using muffin tins for lead ingots

[Kent]

I am going to try casting roundball and wanted to create some small, handy-size ingots.  I've read about using muffin pans as molds, but am concerned about the non-stick surface on the pans I've found.  Has anyone had problems with contamination of the lead from these non-stick surfaces?  Thanks for your help!  Kent

[Craig Wilcox]

Kent, back when I was "recycling" lead from backstops, I was lucky enough to find some aluminum-foil cupcake molds. 
I doubt that the Teflon, or whatever the lining is, will contaminate the lead.  Unless you are getting pure lead, most all of it will have one or another "contaminants" in it.  Very hard to find pure Pb unless from a scientific supplies store or the like.
But, PLEASE - worry about the muffin tins being contaminated by the lead - it is a persistent heavy metal which can cause all sorts of problems if ingested. Mark the tin with something permanent, like holes drilled around the edge, or letters stamped into the metal.
About 3/4" deep is approximately 1 pound.

[TN Longhunter]

I have done this for years. Instead of aluminum tins I bought a cast iron pan likely for cornbread muffins. Only used for lead and has lasted 30+ years.

[Craig Wilcox]

Well, doggoned it, Don!  I inherited a cast iron piece with a bunch (6) of hollows that look like ears of corn, apparently meant for corn bread muffins!  I could have used that to make corn bread lead muffins!

[Fyrstyk]

I picked up one of those corn bread cast iron molds at a tag sale for $.50.  It makes great 1.5# ingots.

[Greg Pennell]

I’ve used a muffin tin for years for making my ingots. It works great, just make sure it’s sitting on concrete, as all the heat transfers to the working surface very fast...don’t ask me how I know...

Mine doesn’t have a non-stick coating, and I’m sure a quick trip to the local flea market or goodwill will net you a similar pan for a buck or so.

Greg

[Bob Roller]

The muffin tin is what I used and I have a number of ingots stacked up along the back wall of my shop along
with heavy blocks of lead. It's all from Xray barriers and seems to be pure.

Bob Roller

[Joe S]

I'd be cautious with Teflon coated pans. Melted lead is hot enough to cause the Teflon to decompose, which releases a lot of toxic gasses.

[mark esterly]

yea burnt teflon will kill a pet bird in a heartbeat.  it's used in hair dryers and on irons, window screen and who knows what else

[OldMtnMan]

Now, i'm hungry for some muffins.

[Mike Brooks]

Now, i'm hungry for some muffins.

Lead or corn?

[T*O*F]

I use a muffin tin.  Prior to that I used a Chevy disc brake piston.  Anything will work.  The muffin tins cool quicker than cast iron.

[Mike from OK]

I didn't have very good luck with the one my Mrs. gave me... The ingots stuck in the pan.

Maybe I should've used some Pam.

Mike

[Daryl]

I picked up some muffin tins at a garage sale (the garage was already sold, I guess). The tins did not work for me - ingots stuck hard.
I bought a couple Lyman ingot moulds and have been VERY happy casting ingots since. They are wonderful and heave handles already.
Once hard, tip over and tap- out come 4, 1 pound ingots. With my 2 and Taylor's 2, that's 16 pounds of ingots each pour.

[P.W.Berkuta]

I've used both muffin tins and mini loaf tins and have had no issues with either - works great

[OldMtnMan]

Now, i'm hungry for some muffins.

Lead or corn?

Corn or blueberry. My teeth stick in the lead.

[sespe]

I never had them stick in the cups.  Must have been lucky.

[Daryl]

I never had them stick in the cups.  Must have been lucky.

or just different material?

[JBJ]

I had miserable luck with a cheap, aluminum muffin pan. It distorted badly but, like I said it was CHEAP and THIN! Much better luck with a steel pan. Abandoned that pan after picking up a Saceo and a Lyman ingot at a local flea market.
J.B.

[Eric Krewson]

I melt my lead I a cast iron pot I bought at a flea market and use a coleman stove hooked up to a 20# propane bottle.



I just dump out the lead after it cools and have my "ingot", actually lots of them from melting range lead, all from BP guns at a range where they hold the Alabama M/L championships and nothing else. All my ingots fit right back in my pot when I want to cast again. They vary from 10# to 20#

[Brokennock]

I make muffin pan ingots that fit perfect in my little electric pot that I can pour directly out of when casting. I flux/clean the bulk lead melted in a big cast iron pot on a turkey fried burner and ladle the clean lead into the muffin pan. I candle soot the muffin pan 1st, just like I do my molds. I bought a cheap steel (or aluminum, can't remember) muffin pan without coating at Walmart. I've seen them at goodwill stores too.
I did have one muffin mold separate from the rest of the pan when trying to get an ingot out, before I started sooting it with candle 1st. It was a corner mold so gives me a good way to hang the pan from a nail or peg for storage.

[Kent]

Thanks for all your advice (and bad jokes). I did find a flimsy steel muffin pan at Target that is good for one use, but is cheap.  I got my lead from Rotometals on sale for about $2/lb including shipping.  It's advertised as 99.9% pure.  I melted it in a cast iron pan over a large propane burner and it's all in ingots now.  Thanks for your help!

Kent

[Scota4570]

The Lee ingot mold is $12.  The ingots fit in pot nicely and are stack-able.   I put a damp towel in an old metal pan.  After pouting the ingots I put mold on the damp towel to solidify the lead.  I spray pain the lead with a spit coat , color coded to that it is, pure or whatever.  I also stamp them "P" for pure, "W" for wheel weights etc. 

[Nessmuck]

Makes you eyes red..just looking at it......

[nemovir]

Yea, I use Lee ingot molds,  I would rather pay the extra amount than worrying someone may use the muffin tins for baking.