Loose lead

[Duckiller]

Valve on a lee 20 lb pot would not close and I have lead all around the pot. Once the ingot mods were full lead ran free/ Any suggestions on how I get the lead back into the pot. I think I have fixed the valve.

[dondiego]

I keep my pot on a metal serving tray just in case. You should be able to pick up the lead sheet and cut it up and get it back in your pot.

[Winger Ed.]

Pop the edge up with a screw driver.

Set the big solid puddle down on the floor and whack it a few times with a hammer.
It'll fold right up, and you can drop it back in the pot.

[rancher1913]

my pot sets in a stainless cake pan just in case but so far havent needed it.

[kevin c]

The spill is mostly in a relatively thin layer I’m guessing. As others noted, the edge should lift easily unless the surface under the spill is porous. If the lead spilled around something that won’t allow pulling the lead away, use a box cutter or metal shears to cut through what’s binding it.

+3 on using a metal tray under the pot. It’ll catch little spatters as well as big spills, maybe saving a few scorches and reducing lead contamination. A half sheet jelly roll pan, sometimes found for a song in Good Will, works great: all 16-18# of lead in a Lee 4-20 would fill one less than a quarter inch (they have 1” rims).

[Sam Sackett]

I use a cheap cookie sheet under mine. Rim is only about 1/2”, so it doesn’t get in the way.

Back to your original question…. Use a screwdriver or other thin tool to wedge under the spilled lead. Pry it up, tear it, whatever. You will need to just tear it loose from where it set up. Them chop it up to get it back in the pot.

Sam Sackett

[lightman]

Like the others have said, pry it up and bend it, cut it, pound it into any shape that will fit back in the pot. A "catch" basin set under the pot will make these events simpler to deal with.