Dutch oven lid. Is it Safe?????

[Balto]

I haven't posted on Greybeards in years.  Been surfing a lot though.  Lots of good information.  Just recently I went from a Lyman 8# Mini-Mag Pot to a 20# lead pot over a Camp Chef propane stove.  It is much faster.

Now I am thinking of going the dutch oven route so I do not have to wait between melts if doing a large batch of bullets (mostly 300 gr. 44s).  

So here is my question.  Is it safe to melt with the lid on to speed up melt time? I'm conserned mostly about moisture accumulating on the lid and splashing on the melt causing an explosion.  Is this possible?  At what stage should I remove the lid?  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Balto.....

[gutshot_again]

Should be fine.  By the time the lead is melted the lid should be warm enough to have evaportated off any moisture.  Besides, it's not water dropping onto the melt that's bad - it's water that gets under the surface (as in a wet WW).

[Steve P]

I use an old cast canner / pressure cooker to melt lead.  I do not put the lid on fully covered, but leave it at a slight tilt (like you boil eggs and potatos)  Heats up quick.  I tried putting the lid on solid and the heat staying in the lid itself, and the heat that escaped when I lifted the lid, was just too much on me, even with gauntlet style welding gloves on.  I quit doing that because I was afraid of getting burned, or flinching and dropping something and causing a splash in the lead, or a fire.   :oops:  Hot momma.

Good luck and stay safe.

Steve  

[Balto]

Thanks for the replies. I will probably just leave the lid partially on or not use it at all.    Don't want to take any chances.   Again, thanks.

[pistolfan]

I'd leave the lid on while it's heating up, any moisture will evaporate long before the lead gets to hot, be a good place to set your mould also to start pre-heating it I bet. Peter