Need help casting over the head type decoy anchors

Capt Rich Geminski said:
I worked for a utility and wiped lead. We used stearine flux to clean and move lead. Looks like a candle, I coat the mold and drop some in the pot to clean lead. Smells bad, but lets the lead flow.
I heat the mold on the lead pot. Call the manufacturer for recommendations. What are you heating the lead in, plumbers pot or smaller? Smaller units probably aren't hot enough...
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I'm using a 20 lb Lee or Lyman pot. I am getting some pure lead to try, and will also look into that flux. Ty
 
Mike, don't believe that the lee will get hot enough to pour that quantity. I use a plumbers pot for large molds. I use a lyman for bullets, keel weights etc.
For large molds the plumber pot is it. I pour 20oz sinkers-5 x 20 = over 6 pounds at one pour. Takes most of the pot, so we use two pots and burners.
If you super heat the mold, it may work.
 
Capt Rich Geminski said:
Mike, don't believe that the lee will get hot enough to pour that quantity. I use a plumbers pot for large molds. I use a lyman for bullets, keel weights etc.
For large molds the plumber pot is it. I pour 20oz sinkers-5 x 20 = over 6 pounds at one pour. Takes most of the pot, so we use two pots and burners.
If you super heat the mold, it may work.
Click to expand...

Ok, so I guess you mean it won't pour it fast enough ? FYI my mold is for 9.5 oz weights. That sucks, but I'll try the pure lead anyways, that's what Lil Mac says to use.
 
I just a use Stainless Steel pot, and an Aluminum pot, that I put on a 2 burner propane stove. I can heat up about 20lbs of lead in each. I then use a ladle to make my pours. I tried a smaller lee unit that held maybe 5lbs, but the small pour spout was a PITA. The ladle is a little more dangerous, but works well for me. I also have an open mold, so I need to move around the mold some when I pour. With the Lee unit, I had to move the mold instead. Now the mold is stationary, and I move the ladle.
 
Mike, I've heard guys using old cast iron pans to melt lead. Allows for larger amount of lead. Pots can be found on line cheap... Any one you could borrow from for a few weights?
 
Capt Rich Geminski said:
Mike, I've heard guys using old cast iron pans to melt lead. Allows for larger amount of lead. Pots can be found on line cheap... Any one you could borrow from for a few weights?
Click to expand...

I have a large aluminum pot I put on a burner to turn my lead into ingots. I'll just have to fire it up and pour my weights with it.
 
Capt Rich Geminski said:
Mike, don't believe that the lee will get hot enough to pour that quantity. I use a plumbers pot for large molds. I use a lyman for bullets, keel weights etc.
For large molds the plumber pot is it. I pour 20oz sinkers-5 x 20 = over 6 pounds at one pour. Takes most of the pot, so we use two pots and burners.
If you super heat the mold, it may work.
Click to expand...

Ding Ding Ding.
Capt had the answer. I heated the lead, outdoors, in a big aluminum pot over a turkey fryer type burner. The first pour in a cold mold worked, as did most of the other pours. I made 60 with little trouble today.
Before using the big pot, I used pure lead in the Lee 20 lb pot. I was able to pour 8, but when I added more wheel weight lead, the lead stopped filling up my mold. It was much easier with a big pot and a lead ladle.
Thank you Capt, and everyone for their suggestions.
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