Author Topic: It had to happen--exploded the lead pot (Read 893 times)

Cheyenne Ranger · « **on:** February 04, 2004, 06:36:14 AM »

I was melting down WW into ingots as I hate to stop casting bullets to fish out the WW clips and do all the cleaning. Down to the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket so I decide to pour the handful of WW that remain into the 1/2 full pot (abouot 10 lbs of melted lead in there already).

Got about half of the WW in when had a pretty violent explosion. Noise was more of a "Wump" and bucket got blasted out of my hands. Lead all over me and the ground. Have one small burn on the inside of my right arm. Most of the lead went straight out and I was to the side as I poured.
Few lead splatters on the new truck--they came off with light fingernail pressure--no damage to the paint. Got a bunch of lead on the concrete that the pressure washer will remove. Shirt is now a workshirt and most of the lead came out of the blue jeans. Tennis shoes have a big glob that will probably remain.

Now to the scarey part--had lead splatters on both lens of my glasses. They wiped right off and no damage to the glasses but it got my attention right away. Spooked me for the rest of the day.

I'll be cleaning up the mess today (everything is cool now) and try to get everything back to normal.

Now to the reason--best I can figure is there was some liquid at the bottom of the bucket that I wasn't aware of as I would grab handfuls of WW. By pouring the WW in I also poured in the liquid--could have been water or antifreeze or oil--got them from a car dealership.

No matter what this was totally my fault. I know better than this but just wasn't considering any liquid in the bucket. I lucked-out big time on this one. Don't think I'll get another chance next time.

ÇR

DB Leath · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2004, 08:28:33 AM »

Ranger...just glad you are ok....man that is scary....

Someone was looking after ya pard...glad you had your glasses on.

DB

sealer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2004, 08:48:53 AM »

i made the same mistake you did one time,but i also knocked a full glass of iced tea into about a 20 lb. pot of hot lead once too. needless to say, both times were very VIOLENT.
dennis

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2004, 09:22:20 AM »

It's like the first time someone shoots at you--real scary and something you don't forget--ever.

Keep ya'll posted on how much clean up is needed. Will be doing that this pm.

ÇR

DB Leath · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2004, 11:39:52 AM »

CR just glad you are ok......I will take this as a learning opprotunity for sure...

DB

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2004, 12:03:14 PM »

Thanks DB--always nice to have a friend worry about you.

Got home and got the pot all cleaned up. Had to take a torch to the lead that had puddled around its base as the pour spout had stuck open when the "event" occured. In fact the pot is the cleanest its been in quite a while.
Got it fired up and back to melthing down WW. Turns out the other 5 gallon bucket (we can't fill one full as it is too heavy to move) also has something "wet" at the bottom. Will be much more careful this time. Figure you only get one chance on something like this.

Jeans are clean! from the lead splatter and car's paint is OK so I'm out a shirt, and my oldest pair of tennis shoes, which I'll keep for grub work. I'll get the pressure washer on the lead on the driveway this week-end.

God was watching over me this time, no doubt about it.

ÇR

Lazarus Longshot · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2004, 03:17:47 PM »

Cheyenne Ranger,
Scary story :eek: ! I'm glad to hear you're ok, and that little damage was done...

GBO MGMT · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2004, 07:06:33 PM »

Sounds like you came out better than me. The bucket may have shielded you some. I got the full force of it. Ruined my shirt and pants. I have many scars to show for it. Nothing permanent that is of consequence. Pain only lasted a few days. Molten lead is wicked stuff to have on you. NOT FUN!!

Glad you came thru if OK.

GB

mac266 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2004, 11:10:05 PM »

WHEW!!! Glad you're ok.

Now, for those of us considering taking up casting, can you give us some pointers on how to avoid a similar experience?

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2004, 02:03:10 AM »

Any liquid and molten lead don't mix. The liquid goes to steam in a heart beat and this causes the lead to blow out of the pot. Think about a skillet full of hot grease and dropping water in it--same idea but usually a few hundred degrees hotter. Lead casts at 650-700+*. My problem was there was some liquid at the bottom of the bucket--didn't know it at the time but it didn't take long to find out. If you start with a COLD pot then you can put wet WW in it and as it comes up to temp the water will boil off long before the lead gets to the molten stage. It's adding wet WW to a hot pot that will ruin your day.
Did read over on the casting forum that one caster was outside casting and it started to snow! Yep, a big mess but he got away in time.
After my afternoon off reflecting (and changing underware) I was back at it last night with no worries. Did check the other bucket and yes, Virginia, it, too, has liquid at the bottom. I'll use the dry WW and when I get to the damp ones I'll add them to the cold empty pot.
ÇR
p.s. all the lead in the jeans washed out fine.

Capt Hamp Cox · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2004, 02:56:36 AM »

A very strong argument for wearing some form of eye protection when casting. Also want to be sure you don't have any loose live primers that could somehow get into your pot. Glad you got off with only a damaged shirt and a mess to clean up. Thanks for sharing.

Hamp

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2004, 03:09:46 AM »

Roger that on eye protection. We need it for just about everything in CAS: casting, reloading, shooting.

ÇR

Big Hext Finnigan · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2004, 03:25:48 AM »

Just another note saying: Glad you are safe and thanks for sharing. Some good will come from it.

Adios,

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2004, 06:36:06 AM »

I would like to hear more on this.

Saw my first lead explosion as a high school vocational student. Another student had melted lead in a pot to be poured into the cavitiy of a piston from a small engine. After doing this he would drill & tap then use for a gearshift knob. (Such Ingenuity!)

Everything was ok except he DID NOT heat up the piston before pouring the lead into it then Boom!!!!

Is it possible to add too much lead to a partially filled pot too quickly and have this happen?

MOGorilla · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2004, 07:15:51 AM »

Cheyenne, first, glad to hear you are okay. Second, glad to hear you had glasses. I am a chemist and a safety representative for my area. Safety glasses are a must and it seems I have to remind people more than I would like too. I always wear them while shooting and honestly, I consider the molten lead just as dangerous as the fast moving kind. I don't cast bullets, but for years my father and I would cast sinker weights. We always washed the wheel weights in soapy water first, it got off any oil/residue that can get on car parts at salvage yards, and then we rinsed and dried them in the sun. Once that was completed, we would melt or store them for the future. It really cut down on accidents and the washing cut down on smoking and odors that can occur during heating. As a chemist, I would really recommend that lead melting be done in a well ventilated area, nasty fumes.

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2004, 07:53:15 AM »

Thanks for the ideas--I do cast on the driveway so the fumes are not concentrated in an enclosed area.

To the question of adding too much cold lead to the pot--I've put a couple of cold ingots in it and all that has happened is that it cools off the pot enough so the bottom pour "freezes" up. Not saying that that wouldn't be a factor but the liquid was what did it this time.

ÇR

bgjohn · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2004, 08:21:51 AM »

I saw a plumbers lead pot explode one time when hit by water. That's why I'll never take up bullet casting along with the fact that some lead contains poisionous things such as arsenic, etc. It's too scary for me.
JM

Roy Cobb · « **Reply #17 on:** February 05, 2004, 12:21:03 PM »

I hate to preach but you only get one set of eyes. next time wear a full face shield (cheap insurance) in addition to safety glasses with side shields
while we are talking about safety, use a respirator while working with molten lead, the vapors build up in your system, lead oxide is very toxic.
Casting bullets is fun and cheap unless you lose an eye then it is neither.
I use safety glasses and ear plugs while welding (had an uncle who lost hearing in an ear due to a welding spark) in addition to the shaded helmet.
I know there is going to be some he-man who says he never wears safety equipment but trust me when he loses an eye he will begin to believe!

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #18 on:** February 06, 2004, 02:04:48 AM »

Already dug out the face shield. Going with long sleeves and gloves, too. And, as mentioned up above, I'm going to wash off all the WW and let them dry real well before I use them.

Thanks for the suggestions

ÇR

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2004, 06:08:48 AM »

I'z seen a single drop of water spread lead in a 6 foot circle from a little 10 pound pot.

I'z also put apparently dry wheel weights into the pot only to discover that thar waz a void somewhere in the weight that had water in it - exploded a few seconds after goin inta the pot.

I picked meself up a leather blacksmith's apron awhile ago and ALWAYS wear it when werkin lead. I ALWAYS wear me plastic-lensed glasses when werkin lead 'n' always wear gloves when charging the pot or handling lead.

Nuther thang I figgered out (without having to learn it the hard way) is to always have a container handy what's big nuff ta dump the contents of the pot if'n ya need to. I'z had a valve fail (wouldn't close) 'n' I'z had a pot spring a leak. If'n it weren't fer the dump pot, it would'a been a hellofa mess!

Don't be careless with molten lead - a serious burn would make you wish you had died! :shock:

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #20 on:** February 06, 2004, 08:14:20 AM »

Education is painful, expensive or both......

What we go through to enjoy our fun activities.

ÇR

J.W.Neely · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2004, 12:42:51 AM »

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger

A few years back I had a 20 lb pot outside melting scrap, must have had a drop of water in one of the chunks of lead, the whole pot erupted spraying lead all over the place. I got a hot wax job on my scalp, major pain, nothing like pulling dried lead off you scalp.
My glasses were covered and ruined, I had a map of Cuba on my forehead for about a month , I also have a nice scar on my hand.
I never do the " add to" anymore.

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2004, 09:54:12 AM »

Ya know, when I flux the pot, it starts smokin purdy good; when I stir it after fluxin, I KNOW it's gonna go POOF 'n' burst inta flames. I tell meself, every danged time, "Don't jump when it goes POOF!" 'n' every time it goes POOF I jump 'n' splatter lead! :roll: - guess thass why I ALWAYS wear the safety gear :?