Production rate?

[rabbit03]

Never really thought to count how many balls I was molding per hour untill this evening.

In the first hour I made about (124) .58 cal balls with my single cavity Lee mould. The second hour I ran about (152) balls.

I had always guestimated that I was somewhere between 2 and 3 balls per minute.

Anyone else know how many they are moulding per hour?

rabbit03

 

[jtmattison]

I throw about 100 per hour. I stop at 50 to add the sprue cutoffs back to the pot and drink a cervesa.

HD

 

[silverfox]

Rabbit I think you are running about right. I used to time myself and was trying for one every 15 seconds. Then noticed sometimes I ran over. Then about one in 20 seconds. Then I got to about your speed somewhere between 2 to 3 a minute was a better speed without getting in a hurry and doing something wrong. No big rush needed to make good shooting balls.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[rabbit03]

Funny you mentioned cerveza.

I had brought one with me to the garage and before long it was gone. So I went into the house got a pot, filled it half full of crushed ice and put another 3 bottles in there and headed back to the garage. Felt like I was at the TEXAS ROAD HOUSE, only thing missing was the penuts!

Things went pretty smooth during the two hours. :thumbsup:

rabbit03

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Last session I did was with a Lyman Mag 20 lead pot and a double cavity .490 lyman mould, 30 minutes for lunch I poured 975 in 4.5 hrs or so.

 

[rabbit03]

About right then :thumbsup:

I only had one uh-oh at the pot this evening. And just to pass it along to others.

I use a bit of candle wax to flux the pot once everything is up to temp. Well this time I thought that I would just stir it with the dipper and save a step :shake: When it caught fire my reaction and instinct was to get my hand out of the way and along came the dipper full of lead!! :shocked2:

Moral of that story, use something longer to stir the lead around and one that doesn't have a bowl on the end to hold lead.

rabbit03

 

[rabbit03]

Wow that is good. Wish I had a double cavity 58 mould that I could depend on being the same for both sides. I might try looking for one, sure would be nice to double the production.

rabbit03

 

[shmrck1]

What you guys turn out in 3 hours,I don't shoot
in a year :hmm:
snake-eyes :surrender:

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

I cast for 4, wife, kids and myself. When I cast its all serious business.

Rabbit, unless you go with a top quality custom mould chances are you will not find a double cavity with identical cavities. Even then there are no guarantees.

 

[rabbit03]

Would be nice though to find a double that would throw two balls nearly identical. You would think that if they use the same cherry or however they make them now days, that it would be possible to find one that would be within maybe a grain or two from each other.

I will have to check to see if Lee even makes a doulbe cavity 58, not sure if they do.

Thanks for the post.

rabbit03

 

[grey8833]

Rabbit:

Last time I poured it was about 75 in half an hour - so right on your pace. Not rushed really, just once you get going it just sorta flows - :grin: flows, git it? Ok sorry. :barf:

Mike F