CLP
member
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2010
- Messages
- 1,397
Finally had a whole weekend to enjoy some of my hobbies.
I started by trying out casting 38 cal (RCBS 158gr SWC) in Lyman #2 alloy.
The two questions I have:
I tossed exactly two of these same bullets from a previous casting session into the melting pot because they had wrinkles. I used those bullets to try out my lubrisizer. I also put gas checks on those two. I put about 5lbs of #2 alloy ingots into my Lee furnace/pot. I assumed the gas checks would just float to the top and I could skim them out. There was a little bit of dross, but no gas checks as far as I could see. It wasn't hot enough to melt copper. What gives?
The main question I have about casting these bullets is that some of them come out with some haze on them. Most are uniformly shiny, but there are some that are mostly shiny but have splotches of haziness. Is that from removing them from the mould too soon? Is that an indication of the lead being too hot?
Lastly, I cast some .570 ball for my 58cal Hawken using pure lead. I tried using a ladle to cast these and don't have a good ladle pouring technique down yet. In my frustration I opened the mould too soon which left a tiny splotch of lead between the top of the mould and bottom of the sprue plate. I haven't attempted to remove it. What's the best way? I don't want to ruin this otherwise brand new mould.
Thanks for your advice!
I started by trying out casting 38 cal (RCBS 158gr SWC) in Lyman #2 alloy.
The two questions I have:
I tossed exactly two of these same bullets from a previous casting session into the melting pot because they had wrinkles. I used those bullets to try out my lubrisizer. I also put gas checks on those two. I put about 5lbs of #2 alloy ingots into my Lee furnace/pot. I assumed the gas checks would just float to the top and I could skim them out. There was a little bit of dross, but no gas checks as far as I could see. It wasn't hot enough to melt copper. What gives?
The main question I have about casting these bullets is that some of them come out with some haze on them. Most are uniformly shiny, but there are some that are mostly shiny but have splotches of haziness. Is that from removing them from the mould too soon? Is that an indication of the lead being too hot?
Lastly, I cast some .570 ball for my 58cal Hawken using pure lead. I tried using a ladle to cast these and don't have a good ladle pouring technique down yet. In my frustration I opened the mould too soon which left a tiny splotch of lead between the top of the mould and bottom of the sprue plate. I haven't attempted to remove it. What's the best way? I don't want to ruin this otherwise brand new mould.
Thanks for your advice!