Casting newbie.

[PowderMonkey]

I want to start casting my own balls so I'm doing reaserch on casting equipment. You guys that cast give your opinion on some equipment you use? What electric melters? Advantages/disadvantages of aluminum or steel moulds. Anything else that may be added to the casting kit.

 

[mooman76]

I have a Lee electric pot. 20# top pour and a small 4#. The 4 is really too small except for small amounts of melting or doing smaller calibers like .32. You need a ladle for top pour. I use the cheap Lee ladle but most people don't like it. I guess I got used to it over the years. You can use a cast iron or steel pot on a camp stove, kitchen stove or turkey frier. Use in well ventilated area and don't do the initial dirty lean inside. If you are cleaning up dirty lead before casting it is best to have a separate pot for each to keep your casting lead clean.

Ether steel or aluminum moulds are perfectly fine to use and brass also. Aluminum heats up faster, doesn't rust but also cools off faster. They are also more fragile but with proper care will last a lifetime.
Steel takes longer to heat up but stays hot longer. Steel also can get heavy during long casting sessions especially in the bigger gang moulds(4 or more cavities).
The Lee moulds(not the 6 cavity) come with handles and are cheaper by far. Have a good area set up. Place to soft to drop your rounds on like an old towel. Keep in mind once you use things for lead, they shouldn't be used for other things i.e. towel, melting pot gloves and such.

Most things you need you should have, gloves, eye protection maybe a shop apron. I use a small plastic headed mallet to open the sprue plate and close it. You can use something like a small wooden hammer handle or piece of broom handle. If you got to castboolits web site, they have tons of info. More than any book you could get.

 

[stombaug]

I concur with Mooman... also VENTILATION VENTILATION VENTILATION!

 

[stombaug]

I also have a Lee electric melting pot, but it is the bottom-pour variety. Gave me some trouble with the original temperature control... lead would get too hot, then I would turn the dial down just a bit, and it would start hardening around the edges... turn it up and repeat. So, I replaced that heating system with a PID temperature controller with a thermocouple - viola! Set it to 720 and it stays right there, allowing me to cast as many RBs and/or maxiballs I want. :thumbsup:

 

[floyd1350]

I use an old barbeque grill that I adapted with a kitchen stove burner from curb side to get a round flame under the melting pot. the dipper I made by silver soldering a long lag bolt to a spark cover from an oxweld torch striker. the front shelf on the grill is convenient to place folded cotton rags to catch the balls. lava rocks piled around the pot keeps the flames from scorching the gloves I wear while casting. been casting this way for at least 15 years. ya don't need to spend much money to get things going.

 

[mooman76]

That's one think I liked about getting into casting. You can still do it on the cheap.

 

[PowderMonkey]

Thanks guys. I will check out that website. I have to stick to an electric as i can't have an open fire in my patio, sucks (apt living) but them is the rules where i live.

 

[mooman76]

A elect. hot plate will work too but it has to be a pretty hot one. I 0nce used an electric stove. Lyman also has a cast bullet handbook that is pretty good.

 

[PowderMonkey]

A elect. hot plate will work too but it has to be a pretty hot one. I 0nce used an electric stove. Lyman also has a cast bullet handbook that is pretty good.

Funny you should mention the book, just got back home and that book arrived. Will read it tomorrow.

 

[nchawkeye]

Casting can be done with simple equipment as well...

 

[Brian6396]

Im using a lee magnum melter, 20lb pot.
around 60 bucks shipped.
works great.
Lee aluminum molds work fine but give them a break about every 100 fills to cool off and add a drop of lube to the sprue plate screw to prevent wear.

 

[wayne terry]

Same here Lee bottom pour electric pot 10 pounder
and ditto on taking care of those alum. lee molds, they will last ya good with a little xtra
TLC.

 

[Rifleman1776]

As you see so far, lot of possibilities.
Personally, I prefer the bottom pour style. However, the Lyman pot is beyond my budget and I bought a Lee. For bottom pour use it is the pits. :cursing: So, I use it with a Lyman dipper. Works just fine that way. Important to let your moulds warm up and develop a rythm to your casting so temps stay consistent. I have some small cast iron pots and have cast from them over Coleman stove flames also. That works well. In nice weather I'll set up outside, but even inside do make sure you have good ventilation.

 

[PowderMonkey]

As you see so far, lot of possibilities.
Personally, I prefer the bottom pour style. However, the Lyman pot is beyond my budget and I bought a Lee. For bottom pour use it is the pits. :cursing: So, I use it with a Lyman dipper. Works just fine that way. Important to let your moulds warm up and develop a rythm to your casting so temps stay consistent. I have some small cast iron pots and have cast from them over Coleman stove flames also. That works well. In nice weather I'll set up outside, but even inside do make sure you have good ventilation.

So what is the problem with the Lee that made you stop using the bottom pour?

 

[necchi]

Check this topic by Rifleman; http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/268635/post/1137406/hl//fromsearch/1/

 

[bubba.50]

the reason a lot of people quit usin' the bottom pour feature of their lee pots is due to their well-earned nickname "drip-o-matic".

 

[Rifleman1776]

Thanks for posting that. Saved me the time. :wink:

 

[PowderMonkey]

Check this topic by Rifleman; http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...268635/post/1137406/hl//fromsearch/1/[/quote]


Man, i'm glad you guys are filling me in on the in's and out's of casting.

 

[PowderMonkey]

As far as molds go, i will probably go with the Lee as they are affordable. I see they make a 6 cavity and a 2 cavity. Any preference on what you guys use regarding multiple cavity molds?

 

[BrownBear]

...a 6 cavity and a 2 cavity.

Lotta guys are more coordinated than I am, but I can't recall a single time I managed to fill all 6 cavities on the one I had. A bud of mine just had to have it, so I gave it to him in exchange for a cup of coffee and a couple of his wife's great chocolate chip cookies. He dinked with it and cussed it for a few months and tried to give it back. Last I heard it's changed hands a couple more times on the coffee circuit.

Unless you're feeding a whole family of shooters and spending many hours a month casting, I can't see any reason to step up from a 2 to a 6.