Newby on the block... well, to casting anyways.

[avator]

You're not strange... they are.

[cosmic]

I built my PID out of a old computer power box.. The rest is just cutting with a metal saw bit on a Dremel and crimp on wire connectors... Easy..

[avator]

That cast iron corn bread mold makes 7 ingots. I just emptied my pot and cleaned it and it took exactly 7 ears of corn to fill it.
The beautiful thing was that lead has a mirror finish on top of it. I waxed and saw dusted the lead before pouring the ingots. I also pulled everything out that seemed to want to melt at a higher temp. I assume pure lead melts at a lower temp than anything.

[Spacebus]

That would be nice but it's way out of my budget.

I wish I had just gotten it in the first place rather than starting with the tiny furnace. $150 isn't too bad considering a Lee 20 lb ladle furnace is about $80 to my door from amazon. If I wanted to add PID to the Lee furnace that's another $10 if I can do everything myself or $25 - $50+ for ready to go conversion parts. Might as well just get the Easymelt and just have a plug and play solution for just a few dollars more.

[avator]

I want to pressure pour with the dipper. The problem is, as you can see in the picture below, the pouring rod on my pot is in the way of the ladle getting into the lead.
So, what will I do?

I've drained the pot and I'm letting it cool. I have a drill bit the size of the pour nozzle (I've cleaned the hole out before). I'm going to clean the nozzle out real good and put a small machine head screw in the hole long enough to hang an inch or so out the bottom. I'll put a washer on it so the head does not drop into the nozzle and a nut on the bottom to tighten it up and plug the pour nozzle.
I want it 100% reversible.

[pblawler]

I want to pressure pour with the dipper. The problem is, as you can see in the picture below, the pouring rod on my pot is in the way of the ladle getting into the lead.
So, what will I do?

I've drained the pot and I'm letting it cool. I have a drill bit the size of the pour nozzle (I've cleaned the hole out before). I'm going to clean the nozzle out real good and put a small machine head screw in the hole long enough to hang an inch or so out the bottom. I'll put a washer on it so the head does not drop into the nozzle and a nut on the bottom to tighten it up and plug the pour nozzle.
I want it 100% reversible.

reversing that won't be fun.  Getting the lead out of the pot and off the screw is gonna be a pain.  Thinking torch.  Wonder if you could thread in ID of the nozzle and put a screw in from the bottom.  You could then get out most of the lead and use a tool to unscrew the nozzle plug so that your hand isn't under it when the lead flows after the screw is removed.  It will have to be removed while the lead is liquid.  Or, maybe thread the outside of the nozzle and put something like an acorn nut on it???

Not sure what the nozzle looks like on that one, if it has enough straight wall and you can find the right size perhaps a compression nut cap.

https://www.grainger.com/product/PARKER-Cap-316-Stainless-Steel-1PZL7

[avator]

The nozzle looks just like a grease fitting.

Anyways.. I got it. I cleaned it all out until hole was opened up. Then I ran a finish nail just about the exact size into the hole from the inside. The head plugged the hole perfectly. Then I bent the finish nail with a pair of needle nose from the bottom drawing it tight. To remove I'll just dip the molted lead, straighten the nail and push it up until I can grab it with needle nose.

[avator]

Now I need to rebuild the casting corner bench. When we built it I made sure it was high enough to comfortably bottom pour. Now with ladle pouring it's about 10 - 12" too high. I get about 30 or 40 pours and I have to stop due to my replacement shoulder.

At first I was thinking that ladle pouring was going to be slower. But not if I look at the big picture...
I'm getting a rhythm and picking up speed. Plus, I'm getting much nicer pellets with less culling. And once I lower the bench to a comfortable level I can cast longer sessions.
I haven't been able to do the pressure pour yet because it's too high. That's another thing that will be better.
Also, no dripping at all. Before I had to stop from time to time and turn the pour rod to make the drip stop.

Hindsight... Had I had any experience I would have bought a 20# pot with no bottom pour and a ladle to begin with. As for PID... I really don't see any need. I can set the rheostat at 5 - 5 1/5 and wait till the temp gauge runs up to around 700 - 725 and that's where I run it. I only have to stop and wait when I add the sprues back
The other thing I can do it keep the smelting pan on the hot plate and drop the sprues into it. When the pot gets low, I can juts pour them in.
But, I don't mind waiting, it gives me the chance to dump/reload the tumbler and cull the pellets.

[EdinGa]

I have a 4lb pot and 2 10lb bottom pour pots. One of the 10s gets nothing but alloy and one gets nothing put pure lead. I like your idea and I might do it on mine. The 4lb is fine most of the time but sometimes I have time for longer casting sessions with multiple molds so 10lbs would be better for that.


I don't run a PID either and I keep my dial between 5 and 6 most of the time too.

[pblawler]

If you have a temp gage and adjustable temp control a PID isn't necessary but is convenient, no adjustment needed.  The 20lb bottom pour uses a vertical pour mechanism and leaves lots of room for the ladle.  You can do either, might be helpful if ever pouring large bullets or ingots.

What about making a platform to stand on so you can ladle or bottom pour in comfort.    Making ingots might be easier with the bottom pour. 

[avator]

Ed, I hear ya Bro.

Patrick...
I see a bad scenario when I close my eyes..
It has alot to do with standing on a platform built on 4 - 6" of of round river rock gravel with a 2oz. scoop of molten lead in m y hand. I mean, I have a sense of adventure but I prefer not to wear a phantom of the opera mask.

[avator]

Picked up a great 4 pc.  stainless kitchen utensil set at Walmart for $6. I'll use the spoon and ladle for pulling the junk out of the wheel weight melts and pouring ingots. Now I can melt bigger batches because I don't have to lift the heavy pan to pour them. Betty Lou will use the other 2 deals in the kitchen.

[avator]

Gonna make ingots on a larger scale today....

[avator]

There is a chance of rain today so I didn't want to move everything ouitside. So I got the exhaust fans running and all the smoke and fumes are going out.

[avator]

I ended up changing out burners.. the other one seemed to be plugged up.
Now we're cookin' .

[avator]

And with a few waves of the magic dipper and a couple magic words, which I don't remember because I made them up along the way, we have muffins and corn cobs.

[avator]

Killer called yesterday, he had a large size (he's a big man) electric chair here that we had covered and stored in the back room. It is still new and in the plastic because he refused to ride in it. He told me to dig it out because Ronnie Baker (Baker's towing and scrap yard) was going to come and get it for Momma Baker to use.
When Ronnie arrived he saw Casting Corner and asked what I was doing. I explained it to him and asked if he had any wheel weights. He said he was just tossing them in junk cars headed for the shredder but, he would start saving them for me.
Then he said he had several lead weights from diver's belts. He told me to stop by and pick them up. Nice thing is, Baker's is located just right around the corner from us. We pass by it every time we leave or return home. Between him and Pete I should have more lead than I could ever use.

[triggertreat]

Bill, that's awesome.  It's funny how when you dive into something you find what you need and also sometimes like-minded friends.  I was given about a hundred pounds of pure sheet lead from an x-ray room door by a friend that knew I had got into casting.

[avator]

Keith, you're in a good place to pick up diving belt weights too. Check Craigslist and second hand shops.

[triggertreat]

Keith, you're in a good place to pick up diving belt weights too. Check Craigslist and second hand shops.

Thanks for this tip.