Heat options

[mrwigglesworth]

Would a can of Sterno (a small camp fire can of chemical fuel) melt the model metal?
Can that be used?
What do you use as your heat source?
Electric hot plate?
Gas burner?
What works well.

[General Davout]

I use electric at the moment (Kitchen Hob) and it works just fine. Many years ago I used bottled gas, kitchen cooker type, and it worked just fine to. Just ensure good ventilation where ever you are using model or standard metal.

[Christopher]

Hy ,my favorit is an Gas Burner i works many years so you must search the melting point at self he is varius of your mould typ
Chris

[Prince August]

mrwigglesworth said:

Would a can of Sterno (a small camp fire can of chemical fuel) melt the model metal?
Can that be used?
What do you use as your heat source?
Electric hot plate?
Gas burner?
What works well.

I include a list of metal options and melting points:
www.princeaugust.ie/alloys/index.html
If you use a flame, use an old saucepan to cover the flame, then use the ladle in the saucepan. If you apply flame to the ladle directly you will not have as even a temperature and the resulting castings will be more likely flawed. Also damage to the ladle may occur.

[luftys]

That right PA,and if you only use a ladle,remember heat travels,so the handle could become very hot

[carl]

If you have access to a nuclear reactor the lead will melt faster than a stove or can of sterno. Just kidding. I use a standard gas stove for melting lead. I put it in a thick iron pot and use a pair of pliers to pour from there into a ladle with a long hadle and a separator in the middle to keep impurities out of the moulds. I then use a kitchen type heat glove to handle the ladle just in case. To melt large amounts of lead outdoors I use a butane torch and allow it to fall into a large metal pan.

[nick44]

Im using to methods , a stove i bought from prince august a while back and a small camping gas stove from asda

[nick44]

also i use three ladels at a time so i can keep casting !

[General Davout]

I'm still using the electric hob at home but I recently purchased the electric stove advertised on the web site, so I'll be using that instead.

[General Davout]

I use two ladle's at a time, but not at the same time! I'll have one melting while I'm preparing the next one. What is the expected life of a ladle?

[carl]

casso said:

I use two ladle's at a time, but not at the same time! I'll have one melting while I'm preparing the next one. What is the expected life of a ladle?

The life of a ladle is purely dependant on what it is made of, how many times you use it, how much heat is applied to it and just about anything else. Not sure what my main one is made of but is so heavy I would assume it is cast iron. I've had it for about 50 to 60 years now and expect it to last at least that much longer.

[stand2]

Hi all................I was thinking of geting a hotplate from PA, do thay work well ? at this time i,am useing the cooker, geting a bit of flak from her in doors, if any one can let me know ??

[General Davout]

I've been using the hotplate for a couple of years now. Allows you to set up where you want, once your close to an electric socket. I haven't used the kitchen hob in a long time ...

[stand2]

many thanks i have now ordered one

[stand2]

my hotplate from PA come had to have a go, but not to HOT takes a long time to melt the lead,?..is this right ? i had the seting on 5 i was useing the cooker and this melted it in a few min........is it me or the hotplate