: You can learn nearly all the techniques of metal casting with much less
: danger by casting with lead. Because the melting point is much lower
: (500°) you can melt lead in a cast iron pot on a Colman stove in your
: backyard. NOT GREAT for deck hardware, but it will allow you to learn what
: casting is all about.

: OF COURSE you must be very careful to avoid breathing lead vapors so outdoors
: and upwind work is a must. I don't know how available lead ingots are
: these days with all the hazardous warnings standards around. I've cast
: with lead, and it makes for small beautiful castings when polished.

There is a wonderful children's book titled "The Indian in the Cupboard" Central to the plot is a key that was made by casting it from molten lead. Teh person who did this was a fortune teller who would pour molten lead into a cup of water and "read" the random pattern formed, mushv as a person would read tea leaves. The idea of pouring hot lead on cold water sounds extremely dangerous to me.

In college I worked in a print shop melting down the used lead type and casting it into ingots for reuse in the typesetting machines. Typemetal is still available in ingot form from graphic art and printing suppliers. Some people into reloading ammunition like to use it for casting bullets. When I left the print shop I bought 50 pounds of lead for 15 cents a pound, and later cast it in a borrowed mold into weights for my SCUBA diving weight belt.

The local Home Depot had a shelf full of 5 pound ingots of lead. It is used for sealing the joints on cast iron pipe, which is still used extensively in Chicago, both for new work and for repairs. (many other areas have gone to plastic drain pipes) along with the lead were ladles for melting it, and larger melting pots. a propane torch and a few minutes time will suffice for melting this.

Pewter also melts are a reasonable temperature. The current formulas for pewter do not contain poisonous metals like antimony or lead, so they cna be used for beverage containers. Art supply stores, or mail-order outlets can provide pewter in a pellet or powder forms for you to melt and cast.

Be careful

PGJ