Had an opportunity yesterday to learn somethings about smelting Lead for
Ballast and thought I would pass along the knowledge.... anything past this
little jewel is more then I know....
I acquired my Lead from Paul Chism and it wieghted 560lbs in Two pieces...
just ask My Tail gate) anyway it was poured about 25lbs at a time and
flaked off Pretty easy.... and one of the 4" thick pieces I cut up into 4"
X15" strips with a Skill saw....( I could have melted it in half with a
Propane torch also) anyway one of these Bars was going under my legs and I
wanted it flatter... so I got ahold of my local Blacksmith buddies and he
gave me some basic Lessons....
Lead is Molten at 600 degrees and Pours really easily.... you can stick it
in a Cast Iron kettle and melt it with a Oxy Acetelene rig if you wanted to
but we used a simple Coleman Camp Stove with white gas once it was hot we
skimmed the Dirt off the top with a ladle... and proceeded to pour it into a
flat Pan I brought....
There are some MAJOR warning's .... Lead has some VERY nasty stuff in it
especially if it was used in Batteries.... something about Cyanide.. and
even if a drop of sweat gets into the pot it could cause a steam
explosion.... and pouring it on one's self is very Nasty.... oh and once a
Pot is Used for LEAD it CAN NOT BE RE-USED... Period except of course to
melt more lead....
Interesting day.... Keith
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