Running ball with a camp stove

[john4645]

I just recieved a bag mould and a copper laddle from Rapine. I have never cast my on lead before and was going to give it a try tomorrow and was wondering if I could use a coleman camp stove with the copper ladle instead of building a fire.is that ok or is it to hot? I also would like to say something about Rapine. I ordered this mould a couple of days before christmas and he said not to expect it till after the first of the year and it came today. Pretty cool.

 

[Halftail]

Hello,
I have been "running ball" on a coleman camp stove now for close to 15 years.I have an old frying pan full of lead and a metal ladle.
That reminds me......I'm getting down on balls. :hmm:

 

[Desert Rat]

I don't know about the copper ladle but I've used a camp stove for many years as well. I use one of those miniture cast iron pans, I think most folks use them as ashtrays. Get yourself a piece of plywood to work on so you don't spill the molten lead on anything you really want to keep unmarred.

 

[Bob Riegl]

:grin: John, is Ray Rapine's number still (215)-679-5413??? Thanks :hatsoff:

 

[john4645]

Yes it is.

 

[howdydoit]

ive run bullets on a camp stove for years, as for at a pan to melt your lead in go to wally world and they should have a small cast iron pan. Its about 4-5 inches in dia. It will work great for casting.

 

[Swampman]

I find that real Coleman fuel works better than white gas for what it's worth. I believe it's hotter burning.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Yep. I still do my first melt of scrap lead on my old Coleman and make ingots for my electric. Do it outdoors, of course. I had to add a beefier grate (from an old hibachi) because my lead pot and the heat warped the original grill on the stove and the pot nearly tipped over! :shocked2:

You may want to invest in an "official" dipping ladle if the copper one doesn't work out.

 

[john4645]

Thanks everyone. Got the mould prepped and ready to go. Hopefully it's not -30 tomorrow.

 

[sequoia]

I purchased a mould and ladle from Rapine last year.
I used the ladle and mould to run some balls over a campfire at a rendezvous for some friends. It worked like a charm! I just dropped the balls into the grass. Just remember to let them cool before you pick the up! :redface: ouch

 

[taylorh]

Let me know what you think of the ladle.
Good Luck,
Taylor in Texas
:hatsoff:

 

[john4645]

Well my first attempt at making ball went excellent. Thanks to all the info from you guys and the "lets run some ball" by Spencer. Cut a green stick for the copper ladle fit it tight. Fired up both sides of my stove, while the lead was melting I heated up the mould. The first ball was a beauty. Before you know it I had 17 balls layin there. I did have a couple that were half filled do to lack of experience with the amount in the laddle. I did take the idea from note book and wrapped the handles with elk hide, worked great. It was'nt until I had quite a few balls when the laddle came loose from the stick. I just pushed it on further and had no problems the rest of the way. Thanks everyone for the info. It was an enjoyable experience.

 

[CrackStock]

You might get a melting container (some advocate a cut down a coffee can) to melt your lean in and use the ladle just to dip. This works a lot better because you can pour from the ladle into the mould over the can and not be concerned about the spillage. This lets you pour enough to get a complete ball and not have a void as the lead cools and draws back.

CS

 

[Swampman]

I've made ladels using the copper caps that they sell to cap copper tubing. A threaded brass rod with a nut on each side of the cap and an old broom stick works for a handle. When I was young I had to make everything I could, because I was broke all the time. It was more fun that way.