Casting for 1st time. Do I have it all?

[cynthialee]

I got an old cast off piece of 1"x2" board about 10" long I picked up off the ground. Been using that same stick for a number of years.

 

[Flintlock]

Tree branches are FREE

Sticks are heavily regulated in some parts of the country and possession of a unregistered stick will get you jammed up.

 

[waarp8nt]

My dad used to frequent local auctions, if it sold too cheap...he brought it home. One night he brought home a fruit box full of hammer handles. Been using one of those hammer handles for years to bash sprue plates to get the shiny lead bullets inside the molds. I hold it backwards, hitting the plate with what would normally be the grip.

 

[bubba.50]

I found a “Lyman Digital Lead Thermometer “ made casting lead much easier.

Never have seen the need for a thermometer for casting. I use aluminum moulds, run my Lee pot wide open, and pour fast as I can open & close the mould.

A long-cuffed pair of heavy leather welding or barbecue gloves are nice additions as is a good heavy shop apron.

 

[Rifleman1776]

You only need to smoke the mould on it's first use. Turn temp up high. When a 'frost' begins appearing on the cast bullets you have reached a good temp. You do not need a thermometer. Good luck, enjoy.

 

[morehops52]

Never have seen the need for a thermometer for casting. I use aluminum moulds, run my Lee pot wide open, and pour fast as I can open & close the mould.

A long-cuffed pair of heavy leather welding or barbecue gloves are nice additions as is a good heavy shop apron.

Knowing myself the way i do the apron was a good suggestion. the welding gloves are near the fireplace.

 

[tom_in_vt]

Do yourself a favor and use brake cleaner to completely clean and degrease the mold before smoking.

 

[Whitworth]

Do yourself a favor and use brake cleaner to completely clean and degrease the mold before smoking.

That's a great idea, I've been using lacquer thinner on a rag .

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I never saw the sense in taking a good bullet mold and beating it with a stick. I always open it with a gloved hand. I keep a china marker, or grease pencil it's sometimes called, on hand to rub a little on the sprue plate and smear it around with a piece of paper towel wrapped around a match stick. It really helps keeping the lead from smearing or sticking to the plate and top of the mold blocks. I also keep a folded paper towel on my casting bench wet to set the sprue on before I cut it off. It helps cool the sprue which helps prevent the lead smearing and pulling metal out of the cut sprue. This is just the way I do it and to each his own. I tried a bottom pour pot once and went back to a dipper for good.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

This has worked for me 7-8 years and 15,000+ round balls later:

 

[Grenadier1758]

I use the stick, hammer handle, or my asbestos gloves to push the sprue plate away to release the cast ball or bullet.

 

[morehops52]

This has worked for me 7-8 years and 15,000+ round balls later:

good video . Thanks for posting

 

[nhmoose]

DO NOT melt junk in your casting furnace. Do it in an old dutch oven or cast iron pan. You are making future problems doing it in the casting pot. All the junk you get in that casting pot will end up in the spout making it drip continuously.

Only put clen fluxed ingots in any casting furnace..

 

[morehops52]

DO NOT melt junk in your casting furnace. Do it in an old dutch oven or cast iron pan. You are making future problems doing it in the casting pot. All the junk you get in that casting pot will end up in the spout making it drip continuously.

Only put clen fluxed ingots in any casting furnace..

I have to agree why invite trouble. I don't plan on buying scrap initially. At roughly $4/lb it's within my budget to get 99+% pure lead. The supplier is Midway so I'm banking on their reputation that it is. I may get lesser quality ingots later and it makes sense to do as you suggest.

 

[morehops52]

As replies have come in I've been adding to my list and making notes of the suggestions. I expected to get a few tips but I want to thank all of you who have taken time to share your experience with a total novice. now it's time to go and do it.

 

[dave951]

I get my lead from a scrap yard. That said, I do not get any that has been already melted down. Shielding from xray rooms and old shower pans are about as pure as you'll get short of Rotometals.

 

[SmokepoleSam]

NYS will not let us buy lead from a junk yard, too dangerous you know, we are a liberal nanny state. Can't think for ourselves after all we're just peasants.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Put your soft cloth in the bottom of a bucket of iced water. It hardens the outside.
Never have used a thermometer, Lees gauge is darn accurate.
Digital scales suck. To finicky for me. I have 3 RCBS beam scales.

Oh yeah wear boots. I was wearing sandals when a splat hit my foot.

 

[FPDoc]

Welcome to casting. Be careful and enjoy.

 

[TFoley]

NOE Moulds sell a PVC-covered wooden mallet.
View attachment 134372

That's an expensive solution to a cheap problem.