Curious to see what other fellow casters are using for equipment to smelt/melt their raw lead into ingots for casting. Last year I got into casting and managed to procure over 500lbs of lead, mostly COWW (clip-on wheel weights). For separating the lead from the steel clip-ons and removing the general debris, I use a 12" cast iron dutch-oven that I purchased from Harbor Freight for around $30, and a Camp Chef propane burner that I purchased on sale from Cabelas for around $60. I use a 4" ladle I purchased from a gentleman in NH, and pour my ingots into several Lyman ingot molds, and an old cast-iron pan. I flux my lead 3 times using dry pine sawdust, before pouring into molds.
The Camp-Chef has proved to be pretty rugged, and has supported a dutch oven full of wheel-weights. Guessing around 100lbs total weight. The extended legs really save on the back.
Some of my ingot molds.
First melt (approx. 100 lbs. wheel weights)
Second melt. (approx. 200 lbs. wheel weights)
Getting about 20% loss in weight from the melt.