MELTING CONE, in assaying, a hollow cone of brass or cast iron, into which melted metalline substances are thrown, in order to free them from their scoria. When a small quantity of matter is melted, it will be sufficient to rub the inside of the cone with grease; but when the quantity is large, especially if it contains any thing sulphureous, this caution of tallowing the moulds is not sufficient. In this case the assayer has recourse to a lute reduced to thin pap with water, which effectually prevents any injury to the cone.