Lead pot accident

[lightman]

I hope the guy has a full recovery. I also hope that he will remember and use the lessons learned. That has to hurt!

There is nothing wrong with doing large amounts if your equipment is up to it. My smelting set-up will do about 400 pounds, and is sturdy enough to safely handle that weight. I tested it by putting the front bucket of my tractor (70 hp) on it and raising the front of the tractor off the ground. Think of a tractor doing push ups! I don't go overboard on safety here, but my burner was purpose built for this kind of job. I also wear heavy jeans outside of leather work boots, leather gloves, a long sleeve shirt (FR because I have them), and safety glasses. I also keep an ice chest near by with a towel in it, just in case I have too cool off a burn. I do this in my shop, but I have a large exhaust fan.

 

[Reloadron]

Lessons to be learned here?
Wear heavy Work boots, heavy jeans, gloves, safety glasses.
And keep a close eye on your burner & pot at all times.

I do believe that covers it. Molten lead can be some nasty stuff and one big problem is molten lead tends to stick to whatever it lands on, including flesh. Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery with the lessons learned.

Ron

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

There are other hazards too. I had a totally freak accident occur a couple years ago when I was smelting a couple trays of printer's type along with a batch of range lead to make some hard alloy.

It was melted and I had just skimmed the old bullet jackets and other garbage off the surface leaving it very shiny. I went into the garage to get the ladle so I could dip and pour the 5 lb. ingots when I heard a loud pop and when I turned around to look, I saw this lead covered male robin rolling down the driveway. Evidently he had seen his reflection in the shiny surface of the melted lead, dove on it to drive out the intruder and landed in the molten lead. The resulting steam (or whatever) explosion killed the robin and sent him rolling down my driveway. Somewhat humorous, but certainly not for the robin and not for me if it had happened while I was close enough to the smelting pot to get splattered.

Jim

 

[rsrocket1]

Why not a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) also, like firemen wear, to avoid breathing the toxic lead fumes

because lead does not boil until it reaches 3,164 degrees F and it has a vapor pressure of 0.0mm Hg at 621 F. You are in far more danger of the hot metal and ingesting any oxides or salts of lead in the form of dust than you are of breathing in any lead fumes.

 

[Bula]

I use a bbq grate between the burner and the pot because the unsupported pot bottom made me nervous. I clean WW in a pretty heavy stainless steel pot. The distance between the grates is about 1.5 inches so the bottoms is pretty well supported. Although this has me considering a big cast Dutch oven. I will say this, when smelting WW I wear leather boots, long sleeves, gloves and nothing but cotton clothing. Praying for a speedy recovery for your buddy RC.

 

[rcmodel]

Hey!

He's not my buddy.
He is a friend of my friend Bull Nutria, who sent me the photos from Houma LA.

I don't know the guy.

Just passed it along as a safety tip to other bullet casters on THR.

rc

 

[TexasDon]

WoW....Sorry to hear that..!!!

I know it's bad....I had something like that happen once a long time back before using bottom pour pots, but with a lot less lead.
Had blue jeans and my Red Wing boots on, it made a thin (HOT) sheet of lead was on my jeans and boots....It doesn't take long to get out of hot boots let me tell you..!!!!

BUT, I was not seriously burned.
Now...I'm always dressed for the occasion. :banghead:

TxD

 

[David2011]

"Why not a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) also, like firemen wear, to avoid breathing the toxic lead fumes?"

Because lead doesn't vaporize at bullet casting temperatures. It vaporizes at over 1100 degrees F.

David

 

[Hondo 60]

Man, that OP looks painful!

Many years ago, I worked at an industrial recycling yard.
The furnace was melting aluminum.
One of my co-workers stumbled & put his foot in a molten pot.

In the end he was out of work for months - couldn't put a shoe on.