Propane burner

[Sasquatch-1]

I am considering buying a propane burner for smelting. My biggest question is how many BTU's should I get. I have been looking and it seems they go anywhere from about 15000 for the cheapies up to over 100000 for the higher price ones. I want something that if I want, I can get the lead up to a thousand degrees. Don't think I will ever do that but if I load a pot I want the stuff to melt.

[wymanwinn]

i have a 75k btu propane three burner (3 concentric fire rings) unit that DOES melt FAST!!!....and i use a cast iron dutch oven and wind break too....

good combo...

wyman

[Mk42gunner]

I don't know about 1,000 degrees, but my turkey fryer is somewhere around 54,000 BTU's (I have seen the exact same burner advertised at differing levels). It will melt a full load of wheel weights in about half an hour; from 50 degrees ambient.

My pot is an eight inch section of 8" steel pipe, I usually get about 65 pounds of raw WW in it.

Robert

[GLL]

Double check the thermal output calculations on any burner you plan on buying. Some of the advertised ratings are highly inflated while others are quite conservative ! :)

Jerry

[cgm]

I use the Bass Pro fish fryer..... Supposedly 58,000 btu's. Will melt around 40 pounds in about 25 mins.

[Sasquatch-1]

So it sounds like something in the 50,000 btu range is adequate.

Thanks for the input.

[twotoescharlie]

get the high pressure burner.

TTC

[Adk Mike]

High pressure has the RED regulator. That is adjustable. The only way to go. Mike

[500MAG]

Bass Pro fish fryer. They run them on sale sometimes for like $30. I use mine with a cast iron dutch oven and like Wyman said you should make some type of wind break. It's amazing how when a little wind picks up and the temp will drop fast.

[shadowcaster]

Yes.. make sure it is a high pressure burner, and don't go below 50,000 BTU's. You'll have the heat that you need for bigger jobs and the ability to turn it down for the smaller ones. Mine is 58,000 BTU's, and I run a 300# capacity bottom pour smelter. My burner cost me $50.

Shad

[Sasquatch-1]

OK, for those of you still looking at this thread, I got my Propane burner this week and smelted my first range scrap yesterday. What a difference. The burner is a Brinkman and is listed at 100,000 btu's. It came with an aluminum pot and fry strainer and a thermometer, none of which can be used in the smelting operation. Other then that I am happy with the purchase.


http://www.amazon.com/Brinkmann-815-4010-S-Outdoor-Cooker-10-Quart/dp/B005CSTI8U/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1347535497&sr=8-9&keywords=fish+fryer

[bobthenailer]

Get a cast iron dutch oven with a lid drill a hole in the lid and use the long stem therometer to moniter temps! i dont let the temp go over 650 degrees when im smelting. there are no advantage in doing so only disavantages going to a higher smelting temp.

[rainy191]

a turkey fryer works great or a camp cook stove. look on craigs list or a local papers want adds. i found my camp cook stove on craigs list

[Jal5]

I think my turkey fryer was $20 on Craigs list one year, cannot beat that. Still going strong.

[Spawn-Inc]

I use the Bass Pro fish fryer..... Supposedly 58,000 btu's. Will melt around 40 pounds in about 25 mins.

+1 cheap and works great.

i melted over 100 lbs of range scraps 15-20 lbs at a time. each pot took about 20miniutes to melt, i drained it empty each time.

[GLL]

Sasquatch-1:

Sometime when you are melting WW run a test of your new burner (full bore). A 100,000 BTU ouput should use about 4.7 pounds of propane per hour at maximum output. Place the tank on an accurate scale and watch consumption. :)

BTU content of propane is about 21,500 BTUs per pound or 91,500 per gallon.

Just like horsepower ratings on cars many burners do not even come close !

Jerry

[cajun shooter]

If it melts your lead alloy in a reasonable time then it does not matter what BTU's they say it is.
Here in Louisiana we started the outdoor cooking thing way back as I was doing it in the 60's.
Back then we used the burners from gas hot water heaters or welded a torch tip in for those times we wanted to boil crawfish or crabs.
Make sure you have a high pressure regulator and enough of a good size Banjo burner and let it rip!!

[gofastman]

I have this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-SP1-Jet-Cooker/dp/B0002913MI/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&qid=1347936419&sr=8-26&keywords=burner

Its fast as hell! (at melting and using propane)
I dont think I would want anything smaller, and Im what qualifies as a low volume caster.

[km101]

A turkey fryer is the way to go. Cheap, safe, reliable and has enough BTU's to do the job! Plus you can cook with it when you are not smelting! A real twofer!