My first ingots

[samdweezel05]

I decided to try a bunch of things today that I have had questions about. No better way to get good answers than to just do it your self. First question was, could a simple 2 burner colman stove be used to melt lead? Answer is yes. With propane or MAPP gas. Even when it's 14 degrees and the wind is blowing 25mph as it was here today. I wanted to do it small first time so I didn't get out the turkey fryer and propane tank pot. It works fine. I only did my stick on weights today. I used an ingot mold that I made. I only did a double because I wanted to make sure it was going to work. Now I will make a couple of 6 ingot molds the same way. I only had about 10lbs of stick ons so I got 4 ingots out of them. Ingots weighed in at about 2.5 pounds. I used a flat piece of aluminum over the pot to keep in some heat and it also worked great to keep my ingot mold warm. There not pretty but I don't think it's too bad for the first ones. I learned alot

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/samdweezel05/Guns/Casting/DSCN1581.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/samdweezel05/Guns/Casting/DSCN1582.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/samdweezel05/Guns/Casting/DSCN1583.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/samdweezel05/Guns/Casting/DSCN1586.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/samdweezel05/Guns/Casting/DSCN1588.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/samdweezel05/Guns/Casting/DSCN1592.jpg

[Ole]

Looks great.

If you have a propane torch, you can use it to clean up the sides of the ingots right after you pour them. Just run the flame over the edge where the mold meets the ingot and you won't get that tab on the edge of the ingot.

[bumpo628]

Nice job. That is a nice ingot size you have there - they'll stack up easily.

It looks like you welded the ingot mold from the inside. You might try your next mold with the weld beads on the outside. It should make the ingots easier to release.

[Ole]

One more thing: I use something like this (http://www.harborfreight.com/36-piece-1-4-quarter-inch-steel-letter-number-stamping-set-35121.html) to mark my ingots so I never ever lose track of what an ingot is made from.

In this case, you could either label them PB as soft lead, or SOWW as stick on wheel weights.

[frankenfab]

Nice ingot mold.

[slide]

Well Done!

[supe47]

Nice molds. Aluminum pot? Beware!

[AndyC]

That lead sure looks pretty and shiny in the pot - good job on your test-run :)

[Revolver]

Funny, I have that exact same aluminum pot sitting here, says Guardian Service on the bottom. Wife picked it up a thrift store because she knows I like shiny things.

[cbrick]

Looks to me like ya done just fine.

I do have a question though . . . What's all that white stuff in the first two pictures? :mrgreen:

Rick