Lead RB Casting Question

[Swamp Buck]

If I were to get into casting my own lead round balls for muzzleloading, which kind of lead heating/melting pot should I get? There is either the lead furnaces with the bottom spout or the kind that you have to use a ladle to scoop out the molten lead to put in the rb molds.

I just wondered what is the prefered method or is it just personal preference.

Also, how do you remove left over lead from the pot without the bottom pour spout? Or is the unused lead just left in the pot until next time?

 

[Blizzard of '93]

If you have the bucks to spare getc'ha one of them fancy electric melters, but you can go to the thrift shop and pick up a 1$ special, about 1 quart size will do fine, and use a propane fired camp stove to melt with, however one of the 'ladle' type spoons is handy, but you could make one I guess out of a teaspoon. Just leave the lead in the pot when you finish casting. It ain't gonna run off! :grin:

 

[Desert Ratxx]

I've always used one of those little cast iron pans that are about the size of an ash tray (I think they may even be sold that way) a camp stove, pliers (to hold the pan when it gets hot) and the most important part, a piece of plywood to work on in case... or I should say when I spill. After the pan cools I'll turn it over and knock out the junk but pretty much leave the lead in the pan.

 

[arquebus]

If you're only going to be casting roundballs an electric furnace will do, either bottom pour or ladle-type. If you intend to cast conicals in the future, especially large caliber ones (ie. Minies, etc.) I'd opt for a propane heated cast iron pot as they are easier to get hotter. I use a 8" diameter Dutch Oven sitting on a propane ring. I'd estimate it holds 30lbs of lead, but you can buy bigger or smaller D.O.s to suit your needs.
Using either propane or electric heated furnaces I prefer to use a ladle. However, don't bother with the Lee spoon-type ladle, spend the extra & get either a RCBS or Lyman ladle that has a spout on the side & a larger capacity allowing you to build up a 'head' of lead (hey, that rhymes!) which allows for a better filled out ball or bullet. For roundball the ladle will be fine as is, but for casting Minies & other large conicals I drill out the spout orifice a tad to improve lead flow.
At the end of a casting session just leave the lead in the pot to remelt the next time.

 

[cptleo1]

I just got my first bottom pour pot.

Can't say as I like it.

I cast a lot of .60 cal balls and for me the ladle works better.

I will probably drill out the fill hole, so the mould will fill faster.

Anybody know how big to go ?

My .32 & .40 moulds wouk fine.

I like the electric pots better. Plug it in and go.

The little LEE pot is like $26 and will last for years - gets my vote -

 

[arquebus]

Yes, those .60 caliber balls at 325gns are about the same volume as some of my conicals & would benefit from a ladle. I think the bottom pour pots are fine for RBs up to .54 caliber.

 

[cowpoke1955]

All of my casting stuff was from Lee. Here is their link:[url] http://www.leeprecision.com/[/url] . I buy all my Lee stuff from F&M Reloading. Here is their link:[url] http://www.fmreloading.com/[/url] .Used them for about 15 years with no problems. They are about the best price around. Have fun casting :thumbsup:

 

[fw707]

The little LEE pot is like $26 and will last for years - gets my vote -

Yep, it works fine for me too. I have the spout type ladle.
I cast 300 .395's and 175 .530's last night.
The pot I have is on an indefinite term loan from a buddy who doesn't cast anymore. He dug it out of a pile of stuff in his garage and it looked pretty rough. I have no idea how old it is or how much it's been used, but it still works fine. :thumbsup:

 

[Todd Rickard]

Get a bottom pour pot if you would like to pour a lot of balls in a short time. Mine has no problem with getting hot enough. I cast fishing lures as well as balls. With the bottom pour spout you can pour faster than the mold can cool. When your mold is hot, there is no trouble pouring larger balls. I cast up to 4oz. cannon balls with mine.

 

[d.thomson]

I use the white gas camp stove a stainless steal dog food dish. a lyman dipper and lee moulds. My 2 cents, F.K.

 

[MikeChapin]

I use an electric buffet range and a Lyman pot that holds about 5 lbs. I've used this setup for thirty years. It's easy to set up an has worked well. I'm suprised that the cheapie buffet range has lasted this long.

 

[Otter]

I have Lee bottom pour furnaces, one is a 10 pound pot and one is a 20 pound pot. I used the bottom pour feature for a number of years but have switched to ladle pour in the last couple of years. I feel I get more consistent RBs and bullets using the ladle and they look better, too. Keep the pot(s)as full as possible by taking a few short breaks during your casting session and topping it off. I preheat my moulds on a hot plate and put the moulds on it during my short re-filling breaks. When I get enough projectiles cast, I top off the pot with my lead/mix and allow it to melt then unplug the furnace and let it cool before storing it away.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Propane stove, cast iron pan and battery terminals

 

[xxgrampa]

greetings swamp.

a lot of people are wary of casting because of the lead fumes.

turned all the way up, all the electric pots will make the lead hotter than you would want to pour. but, not hot enuff to create fumes.

a pot on a gas flame is another story. you can easily over heat the melt on a flame till it turns red. and it will be emitimg fumes looong before it gets red hot.

so get either electric or gas, but do get a thermometer and keep the temp under 850.

..ttfn..grampa..