Beer keg smelting pot ?

[edler7]

I've got an old beer keg laying around and was wondering about cutting it in half for a smelting pot. I've heard that they are aluminum and I've heard they are steel. I just checked it with a magnet- it didn't stick. It could be a non-magnetic stainless steel, I guess.

Anybody got the scoop on what they are made of ?

Anyone tried one for a smelter ?

[Powellcole5490]

I'm not sure what they aee made of but I have to assume it alluminum. But even if it is steel it seems like a lot of work. Seems like you could find an old dutch oven at goodwill for a couple bucks that would work much easier. Just my 2 cents.

[Ole]

Beer kegs are made from stainless steel (at least all the ones I've ever seen).

Be very careful when cutting one. The dust particles are very bad for you if you inhale them. Plasma cutter would be the way to go. I have cut beer kegs before with a cut-off wheel on a 4" grinder and the metal is pretty tough stuff.

[bumpo628]

I got a propane tank smelter from D Crockett here:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=124520

He seems to be sold out right now, but he might make you one if you PM him.

I posted pictures in posts 17 & 18 of that thread.

[edler7]

I already have a cast iron dutch oven that I use. It works fine, but reading about them cracking or splitting has me wondering if there isn't something better laying around...and the beer keg set off the idea light bulb. I also have a refrigerant tank and a helium tank of the same size that I was looking at. They are both the smaller sized tanks, where the beer keg is a lot larger.

I really like the D Crockett tank style. I was looking to make something similar.

[bumpo628]

I already have a cast iron dutch oven that I use. It works fine, but reading about them cracking or splitting has me wondering if there isn't something better laying around...and the beer keg set off the idea light bulb. I also have a refrigerant tank and a helium tank of the same size that I was looking at. They are both the smaller sized tanks, where the beer keg is a lot larger.

I really like the D Crockett tank style. I was looking to make something similar.

Yeah, that's why I got the steel pot. I'll just use my dutch oven for clips and dross.

The diameter of the keg is probably too large compared to the wall thickness for lead. It will be really hard to empty the thing.
The other two tanks will probably work a lot better.

[Powellcole5490]

I already have a cast iron dutch oven that I use. It works fine, but reading about them cracking or splitting has me wondering if there isn't something better laying around...and the beer keg set off the idea light bulb. I also have a refrigerant tank and a helium tank of the same size that I was looking at. They are both the smaller sized tanks, where the beer keg is a lot larger.

I really like the D Crockett tank style. I was looking to make something similar.

Well ya know, I could deffinately use a Cast Iron Dutch oven. I'd be willing to buy it from you :bigsmyl2:

[P.K.]

Why not just turn it in a pocket the $40.00 dollar deposit? Turkey fryers are on sale this week at Tractor Supply for about $10.00 more.

[edler7]

The diameter of the keg is probably too large compared to the wall thickness for lead.

Hadn't thought of that. It might turn out to be a dangerous undertaking. Thanks for the input.



Why not just turn it in a pocket the $40.00 dollar deposit?

I think I'll do that. Wonder if there are any liquor stores that sell tires around here. I could swap it for some wheel weights.

[Greg5278]

They can be Aluminum or 300 series stainless. The pot will hold way to much lead to make it easy to handle, even if cut in half. The stainless will cut with an abrasive chop wheel, but the cut will slow down after a few inches. It can be done, but it will take 2-3 blades to go around the circumference. Fill it with water to cut down on the noise. A plamsa cutter would work too, but make sure to take out the dip tube before starting to cut. The tube is held in with a snap ring inside the Tap area. Make sure to wear safety glasses when prying it out.
Greg

[DukeInFlorida]

I just cut up EIGHT of these, am keeping one, and already found homes for the others.

They are large diameter, and work well when melting up large lead items like sailboat keels.

http://www.sebagosales.com/beer/DSCN6261.JPG
http://www.sebagosales.com/beer/DSCN6260.JPG

https://post.craigslist.org/imagepreview/n/5O15R25S63k13oc3pcbai1b131749bb9316cb.jpg

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=11093&d=1277077468

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=11497&d=1278598853

[edler7]

That's pretty sweet, Duke.

Looks like that old keel has met it's match !

[Bullet Caster]

I have an old photography SS developing tank I thought would make a good melting pot. Anyone ever heard of using something like this?
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_211414ec8243701d4f.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=2763)

[badbob454]

[QUOTE=DukeInMaine;1455814]I just cut up EIGHT of these, am keeping one, and already found homes for the others.

They are large diameter, and work well when melting up large lead items like sailboat keels.

http://www.sebagosales.com/beer/DSCN6261.JPG
http://www.sebagosales.com/beer/DSCN6260.JPG

these are stainless ... the aluminum are thicker and heavier, and the ones i had were lined with some type of ceramic finish on the inside . these are prized by home brewers, as a heating tank ( the stainless ),, and are worth 40- 100 dollars each, to home brewers ,.. i would sell them to a brew shop , and buy an old 55 gallon drum, for large quantities of lead ... just my 2c worth

[afish4570]

See my 9/12/11 posting on how to make a neat smelting pot .....make sure you research the safety precautions to cut up......Took only 10 min. and only part of cutoff disk for less than a dollar cost. Or buy one from D Crockett......Had two batches melted first was 73# and second was !50#. Could have fit more into pot guestimating 40 or 50#.afish4570;);)

[badbob454]

yes propane tanks strong and steel work great !! made one myself 2 years ago . plus you can build a fire around them to smelt / but control the temp is hard to do with wood fire just move it away from the tank cause the tank wont move easily ..he he

[bslim]

I had an old expired 20 # propane tank to get rid of, so I had the propane supply shop take off the valve and purge the tank to make sure all of the propane was gone. Cut it in half with a grinding disk and have been using it for the past 1,000 lbs. Works great, BUT, if you load it up too much you will need more than the standard 35,000 btu burner to keep it molten around the edges. If this is the case you'll need to build a metal skirt around the tank to make the most efficient use of the heat. All in all, it was a relatively inexpensive project.

[afish4570]

I use a Plumbers furnace and a Harbor Fr. Brush Burner on a 2nd propane bottle.....Would like to cut propane bill by using wood to heat up some and finish and control with brush burner.....Any suggestings on building a wood fire setup??afish4570:idea::idea:

[badbob454]

yeas make campfire set pot in center of wood light and wait when melted ladel out into ingots

[a.squibload]

Bob, you forgot to post footnotes for the years worth of research
supporting your technique...:kidding:

[badbob454]

Bob, you forgot to post footnotes for the years worth of research
supporting your technique...:kidding:

i just think what would john wayne do .. he he :kidding:
or just think like a caveman propane costs , im poor this is cheap as i live on 4 acres and have lots of deadwood each year