What are lead ingots?
What are lead ingots? |
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You can use a lead ladle to make a lead ingot. An ingot is a block of metal used as a method of storing non-ferrous metals (ones which do not contain iron).
Ingots have been made in a similar way for centuries. For more information, see: How to make a lead ingot? |
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To use lead in your repair work or to make your own equipment, you can buy or make lead ingots. | |||
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Lead ingots are a way of storing the metal so that, after removal of the dross, they can be stacked easily in a clean and pure form.
They are formed in small moulds because lead is heavy and a large amount of it would be difficult to handle. |
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The pure lead ingots can then be re-melted. This can be done using a normal camping stove with a cast iron or steel pot, or by using small specialist smelting furnaces.
Lead melts at 327.5 degrees Celsius, which, for a metal, is a low melting point. |
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Specialist lead melting pots are designed solely for smelting lead. They have a weighted base, an insulated pot and the temperature can be controlled easily. | |||
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Once the ingots of pure molten lead are at the right temperature, they can be poured into moulds with a lead ladle to later be reformed into other objects. | |||
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After use, any excess molten lead can be poured back into ingot moulds and, after cooling, stored until needed. | |||
