Wood/ Propane lead smelting pot completed.

[mdxdm]

So after cutting up the lead from the sail boat I collected ( http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?200054-O-day-22-sail-boat-lots-of-lead-step-into-my-adventure )
I needed a way to melt the lead down. I plan to use a turkey fryer for the most part, but wanted the option to use a wood fire as well. I took a propane tank and cut the top off, then welded it into a 55 gal drum. Next I welded some supports on the inside and attached the spout, and knob assembly to adjust flow out of the tank. She aint pretty but she will work!

Here is the completed project
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130616_124129_642.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130616_124129_642.jpg.html)

Inside the tank, I used a piece of all thread, welded a nut to it and shaved down the tip for my valve

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130616_124146_910.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130616_124146_910.jpg.html)

View of the bottom pour mechanism, she aint pretty but she works.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130616_131330_773.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130616_131330_773.jpg.html)

Under the tank the welded in supports.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130616_124205_635.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130616_124205_635.jpg.html)


I hope to get something melted down soon. I will post back when i do. There were no leaks during the water test so i think im good to go.

[Bo1]

Good lookin wood smelter...

[Idz]

I don't see air holes, fire grate, or chimney in your photos. Without them do you get enough draft to get a wood fire hot enough to melt lead? Others I've seen used a blower to supply enough air to get the wood fire hot. I like how you have the lead pot recessed into the furnace so its heated on all sides and the drain pipe is kept hot also. I see your all-thread pour spout valve can be screwed tight rather than the free floating weighted ones like bottom pour casting pots, let us know if that works well. I always worried about leaks from a bottom pour smelting pot so haven't tried that yet.

Please keep us posted on your results, Thanks

[mdxdm]

I plan to use it fueled by propane for the most part. If I decide to do wood I'll add a chimney to it. As for leaks it holds water without leaking so lead should be no problem

[shadowcaster]

I see your all-thread pour spout valve can be screwed tight rather than the free floating weighted ones like bottom pour casting pots, let us know if that works well. I always worried about leaks from a bottom pour smelting pot so haven't tried that yet.

He's using the "Shad style bottom pour valve". This system works excellent with no drips or leaks.

See for yourself on my original post.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?146065-New-bottom-pour-smelting-pot!&highlight=bottom+pour+smelting+pot

Shad

[mdxdm]

He's using the "Shad style bottom pour valve". This system works excellent with no drips or leaks.

See for yourself on my original post.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?146065-New-bottom-pour-smelting-pot!&highlight=bottom+pour+smelting+pot

Shad

Lol mine is the ghetto version of your design.

[Idz]

My last smelt was even cruder. I set a cutoff propane tank atop a couple of bricks and stuck a HarborFreight weed burner under it. Then surrounded it all with a furnace/windscreen box of patio pavers topped with a piece of sheet metal for a lid. Worked great except the lid had to have a gap so enough air flowed through the box to keep the burner from going out. Living at 7500' probably affects it too.

[dragonrider]

MDXDM very nice build, those supports you put inside are really important and well done. I am hoping you try it with wood and keep track of how much time it will take to melt.

Shad I remember when you posted that first thread about your pot, and at that time I was going to remodle my bottom pour smelter to include that type of valve. And I FORGOT. Thanks for brining it up again I hope to get to it soon.


.

[RoGrrr]

mdxdm
Your furnace has lots going for it.
1) - Easy to stoke with wood
2) - windproof
3) - easy to stand next to and prep your lead or wood
4) - no sore back
5) - even tho your pour spout is long, it remains hot so it's free-flowing

The more I look at it, the more I like it.

[mdxdm]

Thanks! Yeah I'm 6' 4" so being bent over while smelting is not going to happen. For my first build and first time welding I think I did a decent job. Working on the next sailboat now. So this thing should get a workout

[snuffy]

I plan to use it fueled by propane for the most part. If I decide to do wood I'll add a chimney to it. As for leaks it holds water without leaking so lead should be no problem

Without air holes around that pot, you won't even support a propane fire. You must provide enough 0-2 to support a fire of any kind. I had to get to the original picture to see the door for fueling the wood fire. As it is, a wood fire would go out with the door closed,(of course), even with it open, no vents on top won't let the smoke escape, so no heat on top and a smoldering fire underneath.

You need a grate on the bottom to get the wood off the ground. Then a bunch of holes around the bottom to get air under the fire. Then you could add fuel and close the door, with enough draft by using a chimney with a damper in it. A good start, but hardly complete.

[mdxdm]

figured i should update this thread with all the PMs ive recieved. This thing works amazingly. I had one set back trying to get the stupid spout to work, I snapped the pipe. So i had to replace that. other than that this thing melts 100lbs in about 20 min. Ive got most the lead into ingots. trying to find a lead tester to see how hard this stuff is.

busted pipe
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130627_174711_285.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130627_174711_285.jpg.html)
working on it
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130627_175418_385.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130627_175418_385.jpg.html)

all fixed
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130627_200348_140.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130627_200348_140.jpg.html)


doing its thing
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130621_120144_839.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130621_120144_839.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130629_200317_680.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130629_200317_680.jpg.html)


and for all the people that said there would not be enough O2 for a flame
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130706_210444_389.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130706_210444_389.jpg.html)

after about an hour
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_20130706_211902_300.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_20130706_211902_300.jpg.html)

[propwashp47]

great work you have done there and I love the use what you have on hand to fab your smelter. I was all so trying to scrap sail boats for the lead , but was too much trouble to load they had keels 3 1/2 to 4 ft tall and had 1000 to 1500 lbs of lead and were laying on their sides and the only good way to do it was to cut it op on site, the c l owners wood give me the boat to restore but they where just junk and wood cost 100s to rent a sail boat trailer and wench truck and still a have a 100 mile drive home I am glad some one got some good lead from one. ps I found two more they are also 100 miles each way. go figer