Hey guys i was wondering what you guys use to keep yourself from inhaling the fumes from the lead when your pouring? Would a drywall mask work? or do i need to get something better?

You need a better mask. An industrial type painters mask with the replacable respirators would be good enough. Good ventilation helps reducing the chances of inhaling any dust but a mask wouldn' t hurt either. Rember Safety First.... and proper clean up after you're done to remove any dust that may have settled.

Harshman

where do you typically get those masks.

Right now i do pour outside obviously. Usually infront of the garage door with a fan in the garage blowing out. I just started pouring and like everybody warned me it is becoming addictive so i just dont wanna end up like the stories you hear about guys finding out they got lead in there lungs after being around melting lead and fumes and stuff.

Nevermind I went out and looked and if anybody is interested in this too i found one at farm and fleet for 35 dollars and it says it is for use with lead as well as many other things.

http://www.farmandfleet.com/catalog/product.aspx?i=514026&h=050603007

I dont wear a mask when im pouring jigs. But one thing i do is premelt all the lead outside before actually pouring jigs. The trash thats mixed in with the lead will often catch on fire and the resulting soot that enters the air will carry a lot of lead particles with it. So always remember to premelt outside and use adequate ventilation when pouring.

One of the best setups to have is a range hood with an electric fan located imediately above the melting pots. The hot air will naturally rise and carry the fumes upward and the fan will pull them out.

I second the range hood idea from wido maker. I have an exhaust fan that sits dirrectly above my work table that I use while pouring and baking my jigs to remove fumes and it works great.

Widow what kind of trash are you getting in your lead that would cause a flame up??? I have never had this problem. Maybe time for you to get some new "clean" lead?

Harshman

I had been melting a lot of old lead pipe and some of it was out from under old toilets. So its got some kind of rope, cardboard or cotton material stuck between what looks like the lead pipe and some kind of lead collar or connection band. It gives off a brown rusty looking smoke and the flames will flare up six to eight inches above the pot  8-)

Its some of the softest shiniest lead ive come across other than stained glass window material which is a pain because you have to use cutters to snip off the tin joints. All that snipping and theres not a lot of lead there but it gives you something to do when snow is on the ground.