Bullet Casting (The cheap way?)

[snuffy]

Kelly, lead is not hot enough to burn through clothing. Just about any cloth is enough to protect you, EXCEPT the plastic based fabrics.

Directly on the skin, it will stick tight and continue burning as it cools. The resulting burn is as bad as any other burn, but I doubt there would be a permanent scar.

In a mold, it "freezes" in from a half second to several seconds depending on the size of the bullet, the temp of the lead, and the alloy. If, in the case of an aluminum mold, it takes more then 3-4 seconds for the sprue to solidify, the mold and the lead are way too hot. The resulting bullet will look "frosty", almost looks like it's made from aluminum!

Scrat's method, with the propane camp stove, has no temperature control. He also needs to flux that pot of metal shown sitting on the stove. Using a top pour ladle like that, when he scoops lead from the pot, that floating slag gets into the lead in the ladle. Then pouring that into a mold means it goes into the bullet. Slag inclusions are a bad thing in a bullet, it usually means an off balance bullet.

Bottom pour electric pots solve that problem by drawing the metal from the bottom of the pot. Even using a bottom pour ladle will help, if dipping form a simple melting pot.

 

[qajaq59]

I was a printer back in the days of molten lead so I've had lots of exerience with lead burns. You may go a lifetime without one, and I certainly hope you do, because just one will be enough to cause you plenty of pain. Especially when the doctors have to peal off the lead and your skin comes with it.

All I will suggest is that if someone is going to get into casting lead bullets, cover anything on your body that you don't want burned. And wear glasses.

 

[Handgunr]

I've been through the inadvertant lead burns, off & on for about 38yrs.
No matter how careful you are, they will happen now & then. But, they can be far more frequent, and much, much worse if you're not careful, so go figure.

Like Bula.........I didn't like the feeling of those large casting/welder's mitts I was using as they're extremely clumsey. To cast properly, for me, I need to feel, or grip the handles, sprue hammer, etc., properly.
Well, after watching a couple of races on TV, I figured those mechanix gloves that the pit crews wear would work very well.
Fire proof, heat proof, etc., and it's a far shot better than those old welding gloves.

I've had burns over the years, and to escape them is literally impossible. It's how careful you are overall, that will reduce the frequency & the outcome.
I wear safety glasses...it's a no brainer....eye's usually don't take very well to being burned by molten lead.

Bob

 

[Pointman]

Scrat has it! Though after using the Lee bottom pour I'll NEVER NEVER NEVER go back too a ladel...

But I'm spoiled. (just ask the mIssus, she'll confirm)

 

[scrat]

ya well as for the sandles i usually do wear shoes. i was casting this weekend. i did about 300 bullets. all in all i just take my time dont do anything dumb. i have done a lot of welding and working with metal. i guess im very comfortable working with all types of metal. mig, tig, acetalyne. doesent matter. so then i go take out my old henry stove and melt some lead. and pour it in a mold, let it cool then drop it in water to let it harden. as for swagging. you guys were actually looking at a pot full of wheel weights i had just heated up. but wanted to take some basic pictures of casting. my lead never looks like that. got too much experience dealing with metal. too much experience in knowing the proper temperature. so for me its no problem controlling the heat. i actually think its kinda funny to see someone cast some little lead bullets almost wearing a space suit. then for me it just depends on the degree of what your doing. i have had hot metal hit me before. had some small burns. not by lead casting though. if anyone here has ever cut metal with a torch or done some serious arc welding then you will know what i mean.

Any how as for the set up. like i said all in when i first started i bought a mold a ladel, a size kit and some lube. stil to this day i uses the same thing. just a little more molds and sizers. as for the propane i have a huge bottle of propane. i get filled up once a year for about 20.00 helps to know the guy filling your tank. then i just transfer the propane from my big tanks to my small tanks. so its pennies on the dollar. makes it a heck of a lot cheaper. great for sillouete competition shooting.

 

[BAGTIC]

I can not count the number of shirts I own that have little tiny pin holes from splattered lead. It will happen. Perhaps not tomorrow, or next week, but it will happen.