You forgot to mention how the fumes (from melting the stuff in the open)
poisons brain cells. Very nasty stuff.
John Beckett
----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith Turk" <kturk@ala.net>
To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2000 9:54 PM
Subject: Smelting Lead
> 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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