Smelting Pot

[Pitmaster]

Would enameled cast iron cookware such as Le Creuset, Lodge, etc. be safe and work to smelt lead ?

I can't think why it wouldn't work but there may be chemical and other reactions I'm not aware of. Finding used and scratched or scorched ones is easier than plain cast iron. People want an arm and a leg for even the crappy ones.

[oneokie]

Think that the range of temps during smelting would cause the enamel to seperate from the metal. Different expansion rates.

[Bobby Ironsights]

Absolutely, smelting is a redox reaction and usually takes place at very high temperature.

I think though, that you would be fine if you were just melting the lead.

[imashooter2]

Enamel is put onto the cast iron at much higher temperature than you'd get smelting... Try it and see. If the enamel does come off, it'll just float on the lead like any other dirt.


And thank you for changing your avatar.


No really, THANK YOU! :)

[Pitmaster]

I'll keep an eye out at the garage sales for one and try it. I picked about 1500lbs of pure lead the other day and need to start smelting. I lost a little weight loading and unloading that lead, decided to die my hair, and voila a new avatar.:mrgreen:

[cohutt]

I'll keep an eye out at the garage sales for one and try it. I picked about 1500lbs of pure lead the other day and need to start smelting. I lost a little weight loading and unloading that lead, decided to die my hair, and voila a new avatar.:mrgreen:

funny i own that tee shirt in white . looks less appealing on me for sure.

lots of good shirts here: http://www.thoseshirts.com/

http://www.thoseshirts.com/images/rect-diversitywt.jpg

[Pitmaster]

That's where I got mine. I bought 3 of them. I also like this one:

http://www.thoseshirts.com/images/square-large-sec.gif

[shotman]

do you have a Harbor Freight near? they have cast iron "camping' dutch pots that are not to much

[Chunky Monkey]

do you have a Harbor Freight near? they have cast iron "camping' dutch pots that are not to much

UPDATE: They have gone up a little. I bought a 6 qt in the Altoona, PA Harbor Freight about a month ago and paid $25.00. Still a good deal!

[Pitmaster]

do you have a Harbor Freight near? they have cast iron "camping' dutch pots that are not to much

We do, I'll check it out. I'm not in a hurry to smelt. I've got about 300lbs of range lead ready to cast. I'm taking a few hundred lbs of pure lead to a SASS match Saturday to sell. I don't need to smelt that into ingots for these guys. Once they buy that then I'll spend some time over the winter smelting the rest into ingots.