Casting bullets in basement

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KY DAN

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I am going to use clean lead ingots. I will not flux, all dirty work is done. Can I melt the lead and cast in my basement for the comfort of air conditioning? I do not have a vent.

I just want to run 20 pounds to make lyman 358156 bullets
 
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Not ideal, but no one will die.

Over 50 years, i cast on the kitchen stove. In basement with window/ door open. Smelting is done in the garage , doors open.
 
I've seen people that cast indoors rig up vent hoods, exhaust fans and other methods of drawing air out.

One used an 4 or 6 inch inline fan with ductwork that ran out a window/door. They built a metal box that sat right behind the pot to suck the air directly off the top. I've been thinking of trying it for extremely cold/hot days.
 
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I have done it in the kitchen , but with open window and fan blowing before I got my big outdoor burner. I could do the same in my basement if I chose to. Personally, I don't cast without ventilation.
 
I personally can't recommend casting inside. While lead exposure isn't as bad as we are often led to believe it still has risks. The grandfather of the guy who taught me to cast died from cancer in his 70s. He used to cast fishing weights in the basement. We don't know if that for sure was the cause but doesn't seem worth the risk to me over a bit of sweat. I also work outside so a bit of the elements doesn't bother me as much as others. Have you considered trying to bulk cast during the cooler months and focus on reloading in the summer?
 
I agree with everyone here. I personally would not cast without very good ventilation.

Having said that, a single 20 pound melt, even with no ventilation at all, probably won't amount to much.
 
If there is a way for a man to cast bullets in his basement, there is a way for him to vent it too.

You want to cast in the basement? Fine. Finish the idea. Make provisions for fire control too. Vent it well and keep contaminants contained. Get some walk-off mats for the way in to the home. Be thoughtful. Be industrious!

But let’s not be too cavalier about lead toxicity. I’ve been in lead abatement for over a decade. It’s not something to be foolish with.
Train tracks are benign, but you wouldn’t stand there if you heard a whistle, would you?
 
Very good responses above. We design and build dust/fume systems for wood metal,welding,etc. Don't look at venting as a chore,or something that is burdensome. Look at it from how dang nice you feel breathing clean air. More than a luxury,it's just good ole peace of mind. And really not expensive..... you want high predictability meaning,flow direction and rate of flow. About a brisk walking speed...say,2-3 mph. Also,use gravity whenever possible... hot air rises,cold air and dust,settles. Don't try and fight that if at all possible,you want to assist it in whichever direction the particulates would rather flow. Good luck with your project.
 
It’s were I do most of my actual casting. My basement is a walk out with a window in my workshop. A large window fan turned around for exhaust set on high. Range scrap Is done in the garage Into clean ingots.

I’m not downplaying the toxicity of lead But between 30 years of working with lead, lead cables, soldering and such in the communications field and another 25 of bullet casting and close to 50 of shooting sports at 78 I’m not a drooling idiot. I don’t chew on the stuff or lick my fingers while loading round balls into the percussion revolvers. IMO your going to get more exposure busting caps than handling or casting lead bullets. Don’t eat the stuff and wash your hands when finished. Just my two cents worth.
 
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I’m not downplaying the toxicity of lead But between 30 years of working with lead, lead cables, soldering and such in the communications field and another 25 of bullet casting and close to 50 of shooting sports at 78 I’m not a drooling idiot.
Perhaps, but think how smart you COULD have been!! You could have cured cancer!


:D
 
Could you rig a vent up? Dryer hose with a fan pulling some air would help.

Harder to say without seeing the set up and your house situation. If I were 60+ with no kids in the house I would likely do it. 25 with 2 kids at home (not me either) I would not do it.
 
Vent well with a big box fan placed against a nearby open window.
Open a second window across the basement to draw air in.
Close the basement door.
Wear a mask with the correct chemical filters.
Allow the fan to run for a while after you are done, with the basement door closed.
 
Unless you are running your pot very hot, just "normal" casting temperatures, there is no danger from toxic lead vapors. But there is smoke and fumes from melting lead that may be bothersome (unless you have breathing/lung problems which will add to the discomfort), but good ventilation is a must. I don't recommend casting without cleaning the casting pot, (even just stirring with a wood stick will smoke some), no matter how "clean" the alloy is, so unless there are windows in your basement and plenty of outlets for fans, the basement isn't a good idea...

I cast in a small shed/shop and keep the door ajar and two windows open and at least one fan aimed across the pot towards the door. A bean size drop of beeswax on my clean alloy produces enough smoke that I usually open the door more and go outside for 10 minutes...
 
Melting lead produces a small amount of lead oxide, more the hotter the melt. If you're indoors in your A/C, you're not only breathing it, you're dusting your whole house with it.

My thoughts exactly.
I sure as heck would NEVER melt lead in the house.
I'm even a bit squemish about melting lead in the attached garage.
I take it to the edge of the garage with the big door all the way up, even in winter.

Not saying anything about anyone other than me.
Just my 2¢ worth YMMV
 
Sort of off thread but,

To make a long story short I had lead poisoning issues, very high blood lead levels, (> 50 mcg/dL) but felt fine.. (not fromcasting, poor air filtration at an indoor range)
But I can tell you there is no fun down that road, better not to even head down it.
Be safe, be smart.
If you shoot at an indoor range I would strongly suggest getting your blood lead level tested.
 
Everybody gets wound up about the lead hazard, but it’s the FIRE hazard you should be concerned with. That, and ventilation of fumes from fluxing the mix. So, do it outside or in a shop area set up to handle the fumes.

I use a cart, on wheels to roll the set-up out of my basement garage, onto a porch/patio to cast. In hot weather I set up a fan to keep ME cool...

Like whughett said, don’t sniff the fumes, don’t lick your fingers (you WILL be wearing leather gloves!), and wash up when you’re done.
 
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