CobraPRODUCTS CO 3" CI Solder Ladle

This is great for pouring malted lead into small openings like moulds. I use this for making fishing jigs. High end quality would recommend to any body making lead products

Ive used this ladle mainly to melt lead for sinkers. I make a lot of sinkers in the spring and summer and this will be one of the ladles I use quite a bit after seeing how smooth it pours. Other ladles I have seem to sludge up along the edge of the pouring lip and I haven't had that happen while using this ladle. I'm able to pour more accurately faster without the metal getting cold too fast. The handle has room for some improvement. After using the ladle for a little while the handle starts to get hot enough that I can feel the heat through insulated gloves. If the handle was insulated for heat protection I would give 5 stars. Good ladle all in all just make sure you're protecting hands!

I cast a lot of sinkers and over time I have come to use this ladle more than the other ladles I have. I think it is because the pouring lip doesn't seem to gunk up as others do and that allows me to make a more accurate pour. If there were one thing I could do to improve it that would be an insulated handle of some sort. The heat does travel down the length of the handle after extended use. I feel the heat even while wearing welding gloves. It definitely is not made of cast iron but for me that means a thinner and less bulky ladle that is able scoop deeper into the melting pot.

Far from being great, far from being awful. Note that - although the description AND the attached label both proclaim that this ladle is made of cast iron, it distinctly is NOT made of cast iron - it's made of stamped steel, and it's welded together at the handle (that's the funny little jog you see in the handle, just outside the cup). It looks like the cup once had a different handle that was cut off (maybe too short?), then this handle was welded on.It IS fairly heavy (cup is 3/32", 0.090", handle is 1/8", 0.120") steel, so it'll hold heat decently, and the handle DOES have two good high-penetration welds, so it'll do its job. Just don't expect it to be cast iron because it's not.

Pretty much useless for smelting metal. You'll burn your flesh off before you even get close to using this is your smelter/ furnace. The handle is roughly 14 inches long