if you can round up an old cast iron skillet or small metal pot melt it in that. when the led melts you can sift the dirt out with a spoon. everything that isnt lead floats. as pretty much everything is lighter than lead. i clean my wheel weights out like this.

 

Ray, I heat my lead up over a propane turkey frier for heat and an old steel cofee cup for the lead. I swiped my wife's steel french-fry scooper to strain all the junk off, which floats up to the top. and I use all kinds of lead from wheel weights to old lead drain pipes that my neighbor brings home for me. it will clean up good enough to use for weights.

 

well i need to sift or figure some way a getting the dust and shells off it first ive got a big stainless pot that i been heating it in.just dont seam to be getting the heat right iam useing a turkeyfryer for heat too and a semi fresh bottle a gas its always worked before on any other lead. lol i may wana take a magnet to it too may be some steel in there too.

 

Everything but the lead will float to the top,, skim it off, and cast weights.. I've done it a bunch!!

Some shot has been hardened a bit,, so, I wouldn't make pinch weights with it.. but, otherwise, shouldn't be a problem..for sinkers..

 

I had some that wouldn't melt down at all hardly. I assume too much steel in the lead. Ended up throwing it all away. Gateway Cats should be in the planning stages of another Leadfest. We do that every winter. Looks like a late start, so perhaps March.

 

To much copper junk and clutter. Cutten torch with a rose bud man . Set that stuff on a steel plate with a slight down angle where the lead will runn off in to a coffe can or pot. Lay it to her the lead will separate out and runn off like water leaving most the copper and steel behind and its hot enough it should unbind most of the alloys in the lead. The rose bud will have enough gass pressure it will blow most of the dirt and small stuff away just dont get her so hot it melts down the copper cassings.

Oh yea welding gloves and saftey glasses are a must.

 

I had some lead that was full of dirt,leaves an rust .To clean it some I used a screen container an the water hose . I know the danger of molten lead an water . I filled up my skillet with the old lead still wet from washing it .Put it on the burner an all water was gone long before the lead melted . I only do this with everything starting out cold.

 

I had 5 gallons of punkin balls and 38 wad cutters I dug out behind a firing range. I tied pouring it and was so much dirt on top I stopped. I tried washing it with a hose. That didn't work so I built a wooden table and poured it all on the table and sat it under the eve of the garage so the run off would hit it. After several rains it was good and clean.

 

If you have an old iron pot that you're melting the dirty lead ... when it is all melted, take a candle and cut a piece about the size of a quarter and put it in the molten lead. It will draw up all the impurities to the top and those can be skimmed off with a spoon.

I'd be real careful with any water around the molten lead. That stuff can flash with just a drop. Check out youtube. quite a few videos on cleaning and pouring lead.

 

Wow guys thanks for all the info. Troy ive got the rose bud all hooked up and ready to go.figured either the rose bud or a good hedge fire would get it to break down. Dickie i was thinking about hooking the hose up and running it across a lil gold sluce i have may do that yet to get all the dust and crap out of it. I know all about that hot lead splattering with the water learned that long ago. I use to use wax to clean the solder pot at work i'd forgot about that old trick. I use to use one lil birthday candle it always seamed to be plenty. thanks again guys for all the help.

 

well got a flat piece a 10 ga and set it up on a angle so the shot would run off and dust would stay put cleaned the can full in about 30 min . wound up with another 10-15 lbs a good lead. thanks again for all yer help guys.

 

I never heard of that wax trick, may have to try that. troy, thanks for the idea with the smoke wrench.

 

Greg carefull with the wax it flashes pretty quick sure glad to be done with that mess.