Best way to smelt 1k# a week of lead?

[lightman]

Sgtonory, The burner that you are looking at, partnered with a homemade smelting pot like Shadowcaster made should make a good setup for you. That and about a half dozen ingot molds. Natural gas would be cheaper to use, if you can get enough heat for a good melt. If you plan to sell any lead, an ingot that fits tightly in a flat rate box and that will also fit in a 10# pot is the way to go.

There are several threads and even stickies here about smelting lead. Lots of good ideas, too! Lightman

[Sgtonory]

Sgtonory , Where are you located? Any interest in selling raw scrap by the pound/bucket/barrel whatever?

Located in Central Indiana. I would sell scrap by the pound yes.
And thank you CGt80. I will more than likely get a I would use a flux core only machine over a stick machine for what I do and what you will probably do. Per your recommendations. A lot of good info in your post.

[boog]

Located in Central Indiana.

I'm in western Ohio. Northeastern Butler county (Butler touches Indiana). Could maybe do a pick up (Maybe in a few weeks, when I get the $$) if it wasn't too far to "Central" Indiana, and if the price is right for raw scrap Might have to take this to pm if you want.

[KYCaster]

I'm a master plumber, I may be able to help you with your natural gas hook up, and I'd really like to find a steady supply of range scrap.

I also have a large gas fired pot you may be interested in.

Send me a PM if you'd like to discuss it.

Jerry

[WILCO]

I got in a little over my head when i started to buy range scrap from a indoor range and now i need a way to melt around 1000# of it a week.

Save yourself the hassle and liabilities of such a venture by selling it off as is.

[Sgtonory]

Save yourself the hassle and liabilities of such a venture by selling it off as is.

No way that is gonna happen. Going to do this full time along with selling brass.

[WILCO]

No way that is gonna happen. Going to do this full time along with selling brass.

Okay. Good luck with that.

[Sgtonory]

First day of smelting over 850# melted. Thanks for the help Kycaster!

[lightman]

Sgtonory, how about a few pictures of the set-up that you decided to use? Lightman

[Sgtonory]

Sgtonory, how about a few pictures of the set-up that you decided to use? Lightman

Will do tomorrow when i have some light.

[KYCaster]

Happy to help.

Jerry

[triggerhappy243]

If you built your ingot molds a certain size so that a group of ingots would fit into a given flat rate box... there would be no sliding around inside the box.

[sirsloop]

*****... Taking advantage of the usps flat rate hehe. MAX lead!!!

[Gunslinger1911]

Hello Sgtonory,

I have smelted something like 1000 lbs of range lead last year, was looking to also smelt and sell - then the range decided to sell only to the scrapper (exclusivity agreement prob), good luck with your endeavor !

Any idea of a price for raw range lead ? I live in W Ohio - would be interested in a road trip for a bunch at the right price.

[triggerhappy243]

One very important thing to consider. How much lead will you melt per batch? My setup I have, I melt no more than 50 pounds at a time. so your burner must be able to support the batch and the pot.

[Sgtonory]

One very important thing to consider. How much lead will you melt per batch? My setup I have, I melt no more than 50 pounds at a time. so your burner must be able to support the batch and the pot.

I fill the pot to the top and get around 300# of clean lead per batch.

[famdoc2892]

Any luck on the pics? I'm curious to see a setup that handles this kind of volume.

[Sgtonory]

inc with a video of the setup

http://youtu.be/WQRk-I3gM0g

Have a lot of improvements to do with how i lay out my ingot molds. The pot is almost as tall as the 55 gallon drum and is larger than the drum in diameter.

[MaryB]

All that snow that could land in a mold = tinsel fairy

[Sgtonory]

All that snow that could land in a mold = tinsel fairy

I preheated the molds and just a little left over snow. Had no tinsel fairy issues.