Hi Steve,
I've been following the thread and wanted to share
my opinion.
I first HIGHLY advise AGAINST using the drain
mechanism. In fact, I may have removed it and put a stainless steel plug into
the port in such a way that it cannot be removed unless the pot is out of the
case. I've seen way too many people hurt (burned) badly from those things. Using
a ladle is a little slow, but much better controlled.
I suggest "pound cake" (4"x 9" x 3") "Bakers
Secret" cake pans (you'll need about 6 of them) which are Teflon lined. These
will not contaminate the solder and release well. Available from the local
grocery store at a very reasonable price and can be re-used.
With the way the tin market (London Metal Exchange)
has been, it's wise to re-use the solder. The best price you'll get for it from
the reclaim folks is about $1.00 / lb.
New solder is going around $3.00 / lb., and since
the solder is quite useable, no reason to spend money needlessly.
Get yourself a large galvanized wash basin (2-3 ft
diameter) and several bricks (like the ones the building is made with, hey...
there's lots of them, nobody will miss a few if you take a few ~). Put the
bricks in the bottom of the galvanized tub as an insulator, set an empty cake
pan on top of it and fill the tub with water to about 1/4" below the edge of the
cake pan. When you fill the pans, only go 3/4 of the way up, this will make them
easier to handle (ever try walking with a full bowl of soup?). Using 2 pairs of
vise grips (no commercial here, either) to pick them up by the ears, gently
place them into the water bath. This will cool them much faster than a fan, but
be aware the water will get very hot and you'll need to add more due to
evaporation. Let them sit there until you can tap the top with a 1/2" bar and
not puncture the skin. Remember, it's liquid inside! Have a pallet nearby to
flip the ingot out of the pan and stack (it's going to be 1,800 lbs when you're
done! DO NOT put the cake pans when full of liquid solder on any surface you
wish not destroyed, blue smurfs are an exception! Let the pans dry before
reloading... it only takes a few minutes since they are so hot
anyway.
As you get the pot lower and lower, disconnect the
top fire rods (power down first, please) as they become exposed. Repower the
system and continue to empty until the lower fire rods become exposed then power
off. You'll have enough time to get nearly all the solder out before it cools.
When you get to the bottom, you'll be left with a cup or so that is difficult to
scoop out. Scrape it to the center of the pot until it is on a flat area with no
structures then let it cool to a solid and lift it out.
I can do this project for you if you like... call
me for more details.
As far as the boat trip... my name IS NOT Gilligan!
LOL Why don't you put those pics up on your site? I'm sure we'll all get a
chuckle from it. I was wondering... Did anyone say anything about your sunburn
when you got back from a business trip to New Hampshire? Yeah, right... New
Hampshire... sunburn... what a boondoggle!~
Have a great week everyone!
Regards,
Ed Popielarski
QTA Machine
10 Mc Laren, Ste
D
Irvine, Ca. 92618
Phone:949-581-6601
Fax: 949-581-2448
Cel:
949-337-2578