Smelting pot build

[Lefty SRH]

Its time to build my own smelting pot. I plan on making a large bottom pour pot. I'd like to see different valves. And I'd like suggestions on propane burners.

[deltaenterprizes]

I copied the RCBS type when I did my 20 gal pot.

[dsbock]

Lefty,

I'm interested in following your project. Please supply details and (if possible) photos of your design and build process.

Thanks.

David

[Lefty SRH]

I'll try my best, sometimes it takes me a little while to complete a project.

[dsbock]

I'll try my best, sometimes it takes me a little while to complete a project.

That's OK, I'm a patient guy. ;)

David

[markinalpine]

Lefty,
You might want to review this thread: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=50147
Drop down to Reply # 9
Good Luck,
Mark

[HotGuns]

The easiest way to make a leak free valve is to take a steel rod and machine a radius on the end of it.

Cut a hole in your bottom plate and put a valve seat on it using a countersink. Mate the two up, making sure that the rod is at least the same diameter as the seat.

Weld or screw two guides for the the rod on the inside of the pot, one at the top of the pot and the other about two inches from the bottom. The radius on the rod will allow a small angular deviation and it will still seal without any leakage.

You can either lift the rod manually or affix another rod to it that uses the side of the pot for the leverage to move the rod up and down and with a little practice, you can determine how long to leave it open to fill your molds rather nicely.

[HotGuns]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/HotGuns/Reloading%20stuff/LeadPot001.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/HotGuns/Reloading%20stuff/LeadPot002.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/HotGuns/Reloading%20stuff/LeadPot003.jpg

This one will do about 300 pounds. I've been using it for several years now and it still works great...no leaks.

[leftiye]

Hot Guns, NICE POT!

I made one out of a 5 gallon propane bottle. Cut off the bottom ring, and cut off the bottom at the weld (use a sawzall for the clean cut). Use the bottom for a lid, weld some tabs inside to locate it, and a handle. I cut out the threaded boss where the threads were, and ran a channel to the outside to allow complete draining (cut a 1.5" slot and fit a piece cut out of 1 1/2" square tube to it). A pointed rod (mine is 5/15 diameter) falling into a hole serves as a valve. after fitting the rod to giudes, and hole pound it in to make an exact fit. A 45 degree pipe elbow and a short nipple in the hole through the channel form a nice spout. Holds three hunderd lbs. You must fit pieces of strap to the curve of the new bottom to be legs too. I put four at 90 degrees.

I should mention that just opening the valve doesn't empty the cylinder, even though there is no pressure. If you just unscrew the fitting you'll get a nasty surprise when it flys loose and several quarts of liquid (at ambient pressure) comes squirting out. Perhaps drill a small hole and face it downward until drained before unscrewing fitting. PS, liquid residue is flamable.

[jmsj]

+1 on HotGuns design.
I used his design to build my smelter awhile back. Here is my post on the one I built.


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%20foot%20pedal%20operated%20smelter-second%20try%20&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcastboolits.gunloads.com%2Fshowth read.php%3Ft%3D84710&ei=_eUST9ndBoH22gWYm4SECg&usg=AFQjCNFYaKAW7UEJPDGssXxMbwSkOtWCeA

Good luck, jmsj

[Lefty SRH]

What size spouts are suggested. I was thinking of tapping the bottom of my pot for 1/8" or 1/2" pipe thread so I could use pipe fittings for the spout. I could chamfer the pipe fitting that goes into the pot making it the valve seat.

[dragonrider]

Don't have a real good pic of the valve but it is just a rod with a point sitting in a hole.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/SMELTER/IMG_0155.jpg

[Lefty SRH]

Thanks for the valve ideas guys. I think I got that part solved.

Now what about burners? My pot dimension will be 8" deep, 8" wide" and 16" long.

[Lefty SRH]

Prefer to use gas grill propane.

[leftiye]

Get one of those cast iron burner equipped camping/ barbeque cook stoves. Check the btu and don't buy one with less that 35000 btu per burner. Those turkey deep fat fryer burners are good too.

I've got one of the two burner camp stoves. One burner does the trick just fine. Be dern shore that you reinforce the support system for the pot on the stove and the legs of the pot, and the table you intend to use is muy strong enough. 300 lbs of hot lead ain't funny if it gets loose.

[jmorris]

While not a smelter, I built a 60lb bottom pour out of steel pipe, used stainless for the needle and a 3500w oven element wrapped around the pipe. It's controled by a PID controler with a solidstate relay but a simple thermostat would work, that's just what I had.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/caster5.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/caster3.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/caster1.jpg

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Yeah, any one that can expound on the diameter of the spout as to not have a tidal wave when opening the valve would be great!
I wanna build on too,
I bought a turkey fryer at HomeDepot last week on sale for 39 bucks. 45000 BTU, melted my dutch oven full of lead in about 8 minutes :)

[Lefty SRH]

My pot will be rectangular. Is it a good idea to have the valve end of the pot slightly lower so the lead naturally flows to the valve?
Dimensions should be 8x8x16

[Cariboo]

, melted my dutch oven full of lead in about 8 minutes :)

that must have made a mess!:bigsmyl2:

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

that must have made a mess!:bigsmyl2:

Syntax error :P
Melted the lead in my dutch oven in about 8 minutes

Do I get my Gold star in English now? :)

[Cariboo]

Syntax error :P
Melted the lead in my dutch oven in about 8 minutes

Do I get my Gold star in English now? :)

Can't find ya a gold star Jim:lol:
have a great day

[Lefty SRH]

The valve parts have been made/machined and the Square tubing that will be the pot has been bought. Need to find propane bruners. They are not quite in season yet. Lowes doesn't have anything.

[Lefty SRH]

I've got the pot built but the valve needs a little tweeking, it leaks a bit. What kind of clearance is there between the plug rod and the guides?

[buyobuyo]

Got any pictures?

[Lefty SRH]

I've been picture documenting it and plan on posting pics when its done. But I'm not good at posting pics.

[Lefty SRH]

Looking for propane burners for my smelting pot. Would this be a good burner? It says its a 35,000 BTU max rating.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_15490_15490

[buyobuyo]

It should work. I would look something with a higher btu rating though. Most of the turkey/fish fryer burners people use are rated at 50,000+ btu. I use this one (http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Propane-Cooker-with-Aluminum-Pot/product/10205245/72596) from Bass Pro shop. It's on sale for a couple dollars more than the one you linked to.

[Lefty SRH]

I just got back from Lowes and they had a turkey fryer burner that was 135,000 BTU for $50. I think I'm gonna go with this burner.

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

I got mine at home depot for 39 bucks a few weeks ago. It's 135K btu as well.

[Lefty SRH]

What size pot do you have? Mine is 19" long.

[jmorris]

If your building the rest, why not make your burner?

[Lefty SRH]

I don't feel safe making my own burner.

[Longwood]

I don't feel safe making my own burner.

Apliance stores often have old gas and propane stoves out back that they will sell and some times just give people parts from.
Recyle yards often have stoves and BBQ's with side burners.
They are very easy to make burn hotter.
Look for one that has the air valve closed down quite a ways so more air can get to the flame when you open up some holes or gaps (depending on how the burner is made) a little.
I did this to a kitchen stove so it would heat a Wok better.
It suddenly became a lead melter also.:bigsmyl2:

[jmorris]

If you make an adjustable mixer or already know the sizes/number of holes and mixer diameter, there is no magic to it. I make them all of the time for cooking equipment. Much better than most all replacement burners you buy.

For cast iron burners old hot water heaters, gas central units are good. Made more than a few "fish cookers" out of them, generally need a smaller jet when going from NG to propane.

[mallardsx2]

Works Pretty good and a heck of a lot cheaper than melting with propane! I'm glad I got that Hobart 140 I love this welder!

Pictures show a lot of smoke but its just the oil that I used to get the wood going coming out of the bottom of the barrel. Once it got burning there was no smoke coming out the bottom. I need to put a plate over that exhaust pipe. Thats a 4" High pressure gasoline pipe for a chimney. I can easily control the heat surprisingly. When the fire is burning I can melt a whole dutch over full of wheel weights in about 5 minutes. WAAAAAAAAAY quicker than that stupid turkey burner.
All I need is lead!

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/Mallardsx2/subFolder_3temp_taken_picture.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/Mallardsx2/subFolder_2temp_taken_picture.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/Mallardsx2/subFolder_4temp_taken_picture.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/Mallardsx2/subFolder_5temp_taken_picture.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/Mallardsx2/subFolder_6temp_taken_picture.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/Mallardsx2/IMG_20120215_174542.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/Mallardsx2/IMG_20120215_174530.jpg

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Nice forge:kidding::bigsmyl2:

[Lefty SRH]

I need help making a burner. My pot is 19" long and 8" wide. I'd like to put fire to about 10" of the pots length.
How can I do this? I know nothing about making a propane burner. I'm not getting anywhere with internet searches.

[buyobuyo]

How about a BBQ grill burner? http://www.thebbqdepot.com/grillburners.html