Thread: Lead melting question for sinkers and jig heads.

When you refer to fluxing are you saying that you use the bacon grease to coat the mold before you pour the lead ingots?

FISH ON

[QUOTE=BoarBuster;2398014]When you refer to fluxing are you saying that you use the bacon grease to coat the mold before you pour the lead ingots?

FISH ON[/QUOT

No, not the molds, you can buy a spray called Drop-Out for the molds or you can "candle" them. All of the lead I use I'm recycling, it's dirty and oxidized, this is what clogs the spouts on the furnaces. I clean the scrap with a stiff nylon brush or even just wipe it down with a rag to remove a lot of the build-up. Then I melt the scrap and skim off the dross. I stir the lead and repeat this a few times making sure to scrape the bottom and sides good. That used to be all I did, not wanting to do anymore. One day I melted some pipe with a grease clog, the flare-up and oil floating upon the surface brought up more residues, so I skimmed the dross till it burnt no more. Best, cleanest lead I ever had, no clogs and ran like water. It sure convinced me how important fluxing is. So, in keeping true form and being thrifty (cheap) I continue this practice today. Plus, I'm loving my neighbors using bacon grease, you know, meat candy. Try it, it works great.

[QUOTE=crappiedoc;2398095]

Originally Posted by BoarBuster

When you refer to fluxing are you saying that you use the bacon grease to coat the mold before you pour the lead ingots?

FISH ON[/QUOT

No, not the molds, you can buy a spray called Drop-Out for the molds or you can "candle" them. All of the lead I use I'm recycling, it's dirty and oxidized, this is what clogs the spouts on the furnaces. I clean the scrap with a stiff nylon brush or even just wipe it down with a rag to remove a lot of the build-up. Then I melt the scrap and skim off the dross. I stir the lead and repeat this a few times making sure to scrape the bottom and sides good. That used to be all I did, not wanting to do anymore. One day I melted some pipe with a grease clog, the flare-up and oil floating upon the surface brought up more residues, so I skimmed the dross till it burnt no more. Best, cleanest lead I ever had, no clogs and ran like water. It sure convinced me how important fluxing is. So, in keeping true form and being thrifty (cheap) I continue this practice today. Plus, I'm loving my neighbors using bacon grease, you know, meat candy. Try it, it works great.

If it works there are no needs to change it Good clean leads sure is nice to work with.

I've poured 5 oz. sinkers with my Lee's without any problems.

Coleman makes a hose that fits the 20 pound and larger bottles of propane and the fitting on the stove. It can be found where Coleman camping supplies are sold.

Check local thrift stores and carport sales before buying new. I found a 1 1/2 qt. cast iron sauce pan for $1, 10 qt. cast iron dutch oven with lid for $2, aluminum cornbread stick pan .25, Masterbuilt combo charcoal/gas cooker/grill/smoker/fryer with hose and a half bottle of propane for $10. I have carried it camping to cook whatever we wish. I use the fryer base to melt lead.
I find it hard to cast large sinkers over 2 oz. with the bottom drip furnace. So they are ladled out of the big pot. I have the old Lee 10-2 production pot which has be replaced with the 10-4 model.
F & M Reloading Equipment Inc.: Lee Production Pot IV
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/637...rnace-110-volt
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm...rodID=LEE90009
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...sku=0000690009

X2 with crappiedoc on fluxing - I had never done it!!! I read a thread on tackle underground about it and was sceptical, and man they weren't lyin when they said you'd be surprised the first time you did it!!!!!!!!!LOL I have become a convert - I use my wifes so called leftover dregs of yankee candles and it does keep the air smelling nice, course I ran out of dregs and hawked one of her new ones won't do that again!!!!!!!!

I used to clean lead with my 2 bottom pour LEE IV's - never had a problem probably because I clean my pot out after every use. After a move and wrong box moved inside found the wife had put them in a container with a split lid!!! Had to replace both of them!! Used LEEs 1/2 price replacement program and based on the age of the pots they sent me 2 brand new ones!!!!!!! Only using one and the other is still in the box un-opened.

FLUXING works!!!!!!!!!!

Now I hear about all the guys who soot their molds and whether I've been lucky or whatever I have never needed to do this or any type mold release and never had any problems.

Originally Posted by canebreaker

Coleman makes a hose that fits the 20 pound and larger bottles of propane and the fitting on the stove. It can be found where Coleman camping supplies are sold.

Check local thrift stores and carport sales before buying new. I found a 1 1/2 qt. cast iron sauce pan for $1, 10 qt. cast iron dutch oven with lid for $2, aluminum cornbread stick pan .25, Masterbuilt combo charcoal/gas cooker/grill/smoker/fryer with hose and a half bottle of propane for $10. I have carried it camping to cook whatever we wish. I use the fryer base to melt lead.
I find it hard to cast large sinkers over 2 oz. with the bottom drip furnace. So they are ladled out of the big pot. I have the old Lee 10-2 production pot which has be replaced with the 10-4 model.
F & M Reloading Equipment Inc.: Lee Production Pot IV
Lee Production Pot Four Furnace 110 Volt
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm...rodID=LEE90009
Production Pot IV 110 Volt* | MidsouthShootersSupply.com

Leadheads united Canebreaker, I'm with you on the thrifty. Probably 1/2 of my equipment was given to me by guys I just gave stuff too. All of my lead included which is probably close 1000#'s now. No good deed goes unnoticed.

Fatman, You voluntarily share more info and give more pearls than most fella's, man do I love it.

Glad to do it - just paying it forward for all the help I've received.