Cast my First

[BigBlack]

My Setup

1. Big pot with homemade bottom pour valve for smelting over a turkey fryer.
   1. Heated wheel weights (no stick-ons)
   2. Once melted removed clips and one zinc weight found floating on top
   3. Then dropped in a couple candles (small ones) and waited for them to burn off and stirred
   4. Removed crap off top to uncover the beauty
2. Used cupcake pan to make ingots (was a pain since it was not cast but sheet metal, have since ordered some cast ingot molds from the web).
3. With my nice ingots I loaded up my lee pro 4 20 and waited for the lead to melt.
4. While the pot was melting I put my bullet mold (lee 356-102) on top of the pot to pre heat.

Once everything was ready I started casting. Needless to say I messed up more than I was able to keep. Attached you will find pictures of my best. The “completed cartridge” is only a dummy round. No primer or powder, I plan on keeping it as a memoir. Now to my questions.

1. Is it normal to have a tiny bit more crap to skim off in my production pot from my “clean” ingots? I had about a table spoon full.
2. Those who use the lee bottom pour, what have you found to be the best practice on positioning the bullet mold under the “nozzle”

Thanks any input would be much appreciated. Posted over on that casting web site and got some good feedback but thought someone here could add as well.

Paul

 

[Ifishsum]

Yes, it's normal to have a little dross and oxidation in your production pot. It helps a lot to flux your melt before you pour the ingots (sounds like you did that). In the production pot I flux and skim once the metal is heated to casting temperature, then leave it alone until I add more alloy. No need to continuously skim a bottom pour pot, the oxide that develops will actually form a protective layer that keeps your melt from oxidizing further.

When I cast, i usually have the mold positioned about 1/3" under the nozzle and tilted slightly so air can escape easier as I'm pouring, and leave at least a dime size puddle on top once the cavity fills. Bases fill out better that way.

Next time you preheat your Lee mold, put it directly into the melt for 10-15 seconds, remove it, wait about 30 seconds and start casting. I usually get good bullets by the second or third pour using this method.

Have fun!

 

[Griz44]

The wrinkle lines on the nose would indicate that the melt and/or the mold is too cold. With the aluminum molds, keep them HOT. Don't waste any time between casts, keeping the mold HOT is the key to great casts. I have a hotplate next to my pot, and use it on level 4 (of 5) to preheat the mold and keep the mold hot when I need to break or add more lead to the pot. Keep the pot at least 1/3 full to keep good pressure on the nozzle. Fill the mold fast, don't dribble. After a bit of practice, you will be casting with the pros, and enjoying every minute of it!

 

[RustyFN]

Way to go BB, I know you're hooked now.
Rusty

 

[trader vic]

Casting

Welcome to the casting world, It's a lot of fun with the advantage of saving a lot of dough on "bollits". I started this a couple of months ago by following all the great info on cast bollits forum, these guys really know their stuff & are always willing to help. I started almost the exact same way you did, I've been real lucky with my efforts & I'm having a ball. Wish I would have started years ago! Keep a close eye on the casting forum, I learn something new every day. Best of luck. NRA PATRON LIFE MEMBER

 

[RugerBob]

Welcome to the casting world. I got into it a bout a year ago and am glad I did. Lookin good in the picture, but I have to agree whth Griz, your mold needs to be hotter so you don't get the wrinlels. Goodluck and be safe, Bob