New bottom pour smelting pot!

[shadowcaster]

This is my new bottom pour smelting pot that I made with the help of my brother and his welder.

If filled to the brim, it will hold almost 4 gallons of molten lead (380 #).
I generally run it from 1/2 to 2/3 full. It is smooth to operate and makes pouring ingots a pleasure. No more ladling for large batches! When not on the burner the spout acts as a fourth leg.

I had to make some modifications to the turkey fryer to keep the spout hot and for extra support due to the increased weight. As there is almost no heat loss from the burner it is quick to heat, although I am making a lid for it to keep the heat in from the top.

With my new vent hood with inline fan I am able to do my smelting in the shop, rain or shine.

Thoughts and opinions please.

Shad







Pot under construction




Legs and spout




Burner with modifications




Pot on the burner






Inside the vent hood

Please see next post "new bottom pour smelting pot #2" for additional pictures

[shadowcaster]

my smelting/casting setup




Putting the heat to it






The bottom pour in action






The final product

[clodhopper]

Wow that's a beauty!
Do you just pull up to drain the lead?

[shadowcaster]

No.. it is threaded so that I have a good seal with no drips when it's closed,

[clodhopper]

I have a simlar set up with threaded valve on the bottom, the valve works like a ball valve and opens with 90 dregree turn.
My pot is a 10" dutch oven. The lid keeps carbonized gasses and the tinsel fairy in, but must be removed to put a 'T' wrench on the stem to open the valve.
It sure was a step up from the old 6 inch sauce pan hand poured into ingot moulds.
Good luck finding enough lead to keep that set up busy.

[canyon-ghost]

The sides are 11" long angle iron with 3" channel x 6in long. I used 1/4" thick angle and channel because it was all I had. The brick molds are nice. The angle iron ones are just 6" long angle iron that make a 3&1/2 lb triangular stick, the channel iron makes a 5 pound brick.

Something to think on:

[shadowcaster]

Good luck finding enough lead to keep that set up busy.

Yeah.. The hunt continues!

[clodhopper]

Canyon Ghost,
The ingot moulds are nice,
I have three triples made from 1 1/2" angle 7 1/2" long.
Also a single made from 4" channel 7 1/2" long, the channel ingot weighs 10 pounds and it's to big for most pots. makes a great door stop though!

[shadowcaster]

clodhopper

It's not to big for my new pot! Send your ingots my way.

[clodhopper]

What's gonna hold my door open?

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Great minds think alike!
I built most of one today as well, that in many respects, could be the brother to yours.

Show me what you did to keep the spout hot, I was wondering if I was going to
have an issue there.

[Max Brand]

Shadowcaster that is one fine looking pot sir! I would hate to try to guess how much it weighs but you can tell at a glance that is one heavy duty piece of equipment. Well done.

Max

[Nick2010]

what are the dimensions of your pan for the burner? how big of circle is it? thinking about making one now...lol...does the plug with threads screw in fine once the lead is melted?

[shadowcaster]

Jim,
I had to cut a 3 inch section out of the top horizontal piece as my spout sits just outside the burner. I then reinforced it with the 2 vertical pieces you see in the photo. Because the fire doesn't reach outside the square of the burner, this allows the flame to lick at the back side of the spout to keep it hot.

[shadowcaster]

Nick,
Here are my dimensions: The burner if you look at it straight down from the top measures 12x12 inches. The diameter of the pot is 17 inches. The pot is 4 and 1/2 inches deep. The threaded pieces operates smoothly because the threads are at the top of the pot. They never touch the molten lead. I was amazed at how well this worked for me the 1st time I fired it up. I'll never go back to my dutch oven, except for maybe a small project.

[Nick2010]

alright thanks, looks like i got some work to do lol...maybe not one that big. i got some 12" pipe i will probably just try and use that.

[jmsj]

shadowcaster,
BRAVO!
That is a great design. The fabrication looks top notch and the the pictures show it off great.
I like the width of the pot. When I made mine I used a smaller diameter pipe because that is what I had. It ended up taller than it is wide to be able to handle the weight I wanted to be able to smelt. This makes it difficut to scoop out the clips or other debris.
I also like that you raised the working height up to a more comfortable level. I also raised mine up so I did not have to bend over to do the work. After raising my smelter, I am able to smelt 500-600 pounds at a time without being sore. After many years of shoeing horses, my back really doesn't like to bent over for too long a period.
Good job, jmsj

[Sonnypie]

Now that right there is a dandy!

I bet you could cast Howitzer bullets with that monster!

(I like the Lee Pro IV comparison picture)

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Thanks Shadowcaster
the rest of my stuff should be here in the morning, this stupid town, I had to order 1/4 pipe fittings

Maybe get a test drive tomorrow.

[Hammerlane]

couple of ?? on the threaded shaft. where did you come up with this thing. I am rebuilding my pot and this may help. thanks