Set me up to cast!

[aussie pete]

Ok, here's what I ordered to start off with:

Lee Pro 4 20 Lb Furnace
Lee Lead Dipper
Lee Bullet Mold Mallet

Ah! You did the right thing with the pot. Twice the size of mine. I have pot envy! As someone here has advised already, big projectiles can empty that pot fairly quickly.

Pete

 

[Bushfire]

The stuff I buy is 99.98% lead and still burns off a fair bit of crap. If using a bottom pour probably less beneficial though.

 

[aussie pete]

First, SantiamSam, when you get your ladle, you'll be surprised how small and light it is. That's a good thing. Surprisingly, it holds enough melt for a 640gn Pedersoli Minie mold and a substantial sprue. One big hint I was provided with by an experienced caster: check your ladle to see if the sluiceways are pronounced enough. When I got mine, the preferred sluiceway, I'm a right hander, appeared to be pressed in very lightly to a small, narrow, shallow V. I opened it and smoothed it very slowly and carefully with a dremel tool so that the sluice was wider and more curvaceous, thus providing a less turbulent flow from ladle to mold. If that makes sense?

Pete

 

[TDM]

Ok, here's what I ordered to start off with:

Lee Pro 4 20 Lb Furnace
Lee Lead Dipper
Lee Bullet Mold Mallet

Your fixed up now!

 

[Archer 756]

FIRST OF ALL, SAFETY! eye protection, gloves, and apron

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Skim your melted lead to remove junk. After you add more lead, skim again after it is fully melted.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[nchawkeye]

Coleman stove, can, ladle, molds and I flux with SnoSeal...

Been doing it this way for years...

 

[ORBushman]

First, SantiamSam, when you get your ladle, you'll be surprised how small and light it is. That's a good thing. Surprisingly, it holds enough melt for a 640gn Pedersoli Minie mold and a substantial sprue. One big hint I was provided with by an experienced caster: check your ladle to see if the sluiceways are pronounced enough. When I got mine, the preferred sluiceway, I'm a right hander, appeared to be pressed in very lightly to a small, narrow, shallow V. I opened it and smoothed it very slowly and carefully with a dremel tool so that the sluice was wider and more curvaceous, thus providing a less turbulent flow from ladle to mold. If that makes sense?

Pete

View attachment 190234

Greatly appreciate this tip! I will inspect the ladle when it arrives and take necessary actions. Already got a shipping notification this morning from MidwayUSA.

 

[Brokenbear]

Ok, here's what I ordered to start off with:

Lee Pro 4 20 Lb Furnace
Lee Lead Dipper
Lee Bullet Mold Mallet

This is a good start but (I have the same pot) one caution ... if you are using lead from sources that have already melted the lead and cleaned it up and fluxed it to the point that once the ingot(s) have melted you will have a little dross on top to skim but basically the lead at the bottom "pour" spout is clear and clean YOU ARE READY to cast ..HOWEVER this pour spout will drive you nuts if you get slag (non lead material) in it
You want only pure or near pure lead ..no wheel weights, no range recycled lead, no lead water pipes or sheet roofing lead with solder on it in your bullets nor your pot
Your first line of defense to keep your botton flow pot working smoothly is to melt in a plain cast iron pot all these different forms of lead (unless it is already in ingot form and pure lead)(a member here (justin44) supplies good soft sheet roofing in ingot form with the bad stuff like solder etc aready purged from it

Bear

 

[TDM]

@SantiamSam, forgot to mention that Rotometal is where I've sourced lead from before.

 

[ORBushman]

@SantiamSam, forgot to mention that Rotometal is where I've sourced lead from before.

I tried to visit that site just an hour ago but, my antivirus immediately blocked it saying it was a high risk site. Hmmmm.

 

[TDM]

I tried to visit that site just an hour ago but, my antivirus immediately blocked it saying it was a high risk site. Hmmmm.

Don't won't to twist your arm to do something, but they're legit and used by other forum members. I'll see if I can paste the link I have.

 

[ORBushman]

Don't won't to twist your arm to do something, but they're legit and used by other forum members. I'll see if I can paste the link I have.

Greatly appreciate it. My AV might just be being overly cautious.

 

[TDM]

Greatly appreciate it. My AV might just be being overly cautious.

https://www.rotometals.com/lead-mini-ingot-pure-99-9-1-pound-mix-sizes/
There you go.

 

[ORBushman]

https://www.rotometals.com/lead-mini-ingot-pure-99-9-1-pound-mix-sizes/
There you go.

Much thanks again for the help! Just ordered up 21lbs.

 

[TDM]

Much thanks again for the help! Just ordered up 21lbs.

Great!

 

[jefair1]

Flame maker - What's a good quality one that isn't in the hundreds?
Cooking Pot - Cast iron or some other material?
Ladle - are there specific ones for bullet casting?
Lead - I'll search for some local venues first but, are there any online vendors anyone would suggest?

Roto-metals in Cal. has pure lead and bullet mixes. Prices are fair but shipping is a bear.

 

[ORBushman]

Well, the train arrived before the tracks and my 20lbs of lead showed up today. Nod towards Rotometal for quick shipping and well packed!

 

[TDM]

Well, the train arrived before the tracks and my 21lbs of lead showed up today. Nod towards Rotometal for quick shipping and well packed!

View attachment 191364

Would I steer you wrong?

 

[Greasecookie]

I cast minies with 20 to 1. But I am a heretic and apostate. They fill out easier and shoot as well as pure Pb.