jig head Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Hi everyone. I am new to this board, so let me start by saying that it is a great site, I have learned alot and gotten some great ideas reading here already. I have a question for you guys with more experience than me (almost all of you, I'm sure). I pour jig heads, and for the past two years I have been working away at a supply of lead that was left over from the construction of an x-ray room. It is in sheets and very easy to use with my 10 lb. pot. A buddy gave me a some lead in big round ingots, I don't know if it is plumbers lead or what. It is too big for my pot, which I didn't think was a problem. I tried to melt it today to pour into an ingot mold, and it turned out to be a bit frustrating. I have a small 2-burner electric range, and I tried melting it in a pot on this. After an hour and a half I was pretty well convinced that it was not going to work. The bit that did melt in the middle ran to the sides and solidified. So I transferred it to my small propane camping stove, which melted some, but took forever, and never really got hot enough to pour well, it kept hardening in the ladle. All that is to ask, when you guys are melting bulk lead, what do you use as a heat source? Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Splash Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 You could rent or borrow a propane 'Tiger torch', and do it all in a couple of hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richoc Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 I use a turkey fryer. Out side. Propane power. Cast iron pot. Use a propane or mapp gas torch to melt it over your pot. Hit one edge and it will slowly drip in to the pot. Melt it smaller and smaller, but manage it with a long large pliers. Then it will fit in to the pot. Be careful............. Lead doesn't forgive any mistakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskat Posted April 30, 2004 Report Share Posted April 30, 2004 I use my fish cooker and a cast iron pot. One word of caution if your new at this. Don't get water in hot lead!! It will explode! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted April 30, 2004 Report Share Posted April 30, 2004 i use a cast iron pot with a pipe out of the side and a good old fashioned camp fire. the lead runs off and that crap tends to stay in the pot. monty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jig head Posted April 30, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2004 thanks for the ideas guys. I know not to get any water in it. I have enough lead in ingots now to last me a good while, as I only pour for my own use, but I need to get them in a workable form at some point. Thanks again. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
