DaveInFloweryBranchGA
04-14-2006, 09:23 PM
Got everything set up and running tonight. Smelted my first batch of wheel weights. Things went ok and I learned a few things, have some observations and have more questions.
Observations:
1. 2/3'rds of a pot of dirty wheelweights in my dutch oven equals about enough melt to fill all three of my molds. I end up with about one inch of melted clean lead in the bottom of the pot.
2. I have to find a more level spot for my molds, even if I have to go inside the garage a little bit. The driveway at the end is just not level enough (doh!!) I didn't spill anything, but filling have the mold, then reversing it and filling the other half was a pain in the neck.
3. My stainless steel soup ladle isn't big enough to fill the individual modes I made in one scoop. I am going to either have to use smaller ingot molds (muffin pans) or made a different type of liquid melt scoop or another, better solution.
4. I think a skinnier (3-4") wide would be better, like the one 454PB posted on the "gettini back into casting" thread.
5. As I began to run out of melted lead, I was getting a "skim" on the top of the lead. I also noticed a bit of what looked like dirt right at the end. I am probably going to have to flux better.
6. My new ingots are ugly, but pretty at the same time. It's nice to have the thing moved along from "thinkin bout it" to "doin it." I did like filling them all up and letting them cool. I just lined them all up and moved from one trough to the next, pretty efficient.
7. Until I get a pot similar to 454PB's pot, I'm goin ta dig out my skinner dutch over and use that to cast.
8. My turkey fryer can handle the weight. It seems like it takes forever to get the stuff to melt, but then, when it's melted, it seems "sudden."
Questions:
1. I used sawdust to flux with and I couldn't find my wax candles because the old lady packed them somewhars. Would someone experienced in smelting the larger batches using a turkey fryer or other non bottom pour pot please be kind enough to pontificate on the fluxing process for me? I think I'm not doing enough of it or I'm missing something.
2. 454BP, would you be kind enough to give me a closer pic of your melting pot? I think I'll really like the design and it'll work on my turkey fryer burner. I'm wanting to copy it. Yes, the durn big pot got too hot to handle, so I was stuck scrabblin in the bottom for the last dribbles. I didn't like that too much. I'm thinking a quicker melt equals less gas used and a smaller pot like yours equals clean, dump and restart the process faster.
3. Someone talked about fluxing with borax. Is this better for smelting or for casting?
4. Ok, what am I missing you fellers are seeing in my observations?
Thanks for helping me out and getting me going.
Regards,
Dave
Observations:
1. 2/3'rds of a pot of dirty wheelweights in my dutch oven equals about enough melt to fill all three of my molds. I end up with about one inch of melted clean lead in the bottom of the pot.
2. I have to find a more level spot for my molds, even if I have to go inside the garage a little bit. The driveway at the end is just not level enough (doh!!) I didn't spill anything, but filling have the mold, then reversing it and filling the other half was a pain in the neck.
3. My stainless steel soup ladle isn't big enough to fill the individual modes I made in one scoop. I am going to either have to use smaller ingot molds (muffin pans) or made a different type of liquid melt scoop or another, better solution.
4. I think a skinnier (3-4") wide would be better, like the one 454PB posted on the "gettini back into casting" thread.
5. As I began to run out of melted lead, I was getting a "skim" on the top of the lead. I also noticed a bit of what looked like dirt right at the end. I am probably going to have to flux better.
6. My new ingots are ugly, but pretty at the same time. It's nice to have the thing moved along from "thinkin bout it" to "doin it." I did like filling them all up and letting them cool. I just lined them all up and moved from one trough to the next, pretty efficient.
7. Until I get a pot similar to 454PB's pot, I'm goin ta dig out my skinner dutch over and use that to cast.
8. My turkey fryer can handle the weight. It seems like it takes forever to get the stuff to melt, but then, when it's melted, it seems "sudden."
Questions:
1. I used sawdust to flux with and I couldn't find my wax candles because the old lady packed them somewhars. Would someone experienced in smelting the larger batches using a turkey fryer or other non bottom pour pot please be kind enough to pontificate on the fluxing process for me? I think I'm not doing enough of it or I'm missing something.
2. 454BP, would you be kind enough to give me a closer pic of your melting pot? I think I'll really like the design and it'll work on my turkey fryer burner. I'm wanting to copy it. Yes, the durn big pot got too hot to handle, so I was stuck scrabblin in the bottom for the last dribbles. I didn't like that too much. I'm thinking a quicker melt equals less gas used and a smaller pot like yours equals clean, dump and restart the process faster.
3. Someone talked about fluxing with borax. Is this better for smelting or for casting?
4. Ok, what am I missing you fellers are seeing in my observations?
Thanks for helping me out and getting me going.
Regards,
Dave