How do you clean your melting pot?
 

Guys, I've got a gravity flow type"Lee Production Pot IV" electric melter.
I melted some lead down a guy gave me and pured up into ingots.
I got the lead it self pretty clean, but when the pot was empty there
was a crud of sortsleft in the bottom of the pot. When I try to cast this
crud clogs the nozzle and I spend more time clearing the nozzle than
casting.So I was wandering if you guys could give me some tips on
how to cleaning the pot, nozzle, and flow control valve.

Thanks

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

You know this is the one reason, I have not got into casting. Everybody I know who does it, shows me how messy a job it can be. Sorry, I can't help you. Just came across your post. I was always interested in casting.

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

First off, i don't have the same pot as you do but i NEVER empty the pot completely. Leaveing lead in the pot helps the next batch to come up to heat faster. I believe leaveing the pot at least half full makes the heating element last longer too....

Also, i NEVER make ingots out of my pot. It's only for "clean" ingots or lead to go into! That's what old cast iron frypans are for, turning dirty lead into clean ingots! Dutch ovens are even better for this, and this is about all those newJUNK castiron ones from china are good for anyway!!

Whenmy casting pot is half full, i use a long HD spoon to stir the pot real well. The impurities are lighter than lead, and come to the top to be skimmed off... Do this untill you get them all out of the pot. I do this quite often, so i never have a lot of junk in the pot to clog it up in the first place....

Don't let BC discourage you, "if" you never learn how to do something the "right" way, you will never know how to teach the next guy to do it the "right"way either!

I hope this helps you some,

Drilling Man

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

You know I got to know. DM, what is your beef with me? I didn't say a word to discourage, just had some dialogue with the guy on lead pots. Just making conversation. Do you really believe that me saying, "this is the reason I never got into casting", is going to discourage someone thats already doing it? I admire him for taking the time doing it.

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

DM, You helped alot and I am very grateful to ya. ;)
Think I got my potcleaning problemfigured outthis afternoon.
I took an air die-grinder with a brass brush attached to it and
it cleaned the potup all but the nozzle, whichshould flush out.
Using your method aboveshould prevent any future problems.

BC,I wouldn'tlet a little mess hold you back if your interested in casting.
It's really not that bad if you can find a good supply ofqualitylead. It's a
great past time, and the reward is awesome whether it shows up on
paper or on the supper table. :D

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

Isn't wheel wieght good lead? Or do you just order it?

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

Wheel weights are ok for some loadingapplications, but I mainly cast
projectiles for my blackpowder rifles. I've read that wheel weights
contain tin, and the tin will cut upthe riflingin yourriflebarrel eventually.
Theyshould beok for roundballs and saboted bullets though.

No, I don't order it. What I have on hand now came from a factory that
that used it as heat shield panelson their molds. Roofing lead and
plumber's lead are a few good sources. If you candent it with a finger
nail, it's good lead.

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

Wheel weights ARE a good source for lead, i cast 1,600 pounds of 20 pound bars of wheel weights material last winter. They have tin and antimony in them as well as ???.

Tin will NOT hurt the bbl in a rifle, but for a muzzleloader anything but pure lead will be VERY hard to push down a bbl... Also, anything but pure lead won't expand well and seal the gass' behind it when you fire the weapon.

For my 44 bullets, i use wheel weight lead, and add pure tin to it to get the alloy i want... I mix it up in a dutch oven, and then pour it into 2 pounds ingots, that are ready for the melting pot.

Drilling Man

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

Yea, DM, I would avoid the question too.

RE: How do you clean your melting pot?
 

It seems several folks in here have a problem with you. The only thing i'm "avoiding" is, joining them.

Perhaps if you read more, instead of trying to see how high you can get your post count number up to, you'd get along better in here???

DM