How to Melt Lead

[@jamesaustin4044]

Spread it out on the ground and use a magnet to get rid of steel/iron.

[@jons6125]

Yeah then just melt the rest and any iron will float?

[@jupiter_ios]

@@jons6125 There can also be zinc which is non magnetic and also melts with lead

[@jyotirani8232]

@@jupiter_ios but zinc will also float, because of the weight of lead. and zinc will need more temperature to melt than lead.

[@hondatech5000]

Hell I would melt the lead around it

[@joeyskullz111]

Just started doing this, this is a great video showing how to do it. My uncle owns an automotive shop so i have an endless supply of weights. I wish i would have started years ago

[@TheDunceMafia]

Same, especially since i work as a tech in the automotive field! And im guilty of spending a decent amount of money on some lead that comes with eyelets 😂😂

[@BlueBelial6160]

I know I'm about 2 years late to the party. The reason you had the bubbling on the bottom was probably the non-stick layer of the pan melting off, PLUS not heating the pan beforehand. If you don't heat up the pan or the scoop you're using before hand, you can cause a steam explosion. The fact that the lead didn't bubble up to the surface and "pop" in a 50 degree pan kind of surprised me. I didn't heat up my ingot mold one time and the lead "popped" and I took melted lead to the hand. After the scars healed, I never forgot to heat things up again. I'm glad you had fun though! It's fun to do, and can either be sold to bullet makers or sand casters like myself! Make a pretty penny on it.

[@dewaynehastings3191]

Thanks for the tip on heating pans. Getting ready to do my first meltdown of lead that is lol. Just became warehouse manager of a commercial tire shop. Think I’ll be set on lead for some time

[@Rainbow_1312]

thats a real burn dang

[@sirgordan3279]

what about inhaling the fumes? is it a concern??

[@almiller1371]

@@sirgordan3279 Yes, but with proper ventilation and masks you can work safely. The real villain is lead dust. It only takes one good breath to cause real problems. I make tons of buckshot and tumble it smooth, making lots of dust. We have to be very careful around it.

[@jamesaustin4044]

When John starts talking funny, we'll know it was from the lead.

[@raymondg.3173]

Lead poisoning is very underestimated. Don't believe me look it up. It gets absorbed into your blood and into your bones and can last for decades and slowly do serious damage to different parts of your body.

[@sidibill]

Needed to learn a little about melting lead. Yours was the first video to come up. It gave me all that I needed to know. Thanks.

[@mbatson13]

I believe the reason you don't want to get it too hot is inhaling lead fumes (750 degrees). The steel should stay solid to well over 2000 degrees and you can scoop it out with the slag.

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Thanks

[@JustAGuy93-G]

@@TurboJohnRacing Yea its the zinc you don't want mixed in. Just said the wrong metal. Zinc totally ruins your batch and makes it a foamy thick mess.

[@blazerson9068]

I have been melting lead and making sinkers since I was 5 years old. I am 73 now. Next time make smaller ingots. Old tuna fish cans are good to pour lead into. It is easier to make smaller ingots than large 12 pound one that you made in video. I always used an old porcelain pot to melt lead, lighter and a nice handle to work with.

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Thanks for the advice

[@tpcagle1]

Racing guys need 25 pound slugs or 50 pound slugs for round track cars.

[@klyddmeisters]

You can melt everything in same pot. Iron, zink, plastic, everything float on lead. Keep it liquid for a long time and scrape off top layer once in a while.

[@farleyd]

Heat the mold pan to get rid of the holes

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Ahhh, thanks

[@yolo-qr2fq]

Yep he needed to burn off any impurities in the pan and to get rid of moisture. I'm sure the moisture is what caused the bubbles.

[@chasingthefish9042]

Lead melts at 600-700 degrees steel melts at like 2500-2800 degrees. your lead would be close to boiling before you melt steel. Additionally fluxing your lead with candle wax would remove all the slag. Which is that stuff you have on top. Removing all the slag gives you a sexy silver finish and will get rid of the bubbles.

[@blakewilliams5344]

Wood chips are better for fluxing

[@UltraLimitedHD]

Slag is called dross

[@GunGuy258]

I've seen people use saw dust.

[@jamiemuncy2219]

When I was a kid I youst to melt down the old led weights that went on the lip of the rim and I had a mold for fishing sinkers, I’ve made a bunch in my day lol This brought back some great memories with my grandpa, ty John👍🏻💯

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Cool

[@driveitlikeyastoleit55]

I've had to do this before, easiest way is to dump it all out on the floor and get a strong magnet to pick up all the iron weights.

[@darrellfrenzel8524]

A few suggestions, especially after the lead almost took flight on you. Most guys I've watched on here use big soup ladels to pour instead of picking up the pot. The only weights that could melt with the lead are the zinc ones, roughly 100 degree difference in melting temperature.

[@robertbihn3005]

YES , and that could be a problem

[@Sinatra192]

10:30 if you can get steel to melt (2500F) on a turkey fryer than you’ve got other problems to worry about!

[@MrDizzle715]

Came here to say this, lol.

[@emeryjohnson1264]

Have you ever tried using a strong earth magnet to help separate the steel and iron out or is that not a option?

[@badass6.0powerstroke10]

Damn Good idea, repurposing old wheel weights for Ballist for the Race Car.

[@YomommasWildlands]

The "holes" are from the non stick coating off gassing. Once the pan gets worn in it should get better.

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Thanks for the info

[@rachelmanning5709]

Also if you preheat your container it will go a lot easier. Another thing you could do is a dusting of graphite powder on your mold.

[@MrGrundle]

Damn, you're killing a beautiful lodge cast iron pan!

[@83malibuwagon]

Nah Lodge is trash, Wagner is where it's at.

[@winchracing64]

Very cool video John !! That's a great idea getting the old tire weights from shops I'll have to look into that !! My setup is gonna be super light so I'll be doing the same thing as some point !!

[@johndienst3194]

1 SBCvalve cover Buy big bags of lead shot for reloading 12 gauge dove shot #7 or so. Fill the clean valve cover melt and let cool. Normally right at 50 lbs to 52 lbs.

[@shitbox7413]

I really dig metal casting, I used to work in a foundry, I miss it. 👍🏻

[@boxcarwillie3390]

i melt wheel weights for making fishing lures. i use a cast iron pan with the ridges in the bottom. set the pan on the heat source with very slight tilt. i drilled a hole in corner of the cast iron pan. have the hole on the downhill corner of the pan. dump your weights on the high side of the pan the lead ones will melt and the liquid will run to the downhill side of the pan and out the hole. place the catch pan under the hole. just have the cast iron off center of the flame enough where it will drain clear of the flame. you can scoop off the non lead weights that dont melt. once your catch pan is as full as you want it you can place it on the flame and reheat to make one solid thru chunk, also if you let it set on the heat alot of the impurity will rise to the surface and you can skim it off.

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Interesting, that is a great idea! Thanks

[@antprice2012]

Melt some down and dump in ant hill, dig up its pretty cool! Keep prepping for more win lights

[@CTemple82]

Preheat your bread pan a little before you poor the lead in it. May help it lay a smoother form on the bottom and not create the little air bubble indentions.

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Thanks

[@blakewilliams5344]

Also could save your life or at least your skin

[@TrampusWingo]

Interested to see how you decide to mount them! Excellent video, as always!

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Thanks

[@larrysutton6530]

The impurities are from the nonstick coating that was on the pan you stole from your wife. A stainless pan wouldn't have done that also look at your local sporting goods store or gun store and you will find little furnaces that are made for melting and pouring lead and you can get some ideas for how to improve your setup. I used to make fishing weights that same way and your stove that you cook on will get hot enough to melt the lead it just takes longer but only use the stove if it is no longer used for cooking

[@callmeklein]

Would you mind taking a few photos of how your skillet looks after melting lead? Curious if it's very obvious that a skillet had been used to melt lead, for those people (like me) that sometimes buy skillets at yard sales, estate sales etc. Also would be curious to see if a 3M lead test comes up positive after a rinse out/wash out of the skillet.

[@blakewilliams5344]

Once you use something for lead, just dedicate it for that purpose bud.

[@callmeklein]

@@blakewilliams5344 Agreed. The issue is that if you find a skillet at a thrift store, yard sale, or estate sale, something like that, you have no way of knowing what the previous owner did with it.

[@callmeklein]

@@blakewilliams5344 my question is, what does your skillet look like after you've melted lead in it? Could you tell by looking at a random unknown skillet if it had been used to melt lead? Just asking if there are things to look out for

[@blakewilliams5344]

@@callmeklein i wouldn't risk it personally

[@Howwerelivingfishing]

@@blakewilliams5344 could be passing up a good deal though 😮

[@RustyWells2]

You are right John those are bubble's on the bottom if you wait just a little longer before you pour it you want have that happen next time by the way great video loved it! 👍🏻

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Thanks for the tip

[@doctordifferentialspeedsho9506]

Fishing weights work great also!!

[@todddaniel5642]

Just put them in the pan and start melting. The iron will float on top of the lead.

[@drachenfeuer5042]

Thanks for saying what I wanted to say This was in chem 101

[@beebob1279]

Nice video. Did you season your cast iron before you melted your lead? :) On a more serious note, were you using any kind of respirator?

[@somecomment7549]

Well, I accidentally stole your idea. But I agree that it could’ve needed some seasoning

[@rainingbrass]

I use silicone oven mitts from the dollar store. Game changer! My welding gloves weren't enough for the heat from the pan. Heat doesn't go through the silicone oven mitts.

[@mitchdenner9743]

Melted thousands of pounds of lead in my life, helping dad with reloading.

[@johnparrish9215]

I turned seven 55 gallon drums of lead into fishing sinkers one summer. Fishing the Gulf Stream in deep water requires some heavy sinkers........lol I sold them all pretty quick, easy money for a kid in the 70s.

[@rhk4096]

Isn’t it dangerous? I have to u use it for a project in college but I’m scared

[@mitchdenner9743]

@@rhk4096 as long as your not eating the lead you will be alright. I would wear gloves , glasses, and avoid breathing any smoke or fumes from melting pot. Wash your hands after handling lead with your bare hands.

[@showproja]

@@johnparrish9215 I loved casting sinkers as a kid! It kept me in movie and burger money as a teen! Now I'm knocking them dead on eBay, selling 00 Buckshot.

[@TvConfusionn]

@@mitchdenner9743 how far do lead fumes travel? Cause I don’t want it getting into my house

[@jamie.777]

I had a uncle that made TONS of 3oz sinkers for tautog. He died of lung 🫁 cancer. I rather pay for my sinkers

[@MrBred849]

Sorry for your loss

[@robertfrapples2472]

How many packs did he smoke per day?

[@hidhshsj123]

You can also hit the weights on the ground and you will hear a difference in each metal

[@1clnsdime1]

You can dump it all in and let the lead melt and just scoop the steel off the top after u flux it some.

[@towboater79]

Candle wax works great for a flux when casting bullets!

[@1clnsdime1]

@@towboater79 Saw dust works well to.

[@scottlindsay856]

cool dude, I get free lead from the roofs I replace. This is awesome, gonna start stacking those bricks up!

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Be careful, once the lead is hot do not put the spoons into fast. The splash is explosive, especially if there is any water. Water is so bad, ask me how I know.....

[@biggbear]

Next time, pre heat the pan also before pouring to help match.

[@samuelbutcher710]

Learn from my mistakes. I've melted quite a bit of lead . Don't waste your time with batteries. I've melted about a truck load and not got a lot of pure lead . So much waste mostly zinc. Keep up the good work.

[@robertfrapples2472]

I make and sell a lot of buck, ball and slug. I use scrap roofing and plumbing lead, which is about the softest out there. I add antimony and tin to achieve customers' desired Brinell Hardness number. Batteries are a huge waste of time and quite toxic. Wheel weights are slow going, but perfect alloy for buckshot.

[@enemyoffetters]

Just a heads up to anyone thinking of doing this outdoors, make sure there's no rain promised because one drop of moisture in molten lead and it'll literally explode and splash everywhere. Extremely dangerous so I recommend do the melting indoors if possible.

[@jamesley6362]

very careful melting indoors the fumes are dangerous you need plenty of ventalation dangerous to your health gloves and resporator mask must be used to be safe

[@willthomsen7569]

My theory is that the boiling action and smoke was from the seasoning in that pan. It was fresh and preseasoned which means it was covered in oil so it was way too hot for that oil which was smoking off and smoking up through the lead cause no way was that hot enough to boil the lead yet

[@tankdeezel76]

Bulk qty was ordered and minimally packaged.

[@rosepink2773]

Where to buy new lead sheet to melt ??

[@towboater79]

Borax acid is the same thing as buying flux for drawing out the impurities in the lead but you can also use candle wax when casting bullets!

[@mitchdenner9743]

Any impurities will burn off as you melt it. You can skim off all the bad stuff as it floats to the top. Use some parrafin wax to flux the lead. Tea lite candle works

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Do I have to separate the iron and sink ones? Or will they float also? That’s a huge Pain in the butt!

[@mitchdenner9743]

@@TurboJohnRacing the steel will probably just sink to the bottom as it has a very high melting point . The zinc mellts at a little higher point than the lead but should always float to the top. You could put a strainer in the pot before you add the goods. Then once its melts down enough you could pull the strainer out with all the steel in it. Steel melts at around 2700 degrees and lead at like 6 and change.

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

Don't they use bismuth or tungsten these days?

[@sebastianmassarotto5603]

Thank u for video just getting in myself for reloading good info

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Very cool video

[@italianrelic]

Did you flux it?

[@dizzolve]

that foam might separate the zinc from the lead?

[@kevinroberts9394]

I have a huge lead pot. Anything not lead floats just stay under the zink melt point and your good tps have a battery in them that will explode when cooked

[@4familyman]

Cool vid John. What’s the plan for attaching to axle?

[@TurboJohnRacing]

I don’t know yet

[@bajojohn]

I think I'd wear a respirator while doing this. I found a couple of lead acid batteries behind my house. Nice to know I just need to 650 degrees.

[@jamesley6362]

yes very sensible

[@RadDadisRad]

I use wheel weights for hard cast slugs

[@wyattsrepairs8860]

Those really flexible weights are rubber we come across that a lot at the tire shop I work at here in southern ohio

[@jeremyeubanks2387]

My son works at a big tire shop I'll see if I can't get you hooked up. . I'm local to most off the tracks you go to

[@TurboJohnRacing]

I should have enough, it was interesting to do this.

[@megadome9116]

Good job but Just an advice Always wear a Mask FFA2P3 when you melt lead and wear Also protective glasses gloves and a protection suit that Is useful to protect you from lead particles.

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Good idea, thanks

[@joeyskullz111]

Would an N95 respirator be ok?

[@megadome9116]

@@joeyskullz111 use a 3M FFA2P3 FACE MASK it i'll be fine

[@divyangtandel6886]

Sir can you tell me which material use in stove ??

[@bollcalle11]

use a strong magnet to sort out the iron :D

[@lyricderbin]

If you never plan on using it for anything other than weights, no need to hand sort. Keep the temp low and the steel and zinc with float on the top and just skim it off. If you do get above 900 and the zinc melts, youre just using it for weight anyway.

[@jamesyoung5563]

Use a Bundt cake pan they are like a giant doughnut, it will work nicely with the mounting setup you have.

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Good idea

[@samschley4798]

Did you really throw the steel into the trash?

[@ezvlogs1705]

Bro is there any method to melt the lead airgun bullets from the gun

[@giusemmm1651]

You don't need to separate iron. Iron float on top and don't melt, but is a extra energy spend. The problem is zinc, if you don't respect melting temperature of lead and rise more, zinc can melt producing a mix that finally is not pure lead.

[@MrGrundle]

Was that all you got out of that 5gal bucket?

[@TurboJohnRacing]

No, that barely made a dent in the pile!

[@yaykruser]

You should wear a respirator, decrease exposure time to the fumes and use gloves to touch it.

[@sirgordan3279]

is it dangerous to do that? because of the fumes

[@Dontgetscammed-hz5bl]

Very dangerous the fumes are toxic they can kill you

[@MrRico6988]

You can just out it in and melt it all together and then fish out the steel and dirt with a stainless steel spoon with holes in it

[@russellnotestine6436]

You can sort out the pieces of steel with a magnet

[@2011hemiram]

The zinc makes lead turn to cottage cheese it definitely messes a batch up

[@anytakers]

Great video. Going to try this myself.

[@jessgilliam1698]

we sell our scrap old wheel weights to people that make weights like that and also make fishing weights too.

[@mitchdenner9743]

Only forty two more to go.

[@garybear8685]

That's an old dirt track race car trick.

[@strattuner]

with this amount in the bucket use a magnet to separate the iron and other attractive metals,pure lead is always worth its weight,don't handle it much without gloves,treat it like mercury,the damn stuff is never safe

[@4486xxdawson]

Why wouldnt you just use a magnet to separate the iron from lead if you couldn't tell

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Good idea

[@jordiesmustache6046]

if my momma ever caught me using her LODGE CAST IRON SKILLET to melt lead, I would be slaughtered on sight

[@kyredneckoutdoors]

i bought a packed down 5 gallon bucket at my local tire shop for $20 thats a good deal

[@drthompson1962]

you can just throw everything but the pieces of foam in the pot, the steel and sink will float and you can skim it off, you also need to flux it, i use paraffin

[@jakeparish1991]

I would have just dumped it all in the led will melt quicker then the steel and iron, the adhesive will burn off flux the molten led and the impurities will float up just skim it off

[@TurboJohnRacing]

The iron and zink weights float? Or just go to bottom, then scoop out?

[@JohnDoe-kh1bs]

Lead is denser than steel so the steel will float to the surface of molten lead. Same concept as oil floating on water.

[@jakeparish1991]

Turbo John I’m not 100% on float or sinking but the lead has a lot lower melting point the impurities in the liquid will definitely float once fluxed and you can skim it off just like you did in vid and the solids will either settle at bottom or if they float scoop them out also

[@SMOBY44]

Yes, when melting lead at 650 to 700 degrees you must not get it too hot or else you might melt the steel as well. Or not.

[@miketabar2327]

I'm guessing or not.

[@Triscuitwells]

Please don't lift a pan of molten lead. That's super unnecessarily dangerous. And as stated, warm everything up. I haven't personally started yet but that's the main safety things I've learned so far from talking to people and watching videos.

[@papayaman78]

So you give advice without any prior experience?

[@perkfishing]

Just what I needed thanks 👌🏽

[@RustyWells2]

You can lightly sand it till it's perfect if you want! 🦅🇺🇸🦅

[@capper6100]

Sanding lead? Lead dust isn't fun to deal with.

[@Howwerelivingfishing]

I’m here because I wanna know how to make fishing weights for when SHTF

[@drachenfeuer5042]

Great handling with no gloves. But just do it until your gums bleed and your hair falls out.

[@TurtleIsSlow1]

use a magnet to sort them, PREHEAT the pan that's the cause of the bubbles

[@josephwilcox6086]

Use a pea-sized piece of paraffin wax or beeswax will help clean the Lead, get the impurities to the top

[@Howwerelivingfishing]

If you’re going to try melting lead make sure you wear protective equipment, and research the dangers of lead if you haven’t already. Saying this for any viewers trying to learn how to do this.

[@wildcheekymonkey]

love this experiment. i would of use a mesh as a last filter. Also is the pan going to melt if you cook the lead inside of the pan? 20 lbs lead bars

[@jaydunbar7538]

Zinc adds rigidity to the lead so adding some wouldn't be a bad idea, will rub off less and not deform as easy. My uncle uses 90-10 for casting his cannon balls for competition.

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Interesting

[@showproja]

Zinc does for lead what Biden is doing for our country. It will flat RUIN a batch of lead for reloading. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6vWnKFpbayapdU

[@ITZGR82BFREE]

WRONG! Another example of someone posting comments on something they know nothing about. Zinc will not alloy with lead. It just makes a gloppy ugly mess that is useless. What is added to lead is tin and antimony for hardness.

[@812drmalibu]

Welcome to cooking with John, on today’s episode we cook a special dinner for the racecar in your life, our special guest T2000 from terminator. Lol

[@TurboJohnRacing]

lol

[@mitchdenner9743]

Alot of wheel weights are made from zinc today

[@TheRedPanda.]

The reason there were bubbles at the bottom of the weight, is because there was moisture

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Oh, how do you stop that? Thanks

[@TheRedPanda.]

@@TurboJohnRacing pre-heat the mold before pouring, your most likely to get little to no bubbles

[@jacobdeem8187]

Dump all that out and get you a magnet

[@darrenfisherman3838]

Some have metal suck on the lead

[@bigbassmaniac]

steel melts at over 2000 degrees that cooker isn't ever gonna get close to melting steel pretty sure you meant zinc I have a ton of lead I mixed with zinc years ago before I started making fishing sinkers the only thing I find is I have to get it hotter to work it make some great bank sinkers don't have a splitshot mold yet but when I eventually get one I plan on going for another round in my local ponds and lakes in my kayak and pulling lures and stuff out of trees. I can say one thing about my kayak I never need to buy another trout lure in my life :)

[@mitchdenner9743]

Watch out the terminator don't get ya!

[@Nobody_-dn6xf]

Better run to Walmart and get your wife some bread pans! LOL

[@TurboJohnRacing]

LOL

[@johnparrish9215]

And be damn quick about it, but don't blow the tires off..........lol

[@repoman20121]

John use a magnet to remove the metal

[@TurboJohnRacing]

The freaking 3m strip on the back is sticking a lot together. I am gonna try one though

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

That's a crap ton of wheel weights in that 5 gallon bucket