My balls

[flconch53]

The spurs seem too large, bit the spur cutting bolt is cranked down all the way. Can't cut them any shorter.

Am I running the lead too hot?

I run my pot at 8 to start and once it starts flowing good I reduce the heat down to about 5. Make sure you heat the mold before you start pouring.

 

[Chuck Tiller]

I usually do not get the rings around the RB I pour, and I have a cheap Lee mold. IMO, that's a sign the mold haves are not properly closing or aligned. It may or may not make a difference in overall accuracy, however.

Also, and I'm not ragging on you whatsoever, but I would not be happy with sprues like that. It appears to me that your mold may not be the greatest. Was it used or new when you got it?

I agree. The mould is not closing tightly. Gently tap the metal part of your handle with a wooden mallet while squeezing the handles closed. This should help close the moulds. Some moulds just need help.

Also Frosted = Hot

 

[Tenring]

In short you can see your to cold because there is Wrinkles and your sprue plate should be bottomed out flush to cut close that’s all, by and by they look good for a first go at it, you will get better results as time goes by.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Do my balls look okay?

I bought a Lyman double mold and started casting my own balls. I'm using an electric lead pot with a bottom pour spout.

I followed the mold instructions and have read everything I can about casting balls. It's definitely an art. About half of my balls have defects, and I noticed that one of the two molds produces more defects than the other mold.

Mold cleaned with alcohol and toothbrush, then soot applied to molds.

Molds briefly pre-heated with propane torch.

Lead pot set at 8 out of 10.

Using lead ingots for casting lead balls.

Instructions say to hold the mold 1/4 inch below bottom pour spout, but that results in a lot of lead overspill and balls with defects. So I put the mold right up against the pour spout, and hold it there for 5 seconds.

Any advice?

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https://www.amazon.com/PIC-B3B6-TT-...&sprefix=Lead+thermometer,aps,141&sr=8-9&th=1

Get a good quality thermometer…works great, perfect casting everytime

 

[Harry Marinakis]

In short you can see your to cold because there is Wrinkles and your sprue plate should be bottomed out flush to cut close that’s all, by and by they look good for a first go at it, you will get better results as time goes by.

Thanks
I modified my Lyman mold so the sprue is much shorter. And after casting a couple thousand balls, I figured out that I have to run the lead and mold A LOT hotter. I found if everything is so hot that the lead in the sprue stays molten for a few seconds after a pour then I get consistently good round balls.