Yesterday, I decided to empty one of my Lee bottom pour pots, to change alloy. Plugged it in, and promptly forgot all about it. This morning (woke up about 0400 - it was the first thing I thought of), I went to the garage to empty it. At first, I thought it was turned down so low that it hadn't melted (poor lighting), but when I got to where I could see, it was about half full of "yellow dirt". I'm guessing this stuff was oxidized lead, but really don't know. The pot was about 3/4 full of what I call pure lead. When dumped, it seemed to be about 1/2 lead, and about 1/2 "dirt". What was this stuff? Oxidized lead?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bug.

Yep.

Not good!!! Although im no expert, I do know that vaporized lead, arsenic etc is VerrrrrY toxic. I believe the process starts around 875-900 deg, I could be wrong. Good thing you weren't there when this was occuring.

Yellow lead oxide-PbO {litharge} is not a health problem unless you ingest or breathe it.

The melting point of litharge is 888 degrees celsius.

Red lead oxide-Pb3O4 melting point 500 degrees celsius

Black lead oxide-PbO2 melting point 290 degrees
celsius

Any of the lead oxides can be returned to metalic lead by melting with carbon which produces metalic lead and carbon monoxide.

WC

Thanks, but I don't think I'll try to reclaim it... However, I do have some old Casenite, that would probably work Nah! I just dumped it, and cleaned the pot; which was my original intention. Oh, yeah, and no worries about the vapors, garage door open, and fan agoin', anytime the pots are on.>>>>>>>>>>Bug.

The term is "dross" formation. It occurs often in soldering machines. Many of the solder manufacturers sell a substance to mix into the "pot" to change it over to a nice pourable metal. I believe McMaster Carr has it or go directly to Kester Solder.The floating oxides just skim off. Probably not worth the effort but here it is.