Smelting

[bullshot]

Found a cast iron single burner propane stove. Its rated to 15000 btu. Is that enough heat to melt whatever will fit into a 4 qt dutch oven?

[AZ-Stew]

Should be. Use a casting thermometer to be sure you don't get the melt hot enough to melt any zinc WWs that get past visual inspection before putting them in the pot.

Also, be careful not to overload the pot to where you may either collapse the burner frame, bend the dutch oven wire handle when trying to pick it up or end up with an unstable load in the dutch oven that causes it to tip. I find that even with the handle mounts high on the dutch oven, it still wants to tip when picked up if it's full of melted lead. You don't want a spill! Get a tool (soup/gravy) ladle that you can use to transfer the melt from the dutch oven to the ingot mould. Don't try to pour directly from the dutch oven. I bought a stainless steel ladle that has the cup riveted to the handle for a whopping $1 at Wal-Mart a couple of years ago.

After you get the WWs melted and the undesirable junk fished out of it, flux and stir until no more dirt/slag rises to the top. The remaining shiny melt will make nice boolits.

Regards,

Stew

[MT Gianni]

It will melt it but you will not be happy with the rate it melts at. Look for 35,000 btu or larger for a faster melt time. Gianni