Smelting

[RustyFN]

OK I'm getting ready to smelt for the first time. What is the best and or easiest thing to use for flux. I read somewhere that candle wax worked good but what do you use. I will post some pictures soon of what I have to see if I'm missing something.

Rusty

[yammerschooner]

I raided all of my friends' wives candle stashes a couple of years ago. I am down to about a grocery bag of candles. That is what I use when running the machine. For regular smelting, there is normally quite a bit of built in flux that burns off. Still I throw a tiny bit of wax in from time to time.

I have melted a fair share of lead, and normally the crap that is in with the wheel weights is enough. Other than using a little wax on those exceptionally (clean) fluxless buckets of ww, I save a good portion of my wax for when I am melting the lead the second time.

[Fatdaddy]

I've been using the kids broken crayons. Seems to work as good as anything else ( sawdust, oil, bullet lube, wooden stick) Just be careful and watch for spontaneous flame-up.

[yammerschooner]

the next melt I do will use tiny pieces of 2x4 splintered off from the backstop as flux. They are mixed throughout my supply pretty evenly.

If handy, use a button trigger type plumbers torch to control the flame up so that you don't have to deal with as much smoke or the surprise described above.

[cohutt]

old candles, sawdust, (dry) walnut tumbling media, boogers, pine cone, stirring with sticks of all types (dry too).
I've done them all, all work - I usually use candle wax and stir with an old broom handle, scrape sides and bottom with it.
Stir in but then let it sit for a while afterwards, it'll do its thang.

[jawjaboy]

boogers

:rofl:

[creekwalker]

cohutt, you sure your not related to Hellsbelle some where down the road?

CW

[RustyFN]

Thanks everybody that was a great help.
Rusty

[Glooooock]

If your just smelting junk for ingots , you can just skim the dross / slag off the top and be done with it . Some add tin and antimony to harden up the mix ,,, so your only casting straight from the ingots .

Plain scrap lead will be generally be soft, needing some alloy . Soft bullets can start off you casting hobby with depressing results .

Plan for disaster , have boots / gloves , spill precaution plan - estimate the weight of a full pot.

[RustyFN]

If your just smelting junk for ingots , you can just skim the dross / slag off the top and be done with it . Some add tin and antimony to harden up the mix ,,, so your only casting straight from the ingots .

Plain scrap lead will be generally be soft, needing some alloy . Soft bullets can start off you casting hobby with depressing results .

Plan for disaster , have boots / gloves , spill precaution plan - estimate the weight of a full pot.
I will be smelting WW's. There are a few of the stick on ones but most have the clips.
Rusty

[cohutt]

I will be smelting WW's. There are a few of the stick on ones but most have the clips.
Rusty

skip the additional tin and antimony, not needed, costs some $$$ that could be spent on primers or something.

[layusn1]

I need to start collecting the sick on types. I think my wife is going to buy me that 1858 Remington I was drooling over for fathers day and I will be casting some balls as soon as I get a mold.

[Fatdaddy]

One more tip, once you get to casting, if you must wear shorts, bro-gans and no socks be sure to cinch up the tops good.
Found that one out today when a hot sprue got funneled into my boot.
:yikes:

[Anvil]

Rusty, when you smelt be sure not to skim out the antimony. If your temp is too low the antimony will crust up around the edge of the pot and just be a different consistancy than the rest of the lead. That's not dross, that's the goods. Kick your heat up and you'll be golden.

[RustyFN]

Thanks Anvil that leads me to another question. What is a good temp for smelting?
Rusty

[Anvil]

If you have a lymann thermometer you'll need to get past 500 to get it a bit soupy. When you get around 600- 630 you're good.

Also, if you don't already have a big 3 foot crow bar you'll need to get one. They're absolutely essential for stiring stuff up in the melting pot. You could use a piece of wood but as it chars you'll just be making more gunk to skim out. Get a big crow bar. so you can dunk the cold pieces of lead and stir stuff up.


I take it you've already got some frying ladles. Also, you need to have a metal wheel barrow to dump your skimmings into. Lastly, if you're doing this over concrete you're good. If you're doing it over grass I'd go ahead and burn the grass where you're gonna work so you don't get any unexpected fires.

[yammerschooner]

These make moving hot lead around a lot easier. Get big ones.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2391

[MakeMineaP99]

Channellocks are the best, it doesn't get any better.

[chewy]

My boogers flammed up like black powder! Unfortunately my booger collection is still under the ex-wife's computer desk.

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

My boogers flammed up like black powder! Unfortunately my booger collection is still under the ex-wife's computer desk.


NICE, left her a few presents huh

:rofl::thumbsup:

[RustyFN]

OK here are some of the things I have.
http://www.bayouclassicdepot.com/images/bcsp10_propane_burner.jpg
The Bayou Classic High Pressure Propane Burner produces 185,000 BTUs of heat out of a cast iron element. This high pressure propane burner includes a full windscreen, protecting your flame from unwanted wind. This helps you obtain a crisp, hot flame. Use the Bayou Classic High Pressure Propane Burner with small stock pots and large stock pots. The flame on this high pressure propane burner is adjustable, therefore you can obtain a roaring flame or turn the flame down small enough simmer a cup of coffee. The cooking surface of this propane burner measures 14 inches in diameter. The height measures 12 inches tall. It includes a 20 PSI regulator and reaches 185,000 BTUs. The hose on the regulator kit measures 48 inches long.

A six quart doutch oven.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/44700-44799/44705.gif

Rowell number three.

http://www.advancecarmover.com/ecomimages/03603.jpg

RCBS thermometer.
http://www.midwayusa.com/mediasvr.dll/image?saleitemid=357906

[yammerschooner]

Looks good.

[chewy]

I was plannin' on using my prpane flam thrower, weed burin torch, for smelting. Think that would work if I rigged it up?

[cohutt]

rusty that's the same nuk-u-lar one i have, 'cept i added a 22q dutch oven

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m284/cohutt/bermining%202/misc002.jpg

beech gets hot i tell ya

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m284/cohutt/bermining019.jpg

[Anvil]

Rusty, I'd still like you to have some kind of crow bar and you need something to skim dross with. At least a frying ladle. If you can't find one somewhere let me know and I'll pick one up for you and ship it to you and you can reimburse me. You also need some ingot molds. Some cast iron corn bread muffin molds would be good.

[Fatdaddy]

My boogers flammed up like black powder! Unfortunately my booger collection is still under the ex-wife's computer desk.


That would be a booger-stash.:yesnod:

[zdogk9]

I was plannin' on using my prpane flam thrower, weed burin torch, for smelting. Think that would work if I rigged it up?

Damn right it will! I use mine in conjunction with the crab cooker. Toss the WW in the dutch oven, turn the crab cooker to high and then hit the top with the flame thrower. Cuts the initial melt time by a whole bunch, more'n half even.

[chewy]

Damn right it will! I use mine in conjunction with the crab cooker. Toss the WW in the dutch oven, turn the crab cooker to high and then hit the top with the flame thrower. Cuts the initial melt time by a whole bunch, more'n half even.


Cool. Now I can start rackin' more CRB points. Now just to find a use dutch oven someplace.

[RustyFN]

Cool. Now I can start rackin' more CRB points. Now just to find a use dutch oven someplace.
I don't know how big of one you want but I just bought a 6 quart Dutch Oven at Harbor Freight for 12 bucks. It was $19 regular I guess they had a sale.
Rusty

[chewy]

Harbor Frieght huh? I think there is a similar Hut in Albuquerque, but I forget there title? search engine time. Off to Albq. to take mu' sonny boy to a Pow-Wow and search for a Dutch oven. Y'all have a good n' safe weekend.

[yammerschooner]

I wanna know where cohutt found his monster pot.

Please post up when you see this Cohutt.

[cohutt]

I wanna know where cohutt found his monster pot.

Please post up when you see this Cohutt.

it was a present for the man who had (almost) everything.
I was thinking it was 22 or 24 qt but the biggest i see in a quick online search is 20qt, which at $44 isn't that bad

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2030002

I'll ask the giverette where she got it

[cohutt]

damn here ya go- reinforce the legs about 5x and fire up a 30 gallon cast iron jambalaya pot: http://www.weliveoutside.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=138

http://www.weliveoutside.com/ProductImages/bayouclassic/CI-7404-07-10-15-18.jpg

[yammerschooner]

it was a present for the man who had (almost) everything.
I was thinking it was 22 or 24 qt but the biggest i see in a quick online search is 20qt, which at $44 isn't that bad

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2030002

I'll ask the giverette where she got it


Looks like I need to find an excuse to go to cedar rapids this summer. That second one is too big for me, although I'll bet it would be easier to get the last couple of inches of melt with that one.

[speedracer211]

rusty how much has your set up cost you so far?

[cohutt]

Looks like I need to find an excuse to go to cedar rapids this summer. That second one is too big for me, although I'll bet it would be easier to get the last couple of inches of melt with that one.

those witch's cauldrons come in 4 through 30 gallon sizes- i saw one at an ace hardware up in the mountains and thought the same thing as you about the last couple inches.

The big DO really spreads it out with the broad flat base, i end up tilting it some towards the bottom.( I left a couple inches in it once and the damn thing was a gut buster to lift off and put up. )

[jawjaboy]

Nutz are a sacred thang Bro B, might wanna take care a dat end. :thumbsup:

[Pitmaster]

Think either one of these would be big enough. The top picture is a scalding tank for butchering. The cauldron is an old cast iron syrup pot. The other picture is a "wok" made from the end of a 250 gallon propane tank. We use it to render lard, scald chickens, or whatever. I was teaching the 14 y/o girl how to clean a chicken. She also butchered a hog that weekend. Great kid, for a city girl. No spigot on either one.:cryin:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c400/bdcbbq/HTH42005BigJimsCollection072.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c400/bdcbbq/HTH2004BrianPatterson126-1.jpg

[RustyFN]

rusty how much has your set up cost you so far?
Around $120 to $130 for the burner, dutch oven, ladle and thermometer.
Rusty

[speedracer211]

Thanks... I am trying to decide if this is something I want to get into.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Long live Pitmaster's original avatar!

[AdamN]

Around $120 to $130 for the burner, dutch oven, ladle and thermometer.
Rusty


Anymore $130.00 will only get ya a couple thousand bullets, good investment now-a-days. Potential for a lot of bullets there

[speedracer211]

How much propane do you burn though?

[GLOCKENNBOOMER]

How much propane do you burn though?
How long does one of those 5 gallon tanks last?

[cohutt]

5 gal really "20lb tank" - depends on the btu sucking ability of your burner. Best to get 2 tanks, otherwise you run out at the dead wrong time.

I added a 40lb tank to go with the 20 I started with.

[AdamN]

If I keep at it Ive done Close to 1000lbs of WW on a single 20lb bottle. If you do 100lbs one day then 200lbs some other day you will run out sooner because you have to get everything back up to temp.

[Pitmaster]

5 gal really "20lb tank" - depends on the btu sucking ability of your burner. Best to get 2 tanks, otherwise you run out at the dead wrong time.

I added a 40lb tank to go with the 20 I started with.

Even better you can get 100lb tanks at Lowes, Menard's, Rural King, etc. for less than a $100. I think mine cost $60 on sale several years ago and it was a good investment.

[cohutt]

Even better you can get 100lb tanks at Lowes, Menard's, Rural King, etc. for less than a $100. I think mine cost $60 on sale several years ago and it was a good investment.

Yeah, I lusted after the bigger tanks but then decided I didn't want to lift any more than the 40.

[AdamN]

Ive seen a few guys mention using an extra burner/weed torch when smelting. I had a pretty good pile of half green brush I needed to burn up so I thought it would be a good excuse to buy one. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91033


Wow this thing really kicks arse, this will certainly speed up a "smelt" the next time I do some. Puts out a fantastic ammount of heat. I can see adding a little "heat" to the top will speed things up.....

[Pitmaster]

Yeah, I lusted after the bigger tanks but then decided I didn't want to lift any more than the 40.

I bought a hand cart for moving mine around.

[Pitmaster]

Ive seen a few guys mention using an extra burner/weed torch when smelting. I had a pretty good pile of half green brush I needed to burn up so I thought it would be a good excuse to buy one. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91033


Wow this thing really kicks arse, this will certainly speed up a "smelt" the next time I do some. Puts out a fantastic ammount of heat. I can see adding a little "heat" to the top will speed things up.....

They do come in handy for lighting charcoal, a nice Roi Tan, or ant and mole hills.