Data re: Wheel Weights vs. amount of lead ingots produced

[Cheyenne Ranger]

I have an arrangement with one of my fellow shooters.  He provides the Wheel Weights (WW) and I cast 12 gauge slugs for him.  His requirements for slugs leaves me with plenty of lead for my needs (as well as 2 other USPSA and 2 SASS cowboys= 6 shooters if you figure I shoot both.)

This time I got two 5 gallon buckets of WW.  They were full to within 3-4 inches of the top.  Heavy little suckers, too.  Lucky gravity is still with us or I don't think I could have gotten them out of the truck  :grin:

This time I decided to see how much lead was in them and how much trash (clips, dirt, etc) was produced in casting them down to ingots.

After a two day marathon of casting (using a 20 lb pot no less--bigger would have been better) I came out with 230 lbs of ingots.  That equals 13 times of filling with WW, cleaning out the trash and repeating until the pot it full--then poring into ingots.   I got 18 lbs per pour.  Each time took about 1 1/2 hours.  

I got about 35 lbs of trash, too.  A pic of the trash is at:  http://users2.ev1.net/~dwel/pictures%20of%20guns/p5020002.jpg

One funny thing to note is the amount of room (volume) of the trash.  Just about 1/2 of the total!

ÇR

[Leftoverdj]

You're a glutton for punishment, Cheyenne. A turkey fryer and a big dutch oven will do a bucket a go and takes about the same hour and a half. My buckets seem to come a little fuller than your. My yields run 125-135 lbs a bucket. Takes two to get a bucket into the vehicle and  I pour about half into an extra bucket before I try to take it out.

I generally do my smelting while I'm mowing my lawn. Doesn't take a lot of attention, but I can keep half an eye on the melt and get my chores done at the same time.

[Cheyenne Ranger]

I have been toying with that idea but I'm basically cheap and don't want to have to spend any more $$ than I have to.  Plus there is the matter of having a place to store it and the Mrs. will want something of equal value (and it won't be CAS stuff)

ÇR

[Stryker60]

Cheyenne, I'm cheap too, but I found a new "turkey fryer", burner only at Home Depot last winter for less than $30.00.  My wife had a large cast iron pot which she never used (too heavy) and I was in business.

John Wesley Steele
SASS #55714L

[The Shrink]

Cheyenne

That's easy.  You get the heat source, she gets fried turkey!  They're also good for deep frying lots of fish and hush puppies.  

The lead never comes near the cooking pot, and the stuff cooked is separated from the heat source by the cooking pot.  Everybody's happy, assuming you don't mind the cooking!

Wayne the Shrink

[Doctor Sam]

A burner can be made from a plain pipe with a simple venturi or from a hot water heater burner; i've seen both.  Little welding with some scrap iron and you would be in business.  The propane tank is the same one you use on your barbeque.  Used pots in garage sales are dirt cheap and would work fine.  I can not imagine using a 20# pot that many times.  I have a deep cast iron pot that has worked for years.  Much faster than the electric pots.
Dr. Sam

[flintman]

I just get paranoid about the razor blades some garages throw in there!Because I know the valve stems and stickers and clips do not weigh all that much.Of course I have been getting 5 gallon buckets of WW's for $12.00 each.I usually paya friend who works there to deliver them $10.00,and he only lives 2 miles from me.It is worth it,it saves on my back problems!

[Cheyenne Ranger]

I load them into the pot using heavy work gloves.  Protects from those razor blades and also if I splash I have some protection for my hands.  

ÇR

[BamBams]

I average about 165# of good lead from a totally full, 5 gallon bucket of wheel weights.  This would be wheel weights with all other junk thrown out first.

[L. Topay]

I use an old cast iron frying pan on a single gas burner in the garage. Once I get the first batch melted, I use a small garden shovel to add more wws, no splash, also use large magnetic screwdriver to remove the clips.

[xgboy]

Cheyenne Ranger: A good friend and I just started combining our efforts in processing our scrap.  He supplies wheel weights and I the plumbers lead.  We process a five gallon bucket of WW in about an hour to hour and a half.  (We haven't weighed the results.)  We are always seeking to streamline the process and are now using a turkey fryer burner and base (a returned item at Walmart patio center - $25 and included a scratch and dent turkey pot and lid), propane tank from the BBQ, cheap steel ladle and broad skimmer from a kitchen supply store, and are melting in the bottom half of a 50 cal. ammo can.  We also 'suit up' with long-sleeves, hats, goggles and/or face shields, boots, and welders' gauntlets.  (Having emptied a 20# pot with a steam explosion in my distant and ill-spent youth!)  

The 50 cal. can was an experiment that worked so well we've continued with it.  (He has a large supply of rough cans available.)  The ammo can, being thin, heats almost immediately, yet is durable (and easily replaceable).  We are pouring our first ingots in 12-15 minutes after placing the can on the burner.  Subsequent 'batches' are somewhat quicker. The melt is handled with locking pliers (no slipping!) and we use as many ingot molds as are available (usually at least three).  To speed the melt, always leave an inch or so of melt in the can to quickly transfer heat to the next batch of scrap.  We usually fill the can no more than about 40% full of melt - easier and safer to handle.  The system is working well and having a partner is much faster, probably safer, and more pleasant.

Re filling the pot is about the most aggravating aspect; we've been doing it by hand with the ladle and skimmer.  The small shovel seems like a better/faster/safer method.  We'll try it.  Anything to 'get a bigger scoop' and be able to place it carefully.

Good thread.