I don't remember who said it first or even when I started following the advice but who ever, you've made my life a whole lot easier!!
1. Using a hardwood dowel to stir the pot, when the alloy is hot enough, the wood will char-pure carbon! Much less smoke and what smoke there is isn't all the unplesant either, I enjoy wood smoke! I don't remove the ash till I refill the pot either, that nice layer of ash across the top almost completly stops the oxidation and ends the need for constant fluxing and stiring.
2. A small piece of "ChoreBoy" copper scrubbing pad wrapped around an old bore brush makes short work of removing any lead that may be in a bore.
So Whoever you are or even if you think it could have been you... Thank You.
BF