them.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master WILCO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    20 minutes from a Tiki Bar!
    Posts
    6,230
    Quote Originally Posted by rugerp89ipsc View Post
    forgive my ignorance of hot plates, when you say open coiled, I am picturing the same thing as an electric stove. Is this correct?
    Yep. Walgreens has them for under $10.00. There's a ton of discussion in forums on this topic. Just do a search for "Hot plates".
    "Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face!" - Mike Tyson

    "Don't let my fears become yours." - Me, talking to my children

    That look on your face, when you shift into 6th gear, but it's not there.

  13. #13
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Central TX.
    Posts
    26
    thank you very much. I am coming up on my weekend in 24 hours and want to be jet set for getting my WWs in order for casting next week.

    Headed to the welding shop down the street for gloves and an apron, wife donated a cast iron skillet for me and then over to wally world for a hot plate and some perifen wax, a skimming spoon and a pouring spoon .

    I have not been this excited about my reloading process in ages.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check