Darks,
you serious?
I've cast iron and bronze before, but never lead
DC,
I'm using fishing weights - ovoid 1.5oz jobs. I've tried beating on them, but they're slippery little bastards, can't hold 'em steady. I might try smaller split-shot wwights instead - one good bash and they have two flats from which to work.
KaC,
any particular special type of pot, or will a steel cooking pot do?
We use a very small cast iron pot, like a mini dutch oven, maybe about 2 cups worth. I think cast iron is preferred because it holds the heat better. Most of the casting materials I've seen have been made of heavier metal.
I do know a coleman stove works fine, though. Do it out of doors, so you don't get lead fumes in your house, and most important, if you spill it, you won't get lead all over the kitchen counter...or even your favorite workbench.
A cast iron ladle and a driven fire is all you need. Cast iron melts at about twice the temp of lead so when the lead becomes molten the ladle still has a long way to go.
Lead can be melted in a blue flame propane torch.
but it takes patience, as you have to heat through the container.