Tips for Melting Range Scrap Lead into Ingots - CountryBoyPrepper

Tips for Melting Range Scrap Lead into Ingots
I've been melting range scrap lead into ingots for over two years now. I've produced close to 3,000 pounds of ingots. I have learned a lot and I'm still learning to this day. Here is some tips, tricks, and advise that might help you be more productive and safe.
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[@darrellphipps9100]

I have been casting bullets since 1976 in a 10 lb Lee pot . I have been casting different leads at larger amounts for many years and you seem to being doing just fine to me . I can cast up to 1,000 lbs in one day if I want to catch up on my stock piles in one day , but that seems to be my limit , old guy like me tires out after one day of work, lol .

[@torranceroc5961]

I read 1776 haha

[@nickwetzel5496]

Ok boomer

[@rogertycholiz2218]

darrell phipps - How can you possibly cast a half ton in one day? That's a hundred Lee pots! Do you mean 100 lbs?

[@zyanidwarfare5634]

@@rogertycholiz2218 I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually meant 1,000 tho, if you do something enough it just becomes second nature and becomes as easy as breathing

[@DennisDillon73]

I’m a newbie to lead pouring and found this video to be very informative. Thank you for taking the time to put it together. I was particularly interested in all the tools you used, e.g slotted metal spoon, vice grips, etc.

[@infidel777patriot3]

Way to go Country Boy. My thoughts exactly, That's the same way I do it. Throw everything in, everything and skim it all off. It either burns or floats. It's always entertaining watching everybody talk about cleaning range scrap.

[@bigstackD]

I didn’t need the tips but I just love watching melting casting vids regardless of what metal although brass is my fav on my channel 👍🏻

[@hiddenterror4948]

I watch your vids all the time and then randomly I scroll on to the comments section and see you lol

[@Beaks-gw2iz]

@@hiddenterror4948 too

[@tonyfeltman6791]

Ha theirs a KZbin I know bidstackd love your vids

[@ciph4223]

Shite man i watch you all the time

[@10171981]

Any friend of BigstackD is a friend of mine lol 😁👍

[@dr.k_6016]

Cool vid. Thanks for that, and the one about your sieve. "reducer" just means to take metal oxides, and reduce them back into metals. I don't think it reduces lead, but it can probably reduce tin oxide back to tin.

[@allansmith6140]

A tip for you... instead of using ply under your molds, use cement sheet. It won't scorch or possibly catch fire and as a bonus its cheaper. I also use cement sheet for welding on, excellent for that.

[@donaldbabbitt9237]

I have better for your cement board I glued a sheet of aluminum from an old landscape trailer on a 3x5 piece of cement board! The drips peel up much easier.

[@leadfarmer4life335]

Great video! I stopped using candle wax and saw dust and switched over to borax as fluxing a little over a year ago. It seems to work very well. Both methods work great!

[@rogertycholiz2218]

LeadFarmer Just pay a few dollars and use the proper stuff called Marvelux. That's what it's made for!

[@javajav3004]

"Probably gonna light up" "Yep there it is". Expected some flames not the portal to hell

[@Feelrightathome]

"Hula abrchalu lead da ingots"

[@stephenrobinson7945]

When you discontinue the melt lead in the Dutch oven take a sledgehammer to it and break it up. Or make sure you label your cast iron as non food prep. Once lead is melted in cast iron it is no longer safe for food.

[@madbomer72]

"its probably going to flame up *woosh* yep there it is" xD good shit

[@jimjakosh2506]

Thank you. good demonstration. I learned to use the was and sawdust!!I also wondered about the multicolored surface. I will turn the heat down on my pot before pouring.

[@aleksfoxtrot8044]

"Dont forget to bring a towel." -Towelie

[@nationnation6430]

@@Playboysmurf1 oh no 🤦‍♂️

[@T-Jack]

I have taped a note to the inside of my front door. That way whenever I leave the house, I always remember to bring a towel..........LOL

[@Marixpress2]

This is the cleanest working station I’ve ever seen in one of these videos 👌

[@michaeljohnston777]

I can't stand people that leave rude or just mean comments. What's the point? This Man took the time to make a great video, for all of us! If you want to be a jerk to him, you're just a bully. I hate bullies!! Keep being a bully and some of the lead in this video just might end up in your ass one day!! The Lord works in mysterious ways!! :)

[@justinempson3700]

Just a tip, if you are not worried about a certain weight or size, I go to flea markets and garage sales and buy old muffin pans ,they work great and don't have to be cast iron, super cheap and you can line up 10 or 15 pans at a time ,and I use mini muffin pans for my lee pot when I pour small jigs or catfish sinkers ,they fit perfectly and smelt down pretty quick ,should work great for bullets as well.

[@budtoker4770]

Your main concern should be to protect yourself from the dust and vapors of that lead while sifting and melting it.. That stuff evaporates and dust gets into the air..

[@bartvanriel6767]

At the aluminum plant we just hosed the freshly poured ingots down with a generous amount of water to cool them halfway down, after that we let them stand there for 45 minutes and then they were cool enough to handle with gloves

[@ronyerke9250]

If you don't want to scorch your plywood, you could put a couple of pieces of angle steel under your molds like long pup tents. That might help the molds cool off a tiny bit faster too.

[@DimaProk]

Unfortunately Lowes / Home Depot saw dust is crap since they don't just cut pure wood, but particle boards and plywood which contains glue so when you burn it it doesn't smell good, now I tried pine shavings as reloading books recommend and wow, what a nice clean pine smell.

[@silvermediastudio]

I just make a few passes on a 2x4 with a circ saw over a tarp. Plenty of saw dust for a pot or two.

[@jimmack4986]

Tin will oxidize readily and quickly when overheated, and since the first color to appear is gold, many people naturally assume that the initial dross coloration is caused by tin, and the later blue and purple colors are lead. This is not the case. The color sequence is due to the molecular thickness of the oxidation layer, and the colors themselves are produced by the interference of light reflecting off the top of the oxide layer and also the top of the molten lead, and interfering. Eventually the oxide layer gets too thick for light to penetrate and reflect off the molten lead underneath, and the dross turns from purple to black. The colors one sees on an overheated pot of lead alloy are caused by the oxidation of the lead itself, and the color is not diagnostic of tin content at all. It's the same thing as the iridescent colors produced by soap bubbles, or gasoline on water. castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-63550.html

[@martinkavanagh196]

Watching, learning & liking from New Zealand. - You are showing and talking good sense. - thank you.

[@cyclingbulgarian-london8643]

I like your set up, you could do this on a massive scale and sell these lead bars and make a tidy penny. Cheers from London.

[@JaredHempfield]

I had that idea a week ago until I spent 10 hours shoveling and sifting berms for 800 lbs, now my back aches lol, this lead is mine for the next 50 years

[@jewelsc79]

@@JaredHempfield 800??!!

[@JaredHempfield]

@@jewelsc79 Yeah, sold a few hundred lbs of ingots, sweetened with tin and antimony. I exaggerated, it didnt last 50 yrs, more like 5 months of casting 😂 Bout to harvest again now that its spring

[@jewelsc79]

@@JaredHempfield well still lol. I just ordered 65lbs online and i’m waiting for my shipment 😈. That’s 1,040oz at 99.9% pure so hopefully the 40oz will give me a margin of error enough to make 1,000 slugs. Happy casting!

[@lancehenthorn17]

one thing you might want try is using some expanded metal for a cooling rack! but the wet towel I guess works too!

[@jiujitsu2000]

FC45LC is one of my good friends!

[@dillonangus]

reducer is the opposite of an oxidizer in chemistry. an oxidizer adds an oxygen (think adding an oxygen to iron = oxidation = rust). a reducer does the opposite... takes an oxygen. in this case, wax (mostly just a bunch of carbon and hydrogen) melts then burns using the oxygen from the lead oxide layer as Oxygen for the fire triangle (heat + fuel + oxygen). chemically, you could use gasoline... but you'd blow your arse up in a reloading version of "hey y'all watch this!"

[@percyvile]

Redox reactions don't actually always involve oxygen, they are based on the movement of electrons, reductions add electrons (negative charge, aka reduced chrage) whilst oxidations strip electrons away

[@nicklasbergstrom6729]

This made me want to try it out myself.

[@FortuneCookie45LC]

Nice video on getting ingots out of range scrap..!! Like those ingots...

[@AlumiTube]

Came out nice :)

[@umitcandan7880]

Sorry my ingilish speak not good dis iz copper?

[@3melendr592]

Viscum, you failed to tell jaboney el toro that CountryBoyPrepper approved of your comments and asked us all to thumbs up your comments. Thank you for the great explanations with some science which I understand very well.

[@4WorldPeace2]

Good tips, thank you! The only comment I might share is, possibly, a big fan blowing the fumes away from the melting area. Either a high capacity box fan or one of those high capacity round fans like from Harbor Freight to move the fumes away from the immediate work area so you don't breathe the concentrated toxins that are sometimes just hanging out.

[@ceez33167]

how do you find out how hard the lead is? what types of bullets do you cast with range scrap? what do you think of melting reclaimed bird shot to make slugs? is it worth it? from your video it looks like you lose some of the total weight of the scrap, how much do you think is lost in scrap bird shot?? i appreciate any info, thanks for your help.

[@thomas435able]

I don't care about shooting or bullets at all this was just that interesting to watch lol

[@brucesims3228]

Love how you have everything organized and tidy. Get real tired of watching some demo from the top of a 55 gal drum or a cleared spot on the ground in the backyard. BTW: Is lead hardness an issue for you? Thoughts?

[@WPOOiQ]

wow what u are doing is excellent! I appreciate the knowledge out of your videos.

[@Toolness1]

I've been buying wheel weights and processed wheel weight ingots and save all my range scrap in buckets for when times get too tough to afford or I can't find wheel weights or pre-processed ingots. Im sure that day will come....

[@scottgoodman8993]

Since 1972 I have been sure the economy, country, economic system +/or law/order will collapse and those without silver, gold, and lead will be out of luck. Hasn't happened.

[@357Dejavu]

Thanks for the help. He video was very educational

[@johnkrim8377]

The dirt that comes to the top of a pot of melting lead is called " dross" it is the impurities in the lead. Before you start you should scrape the inside of your pot and wipe it out with a rag with a little oil on it , leaving a light film on the pot. Once you clean the top of the molten lead you should pour quickly because the top starts to burn again , especially with excessive heat. Retired 73 year old plumber.

[@rickthompson1422]

John Krim ...thank you! Mom's side ALL plumbers.

[@wrxs1781]

The purple color on you mix is due to zinc contamination, this product is commonly used for wheel weights and lead free or frangible range ammunition. As soon as I see it in my melt my first words I will not repeat!

[@williamkass9057]

Simple question what material can I use and where do I get is. If I need to buy flux and other agents would it be just smarter safer just to buy bullets… I have a pro-melt and I thought could just find some lead and melt it, is this not the case?

[@MattInFL]

Def put a lid on that! Took over 12 min to show a lid. Propane cost is a real factor, def use a lid...

[@rnrBayless]

That's some good tips for doing lead

[@lancehenthorn17]

I have been using bucks beaver flux. must say works really good!

[@rickthompson1422]

lance henthorn ...I do like me some beaver...

[@cIoudbank]

i find it fun how u can shoot all the bullets u want at the range, turn the brass and lead into ingots for money to buy more bullets

[@pepesportfishing3817]

very good video and good information, a question sir, how can I harden the lead to make a fishing jig, thank you

[@donaldbabbitt9237]

Range lead is hard lead. I will work for some molds that don’t have much detail in it but for molds that have more detail you want soft lead.

[@TheAimlessWarrior]

Sometimes i wish i could live in the USA. You can do literally everything you want in your backjard

[@kscamm]

where do you live?

[@joshuahand407]

not literally but still better than anywhere else

[@SlangJeezy]

I can’t even burn leaves without a $5 permit. The government overreach is ridiculous in the US.

[@tonyfeltman6791]

Theirs a dude named bidstackd casting on KZbin he live in Aussie and does it in his front yard in suburbian cage

[@Farkles1]

Yesterday I was drinking beer shooting my gun and burning garbage in my backyard.

[@Getbaddudes]

If you allow it to thoroughly dry over a couple of days, wouldn't it be more beneficial to scrub the lead, pot, and spoon really good before you begin the melting process? I know you said it could introduce moisture, but if you live in a rainy area, chances are it has already been wet multiple times over already. I figured eliminating all the dirt and extra debris would save you from having to introduce the wax and saw dust. I apologize if you went into this extra detail.....I just figured it was extra work doing those steps. You have a good process down that works well for you, so I am asking for myself....trying to minimize errors. Great videos, keep it up!

[@MSUICEMAN]

fluxing bonds and removes impurities. reducing helps reduce wanted metals (tin, antimony) back into alloy.

[@ferchox117]

I understood why you places sawdust on the pot, but what was the reason why you put a piece of wax? What does it do to it the lead?

[@GemPassionpl]

Charcoal is reducer - it means that carbon content reduces metalic oxides into pure metalic state thats why lead is so nice after adding sawdust

[@AAllen777]

I do agree with not worrying so much about the dirt but have you ever had any problems with the stones exploding? I know there is a lot of sandstone around my area and I've heard these types of stones will absorb moisture and it if that is the case a process like this could be catastrophic if one were to end up accidentally dumping these stones into the pot. IDK much about this but getting ready to attempt doing the casting myself. The information provided is much appreciated and seems like it would be fulfilling to end up with the finished product mostly gathered as scrap.

[@davidduncan3659]

Have you thought about buying a crucible that would allow you to use a handle for better support?

[@therugbee]

THANKS from Colorado!

[@makimcleary393]

Here are a few tips for you too: When you see this layer of oxidized lead you can put in some more wax (witch btw. is flux witch again is essentially a reducer) to pull the oxygen out. This way you don't waste the lead only because it's oxidized. And I'd advise you to take less wax or saw dust and use more when needed. You can also add a bit of flux before skimming of the slag and dirt because it contains a lot of lead oxide witch can, as I said before, be reduced. When you flux the slag as well you get a lot of the lead out and it's less toxic. And I would really turn down/off the heat as soon everything is molten. It has so much thermal capacity. Then you have less oxidation and you save energy.

[@kenhansell1553]

which not witch. Btw

[@budtoker4770]

"Reduction" is opposite reaction of oxidation.. Im assuming that it helps remove oygen..

[@andrewray6262]

i was pretty good at doing working those reaction problems in gen chem and im unsure if those terms have the same meaning when recycling lead but reduction and oxidation have to do with the addition and removal of electrons jus an fyi. i cant remember which does which lol

[@chevy6299]

You are right about water, no way I'm washing my range scrap or wheel weights. I like to combo the sawdust and candle wax, just seams to work better but that is just my opinion. I don't worry about oxidation in my ingots, it is lead and candle wax will take care of quick when I cast.

[@chevy6299]

I'm 62chevy on castboolits.

[@GFRESH38]

Question: why melt lead into ingots? Are they that valuable? What use could they have? Liked the vid btw- this is a pretty cool thing to do

[@AlexRetsam]

205 lbs of lead is like 26,000 55 grain bullets.

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Alex Who makes 55 grain bullets? That's a .22 cal bullet.

[@twoscoops5197]

@@rogertycholiz2218 for .223 remington

[@joshwokojance3790]

@@twoscoops5197 you wouldn’t shoot a hardcast .223. The velocity would destroy the bullet, probably before it left the muzzle. There’s a reason that high speed rounds are copper jacketed.

[@c2a2b287]

Learned a lot from this video, thx!

[@craigslyst]

Great video Great use of PPE, not like that jitsu guy!

[@Alex-ib6tm]

Do you re melt the debris you scrape off the top again to try to “harvest” (I don’t know the correct terminology) more lead from it?

[@etienne7774]

How do you make thin lead sheets? I want to make lead white oil paint.

[@limitlesschoices]

Borax will fix oxidation. If you have a tractor supply buy a huge propane tank. Wouldn't it make sense to have a larger ingot mold?

[@hd108a2]

Nice setup. Good info.

[@sorsorscience0787]

wow I want to do this-- nice yield of lead

[@abbaelijah598]

nice video but how do you sell this ingots lead

[@kscamm]

when I process range lead, I first skim off the jackets with a makeshift funnel made out of hardware cloth. Then I skim off the sand, etc. Then I flux with sawdust. The reason I skim off the jackets, is because I take them to a metal recycling yard and get yellow brass price for them. I brought in 87 lbs the other day and got $122. I forgot to mention that I have to go over the jackets with a magnet to pull out steel cores that are in some bullets. It's embarrassing when the guy at the scrap yard takes his magnet and finds a lot of steel! Makes it look like you are trying to cheat.

[@pareloader5989]

I love country boy preppers videos. But I don’t think that he makes them anymore. Does anyone know why or what he’s been up too?

[@swade4690]

To save a lil time and effort could it possibly be cheaper to buy the pre made bullets for reloading opposed to buying ammo out of the store. So what I’m saying is still reloading but not having to harvest lead. Can that still be cheap

[@Riyame]

If you go through a lot of propane the exchange a tank places are a horrible value. At least in my area they do not fill tanks full and it costs at least 50% more than getting your own tank filled somewhere else. If you have a Costco that fills tanks it is a great value. You can get a 30lb tank filled for less than $10 usually and they only charge by weight so you can bring partial tanks and only pay for what you get.

[@fordrac1ng81]

I get the bottle the first time, fill at a gas station then exchange again when it expires

[@rickthompson1422]

...bought a NEW 20 lb tank at Lowes for 30 bucks last month...as others state those exchane bottles are a rip off...convenient, BUT a rip off...

[@VikingRul3s]

Wouldn't butane be better for this? Would reach similar temps at lower flow rate. Though i have no idea what that costs per lbs in USA, so may be more expensive

[@larrysomers1654]

why exchange tanks when ya can find a propane place that can fill the tanks its by far cheaper in the long run

[@ericmueller6836]

If you're processing this much scrap at once, get a 100lb tank. Well worth the investment.

[@jewelsc79]

So, you say this is range scrap, do ranges just let you take that if you ask or something? I’m looking for lead right now and was trying to find a good source

[@TheFloatingSheep]

dropped a like as soon as I saw the flag

[@pareloader5989]

Country boy prepper. Hello! I think that your videos are great that’s why I am reaching out too you. I have been reloading for a long time now and I want to get into bullet casting. First off I don’t have access to range lead which is a problem so I’m forced to buy lead. When you process your lead do you harden it with anything when your casting bullets? And any ideas on where I might be able to purchase lead would be great. Thank you. Chris.

[@arcadianrust]

Why don't you use a rocket stove for melting lead. I mean. it would bring your cost down per ingot. I made one with my sons as a project so they would know how to make one. Took about 30 minutes. we made several different kinds. the one out of bricks was the easiest and easiest to utilize.

[@HalfCapHilg]

How do you find the ranges to get the scrap from and also how do you get permission to collect the scrap?

[@Caleb1995trapman]

how many lbs of lead do you think you can melt with 1 tank of propane ?

[@joemama.556]

is that a javelin case on the background???

[@00ckrikke]

Great video! Very informative, thanks!

[@CountryBoyPrepper]

Thanks for watching!

[@yolo-qr2fq]

Where do you return the jackets after you get the lead out? Return it back to the range?

[@pareloader5989]

CBP. I need your help. I want to get into casting my own bullets. I have watched a lot of videos but it seems that everyone does it a little bit different than the other. I know that you need a casting pot and some hand tools and PPE. Just not sure what kind of bullet molds to get. I also don’t have access to any lead. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Love your videos and have been a long time subscriber. Thanks. Chris

[@haydendavis4986]

In the future are you planning on making a video on how to cast bullets??

[@Notellemkrik1776]

Where did you get that style skillet

[@rexczi6299]

12:40 why? The hotter the better and its good thqt the moulds are hot, and you also know that metals dont like temp differnces.. they dont like going from hot to cold etc..

[@agentnuget]

Rexczi Cex because lead is an odd metal. It doesn't do well with being too hot. Not to mention if you let lead air cool is becomes very soft, flashed lead (dunked in water) allows it to stay hard. Which you want for actual bullets. Unless you're making bullets for a muzzleloaders, that needs to be soft so you want to air cool.

[@shawncupps2325]

A good source for "sawdust" flux is buying a bag of shavings from a feed store. You get about 3.5 cubic feet for less then $10. Or if you know someone with horses you could bum some for free lol

[@larrytischler8769]

Hardwood is better than the pine shavings.

[@jasonb4350]

Have ever used wheel waits and if so what would happen if you accidentally had a few zinc ones in the mix

[@13bravo93]

Do you cut the full metal jacket bullets before melting? I cut mine, but it's a long process. Thanks!

[@americasfavoritehoarder]

Good tips and I agree. Don't wash your lead!

[@AndrewBuchen]

How do you get access to the range scrap? Do you gave any tips for new users on obtaing material?

[@paulcaruso4671]

you have a very good video and obviously know what you are doing . I have worked in industry with lead and have had to be tested for lead poisoning as part of my job. . lead is a carcinogenic you should use a fume hood and not near your home there are masks available that would protect you . this is not the only video I notice ignore good hygiene and protective equipment you should warn your listeners about the health risks .

[@Smiertzlen]

A suggestion to why washing the lead before melting it down: As in the video: rocks and other dirt is in these buckets. But they do not contain any lead. So putting them in the melting pot reduces the space for potential lead, resulting in more propane to be consumed. Also it consumes heat and therefore, the melting takes longer. Besides that, some bullets may have a full copper jacket. So whenever this jacket is not pierced at any point, the lead cannot float out and will be tossed. This results in a loss of possible lead and therefore more propane consumption. While washing one can look for unpierced full copper jacket bullets and sort out any form of stones or dirt. So washing beforehand is actually quite nice and helps to make the melting process go down more quickly. (I belive that a bit of water and time is less expensive than maybe a whole canister of propane)

[@trevethan82319841]

Out of curiosity do you know if other metals would be able to be melted in a dutch oven like the one you're using

[@AceBullion]

Very nice bud. Please tell me your selling the bars.

[@smokinf150]

I would say cleaning the lead would speed up your melting, which means less gas

[@JasonVladimir]

Good show!

[@CharitoBaker]

5061rounds for Keith 429421 SWC for .44 MAG.

[@edwardwu2749]

Why can't you just get a smaller ladle and pour straight into the bullet caster? Why do you have to form ingots first?

[@benjaminwilkin2960]

Its preference. You could do that

[@rickthompson1422]

....HOLY SHIT I LOVE that collection of fresh ingots....good work Country....love the pretty ingots...ingot envy....

[@zackzimmer7167]

How many ingots, could you get off 1 tank of propane?

[@chrispatterson9689]

What did you end up selling them for?

[@chuckfrumunda1835]

Not washing lead is like taking a shower and not washing your balls...great video

[@АлександрШевцов-ь2ы]

Why did not you make the smelter out of the barrel and refractory bars?

[@collinaitcheson728]

Hey honest question but can you get lead poisoning?