Having trouble Casting

[Eric M]

I melted some .490 cold swagged round balls that were sitting around in my new Lee pot. I did flux the melted lead and had nothing but problems. I could not get any clean lead. From the start I had a film on top of the lead and could not pour anything. I would try to clear an area on the top to get some clean lead without success. I continued to scrape the side and bottoms to clean any bad out of the pot and continued to have the film on top. I kept the pot set on its highest level so it wasn't that the lead was cooling to fast. Just not sure what I can do or what I may have done wrong.

 

[cynthialee]

I am just a rookie lead caster myself, so I ain't completely sure, but I bet your heat is too high. Or you are being impatient.

 

[jamesthomas]

You don't need it at the highest temp, pull it down to around 7 to 7 1/2. The film you see is not trash but lead, it will look like it has trash in it when the temp is to high. Just dip an fill your mold as usual. I have the dip type Lee pot too, it works better for me than the bottom pour.I've also never had to add anything to my lead to get the trash out of it. If you have a bunch of old lead as in roof flashing, Its a good idea to buy a cast iron melting pot, melt your lead an clean it in the pot, then pour your lead into 1 or 2 pound ingots, its what I do. (I use a cast iron cornbread mold), when I'm ready to make round balls my lead is already clean and I just add a ingot or 2 to the Lee pot when I need more. Btw,I was just going out to the back porch and make some round ball myself when I saw this post. I just got in my .395 mold for my .40 cal.

 

[Little Wattsy]

Yah a little film dosnt hurt anything.. chunks and sludge need to come out. make sure you allow time to get lead, ladle, and mold all to a good uniform temp.

 

[Eric M]

I believe my mold and ladle were at the right temp. Maybe the pot was too hot. I will try again. i just couldn't believe it, the film just kept coming.

 

[necchi]

As others have said that film comes when the lead is really hot, it's just the lead's reaction to air/surface contact.
You should be seeing the irredesant colors too when it's that hot.
Just stir with your ladel as you dip and start casting.

You'll find with practice that the temp of the lead in the pot set's the cadence or rhythm of your casting session, the lead temp affects the mold temp, and the mold temp determines how fast the sprue cools allowing a clean cut without galling.

Hot is good with pure lead, but seldom does an electric pot need to be cranked all the way up, :wink:

 

[Eric M]

I did see those colors you talk about. I will try again with a cooler temp.

 

[Billnpatti]

No one has mentioned using flux to clean your lead. Get a candle stub and cut a pea size piece off it and stir it into the melted lead. As you stir, crud will come to the top and you can dip it off and throw it away. A couple fluxings at the start should get rid of the skin on top of your lead. If another skin forms, toss in another dab of candle wax and stir again. While I am casting, I may flux a time or two for each potful of lead. It's what works for me.

 

[mooman76]

Preheat your mould and that will help. Like the others said the film fill show up when your lead get too hot. It is the lead oxidizing. I usually start out hot but as the mould warms up I turn the lead down a little at a time until I feel the lead get's to the right temp for the pace I have going.

 

[George T.]

You might have lead that is contaminated with another alloy. I have had batches that required several heat cycles and fluxings. All the while skimming the lead after letting it sit a whikle after stirring in the flux. I used alox bullet lube and it dets smoky!

Look please do your self and your family a favor and read up on lead contammination. It is a long range hazard. I am sure a search on the web would make for a lot of reading. If a caster is not carefull they can render their home a biohazard zone! Take Care! Geo. T.

 

[necchi]

I don't see where he mentions doing it in the house.
If you have a lead alloy, you can flux and skim till the cows come home, and you'll still have a lead alloy.
Seperating Tin, Zinc and Antimony (the common alloys) from lead requires sophisticated equipment and huge amounts of chemicals and energy.
It's a million dollar operation to seperate lead alloys, far-far beyond anyones casting equipment at home or small shop.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Can't add much others haven't already said.
Just emphasize:
too hot
film is normal
stir often
I suggest you use a dipper instead of the bottom pour from the Lee. They are nothing but trouble, IMHO, and experience.