Exposed coil hotplates work very well for melting lead. I even use my 750W to smelt (literally) black sand and dross back to usable lead. I have another fancier 1000W hotplate with a cast iron top and it does not get hot enough to melt lead.
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Exposed coil hotplates work very well for melting lead. I even use my 750W to smelt (literally) black sand and dross back to usable lead. I have another fancier 1000W hotplate with a cast iron top and it does not get hot enough to melt lead.
Why not buy one of wally's "pc" red chinese hotplates for the occasional fondue fest and a real lead pot from Lee. Cheaper in the aggregate, eh?
BvT
I don't know hen you guys bought your "Hot Plates", but this is the way it is now.
WM/Wally World lists only two, neither or open coil: Evidently the open coil look is not in vogue this year, LOL!
http://www.walmart.com/search/search....y=0&Find=Find
Harbor freight lists NONE.
I'm going to go to a couple places a lady friend recommended tomorrow and see what they have. If anything pans out I'll let everyone know.
Things and times seem to be changing faster and faster, it's just a dam shame it's all in the wrong direction!
Electricity for heating lead is a very inefficient method. Like trying to light up a room with kerosene. Electric smelting pots use concentrated heating coils inside an insulating envelope to melt the lead in the pot. Hot plates lack the ability to focus the heat they produce and are quite inefficient. I smelt with propane burners as it is much better.