Beginning bullet casting 101, HELP!

[Kansas Jake]

I have an electric Lyman pot and start on high to melt the lead, then turn it down to keep at a nice smooth surface while casting. I did empty and clean the pot today and it didn't have much stuff in it. I started casting with pretty pure lead (Lead pipe) in the pot and it did not have much dross. Then I emptied pot to try to other stuff and it is junk. I dumped it and cleaned the pot for future use with good stuff.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Perhaps some type of alloy.... :idunno:

That said, I always melt lead in two steps....First I melt and clean it in one of several cast iron pots over a burner....To burn off any impurities and to clean the lead and make nice ingots.( do this outside)

The ingots then go into my casting pot and are made into ...whatever....

 

[Stumpkiller]

I think what you have going on there is lead is a different, and lighter, molecule than lead oxide. PbO floats in Pb. So when you melt it the lighter impurities ("dross" - including lead oxide) float to the top.

When you are trying to float your way up through something as dense as liquid lead it takes a while and some mechanical stirring will help; as do fluxing agents. The opposite of flocculants that cause crud to sink in brewing beer, etc. That's why even "clean" lead can contain impurities.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Agreed! and some of the dross is iron oxide from the pot itself.

 

[bender20]

Thanks for the clearification guys makes sense.

 

[Tom Compton]

Not enough reason to change what has worked >30 years and high speed fan keeps fumes away.
TC

 

[jamesthomas]

I use a Lee magnum melter myself, at 7 1/2 it will make perfect round balls all day long, .495 for my .40 cal. .380 for my pistol, and .490's for my .50 cal. I just made in 2 sessions (yesterday and the day before) 312 .380's with no rejects. Just saying I don't think you need the Temps so high Imho.

 

[Scota4570]

Get a thermommeter.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1194/2/LYMAN-THERMOMETER

6-700*F is about where I cast pure lead. Lyman agrees.