When melting lead into ingots, must a cast iron pot be used?

[Skip Sackett]

Paul,
I used those exact same pans with much different results than yours. I didn't smoke them or use any kind of release agent and had quite a mess.

You see, lead is supposed to adhere to steel and it did! Only when I didn't want it to!

So, do you use a candle or match or acetylene torch or what to smoke your tins?

Since that terrible event I found some corn cob muffin tins that are made out of cast iron. No problem now!

 

[Dale53]

Here is my set up - a turkey/fish fryer with a 12" (six quart) Harbor Freight Dutch Oven. The Dutch oven holds about 120 lbs of lead. My brother and I did 650 lbs one afternoon. That is plenty of capacity for me and the cost is quite reasonable. I have done over 1000 lbs with one propane tank and it still has some left. ALWAYS keep a spare tank (full) as it WILL run out at the most inopportune time. I picked up a couple of propane tanks (empty) at garage sales for nearly nothing. By the way, that is a 92 lb ingot.

Some of the ingot moulds I use:

FWIW
Dale53