my first casting pot

[RobP1]

I'm a rookie to casting here. I've been spending hours here reading everything I can. This forum is a wealth of information so thanks to everyone involved. Well I picked up my first casting pot. I believe its pretty old. On the bottom it says Holland Erie Pa. If anyone knows anything about it I sure would sure appreciate knowing. Thanks, Rob

[Dusty Bannister]

Maybe you can find the information at the Holland web site?

https://www.etsy.com/market/holland_cookware

[RobP1]

I couldn't find much. What I did find was Holland was a well known company for making vises in 1890.I know Griswold cast iron was made in Erie Pa. I have a couple of my grandmothers Griswold fry pans that are way better than any Rough cast Lodge cast Iron made today.

[RobP1]

Could be possible they were cast by Griswold for Holland

[David2011]

Welcome to the forum! Cool pot. I’m guilty of accumulating too much stuff but would have trouble melting lead in that one. I would be inclined to use that one as a bean pot and scarf up a steel pot for melting lead.

[Land Owner]

An option: acquire and cut a cheap (free), out-of-date, 25-gallon, steel, propane tank in two. One-half of a propane tank easily holds 100#'s of WW's and lead, liquid or solid. There are recommendations for making a propane tank inert prior to cutting (safety first) and videos galore about using and / or modifying one for casting.

Things I added are the handle for safe tipping toward ingot molds and chains for hanging over heat. Food for Thought...

[RobP1]

David, there are traces of lead in the bottom of the pot so I don't think it would be wise to use as food prep. But I do have a 1.5 gal. cast iron bean pot that I break out every now and then.

[RobP1]

The pot measures 7" at the top x 4" deep

[pworley1]

Welcome to the forum. That is a nice pot.

[RobP1]

Welcome to the forum. That is a nice pot.

Thanks, I read somewhere that some apply a thin film of wax to their ladle when they are done with a casting session to prevent rust. Does this apply also to the pot? Or is it something not to worry about because the flux will take care of the rust the next time they cast?

[Land Owner]

Flux takes care of most issues. As you can see, my pot is externally rusty, the inside is charred (and probably rusty), and none of that affects the next melt. I liberally flux with wax too...and your cast iron pot should do well.

[deltaenterprizes]

That could be a plumbers pot.
They fit on top of a specific propane tank made to hold it.
Nice pot!