First time casting

[anyracoon]

PID is the only way to go. I am converting my toaster oven over for better temp control baking powder coated bullets using my PID.

[Whiterabbit]

First time casting and you have 1000 lb of lead? Good for you.

[Lead Waster]

Last weekend, I cast my first bullets as well! Same pot (Lee Pro 4-20) and a 6 cavity Lee mold (.358-150gn for a revolver). I've been using reclaimed range lead that I bought from some people over the years on Castboolits. I bought the equipment over 10 years ago and never got around to it!

At first most of the bullets were all frosted, which I learned was from the lead being too hot. However I read that it's OK for them to be frosted, makes no difference.

Then after lubing with the sample lube I got from an MP mold, I think I might have let some lube get into a mold as I was getting wrinkles, which comes from stuff in the mold cavity OR the lead/mold being too cold.

Some of the bottoms of the bullets were rounded (they were not flat when I opened the sprue plate) I'm guessing it's because of my bad lubing technique clogging the vent lines so the top of the mold (ie the base of the bullet) was not filling all the way.

I cast up a LOT of bullets. It was a test run. I'll probably cull most of them.

I made up a batch of "Ben's Liquid Lube" (30% alox, 35% lundmark liquid paste wax, 35% mineral spirits) which I'll use to tumble lube them.

Years ago, I bought some red Harbor Freight powder coat powder, so I might give that a try if the BLL doesn't work out, though liquid lubing seems way easier.

It was fun!

One complaint I have about the Lee pot was the little shelf for resting the mold on ... I couldn't get it adjusted well and I felt that it was scraping the side of the mold. I may just cover a brick with tinfoil (or even a piece of wood) and use that as a shelf for the mold.

[Capt.Dunsel]

Last weekend, I cast my first bullets as well! Same pot (Lee Pro 4-20) and a 6 cavity Lee mold (.358-150gn for a revolver). I've been using reclaimed range lead that I bought from some people over the years on Castboolits. I bought the equipment over 10 years ago and never got around to it!

At first most of the bullets were all frosted, which I learned was from the lead being too hot. However I read that it's OK for them to be frosted, makes no difference.

Then after lubing with the sample lube I got from an MP mold, I think I might have let some lube get into a mold as I was getting wrinkles, which comes from stuff in the mold cavity OR the lead/mold being too cold.

Some of the bottoms of the bullets were rounded (they were not flat when I opened the sprue plate) I'm guessing it's because of my bad lubing technique clogging the vent lines so the top of the mold (ie the base of the bullet) was not filling all the way.

I cast up a LOT of bullets. It was a test run. I'll probably cull most of them.

I made up a batch of "Ben's Liquid Lube" (30% alox, 35% lundmark liquid paste wax, 35% mineral spirits) which I'll use to tumble lube them.

Years ago, I bought some red Harbor Freight powder coat powder, so I might give that a try if the BLL doesn't work out, though liquid lubing seems way easier.

It was fun!

One complaint I have about the Lee pot was the little shelf for resting the mold on ... I couldn't get it adjusted well and I felt that it was scraping the side of the mold. I may just cover a brick with tinfoil (or even a piece of wood) and use that as a shelf for the mold.

Your using lube in your mold ? Just smoke them and they will fall out . Rounded sounds to me like not up to temp . Or your not filling it up . You letting a bit over flow out onto the sprue plate or just filling until you think it is filled ?

Practice makes perfect.

[Lead Waster]

Your using lube in your mold ? Just smoke them and they will fall out . Rounded sounds to me like not up to temp . Or your not filling it up . You letting a bit over flow out onto the sprue plate or just filling until you think it is filled ?

Practice makes perfect.

I'm just using lube on the hinge of the sprue plate and a touch on the alignment pins and under the sprue plate. I think maybe TOO MUCH under the sprue plate. NOT putting it in the cavities.

I did two runs, one with smoke, and then I cleaned it all out with brake cleaner and mineral spirits to try a "clean" run. But again, maybe I didn't lube the parts carefully enough.

I was pouring in lead until it came out over the sprue plate and all 6 sprues were connected in a line of lead. (ie; yes, over flowing).

You are probably right about "not up to temp" as it seemed to eventually fill out better.

I look forward to another run at it! Recycling the mutants back into the pot!

[Capt.Dunsel]

I'm just using lube on the hinge of the sprue plate and a touch on the alignment pins and under the sprue plate. I think maybe TOO MUCH under the sprue plate. NOT putting it in the cavities.

I did two runs, one with smoke, and then I cleaned it all out with brake cleaner and mineral spirits to try a "clean" run. But again, maybe I didn't lube the parts carefully enough.

I was pouring in lead until it came out over the sprue plate and all 6 sprues were connected in a line of lead. (ie; yes, over flowing).

You are probably right about "not up to temp" as it seemed to eventually fill out better.

I look forward to another run at it! Recycling the mutants back into the pot!

I have found no need for lube on alignment pins , and for the hinges on the molds I just touch the hot mold with a piece of bees wax .Keep all lube off mating surfaces of molds .
And clean the molds and just smoke them.

I cast pretty little .22 bullets , and they can be toughest to keep temp right .

dip corner of mold into pot for a 5 count and go to work.
Wet sponge to touch mold to when it gets too hot , just for a second , you don't want it to cool off too much .

I use a counting method , pour lead and count one potatoe , two potatoe , three potatoe , four and cut the sprue .

[kevins750]

First time casting and you have 1000 lb of lead? Good for you.

Actually had the lead and the bottom pour pot for several years and just casted last month.

[kevins750]

I have 6 hole and 2 hole Lee molds, I find the 6 hole easier to cast with. Mine rub the holder also, I am not too concerned with scratching.

I dip the 6 hole for quite a while and the first couple pours I let the sprue cover most of the plate to get everything hot. I cut my sprues over the pot and they drop down in.

[Pablo5959]

I heat my molds in my powder coat toaster oven on high, with the handles sticking out the oven door while the pot heats up.
The molds are ready to go when the pot is.
The last time I heated a mold in the pot, I got lead between the handle and the mold. It locked up good.

[koehn,jim]

Try a hot plate to heat your molds instead of the oven.

[Capt.Dunsel]

I heat my molds in my powder coat toaster oven on high, with the handles sticking out the oven door while the pot heats up.
The molds are ready to go when the pot is.
The last time I heated a mold in the pot, I got lead between the handle and the mold. It locked up good.

You only need to dip a corner into the pot , if the lead sticks your mold isn't hot enough .

And a hot plate works to keep it up to temp . But when I get on a roll my molds just overheat so no need for hot plate .

[Lead Waster]

I have 6 hole and 2 hole Lee molds, I find the 6 hole easier to cast with. Mine rub the holder also, I am not too concerned with scratching.

I dip the 6 hole for quite a while and the first couple pours I let the sprue cover most of the plate to get everything hot. I cut my sprues over the pot and they drop down in.

The rubbing of the mold on the shelf bugs me for some reason, it prevents me from moving the mold smoothly, but that's my own issue, I've never heard many other complaints. I may just have it adjusted badly. My problem is the shelf is made of two levels, the bottom level holds up the mold and the top piece is a guide, but for me the guide pushes the mold too far to the left (ie; the guide is too long for my pot/mold/me). I'll make a little shelf to solve this issue, so no big deal. Just weird.

I'm also a newbie, but I would recommend not cutting the sprues and letting them drop into the pot to avoid getting lead splashing out at you.

[Cowboy T]

I do a lot of casting, mostly in winter when it's cold (we get below-freezing in my locale), and all my moulds are the Lee aluminum ones. First, those "boolits" look good. You did well, especially for your first time.

If you'd like some more tips, check out my casting videos. They were made precisely from the "newbie" perspective, so they may help you out.

http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/lead.html

[kevins750]

I do a lot of casting, mostly in winter when it's cold (we get below-freezing in my locale), and all my moulds are the Lee aluminum ones. First, those "boolits" look good. You did well, especially for your first time.

If you'd like some more tips, check out my casting videos. They were made precisely from the "newbie" perspective, so they may help you out.

http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/lead.html

I didn't know you were on here. I have seen several of your videos, very informative.