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How to Melt Pig Lead

Pig lead is crude lead that comes in ingots ranging from 5 lbs to several hundred pounds. Many home hobbyists use it for creating fishing lures, diving weights, hand-cast bullets and miniature toys. Lead has a very low melting temperature which makes it easy to work with at home. However, it can be dangerous because the concentrated fumes are poisonous and while the temperature is very low for melted metal, it is still over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which will cause severe burns.

Things You'll Need

Fan
Protective gear
Sturdy pot
Heating element
Pine stick
Lead skimmer
Ladle

Instructions

- 1
  Find a spot that has enough room to freely move about, has a close source of electricity, flow-through ventilation and is made of concrete or other non-flammable material.
- 2
  Set a fan on one side of the area and have it blowing across where the lead is to be melted and out the other side.
- 3
  Put the lead in a deep, thick container. A cast iron pot is ideal.
- 4
  Place the pot on a heavy-duty electrical burner. Check for the stability of the burner and pot before you turn it on. Once you are assured that it cannot tip over or be bumped over, turn the burner on high.
- 5
  Put on your safety glasses, leather gloves and leather apron as the lead begins to melt. Never attempt to handle hot lead without proper protection. Use a pine stick to stir the lead. If the stick turns black or bursts into flame the temperature is too high. If the melted lead appears to have a golden color on top of the lead it also indicates the temperature is too high. Reduce the heat by adding in some room temperature lead.
- 6
  Skim any impurities that rise to the top of the melted lead with a skimmer. Discard the scum where it can safely cool.
- 7
  Use a ladle to reach into the pot to draw lead out for your molds. Do not attempt to move the pot when it is full of hot lead.
- 8
  Let the pot cool down completely after you are finished. You can save the remaining lead for another time by placing the pot in a dry area and the pot covered. Do not let any moisture mix in with the lead.

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