Starting to cast lead

[filric48]

I just ordered two molds from lee on sale for 16.00 regular 26.00 these are two bullet molds. Got my lead pot yesterday from ebay. Went to a wrecking yard got 25 lbs of wheel weights for 50 cents a lbs. All I need now is gas checks for 30 cal. does anyone have a source?

[fatfreadiescat]

Midway or Grafs will have them.

[BigBronco]

Make certain the wheel weights are all lead. Toss out the ones made of Zinc. Zinc is bad for casting and bad for your gun.

[gunboat]

while I agree that the zinc can be a problem in casting, but zinc in itself will not harm the weapon --
Harvey Pro-tex bullets used a zinc washer cast in the base instead of a gas check and ch4 model 105 swaging dies also use a zinc washer in the base.
my tuppence

[filric48]

The ones I got were the real old I melted them into ingots yesterday, I used muffin pans, I also tried something I saw on youtube I took a candle and put soot on one and not the other the one with out the soot stuck to the pan the soot-ed one dropped right out, I also had aluminum muffin pan they dropped right out. I bought an aluminum pressure cooker at the thrift store worked great for melting the wheel weights on the camp stove.

[wilit]

What yard did you go to to get the weights? I was thinking that a wrecking yard would be a good source for WW.

[bohoki]

i wouldnt use aluminum to melt lead in its really close to its melting point and inside the weakening point

even a thin steel pot is better i like a cast iron skillet

[anyracoon]

Go to Harbor Freight. Last year I paid around $25.00 for a large cast iron dutch oven pot. Just be sure not to use it for cooking once you melt lead in it!

[Whiterabbit]

i wouldnt use aluminum to melt lead in its really close to its melting point

what?

[bumpo628]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bohoki View Post
i wouldnt use aluminum to melt lead in its really close to its melting point

what?

True - lead's melting point is not close to aluminum. However, aluminum pots will "slump" at much lower temperatures than it's melting point. Couple that with 50 lbs of molten lead on top of it and that equals no fun. Many people have written about their aluminum pots going south over on castboolits.

Ref:
Lead melts @ 620 F.
Aluminum melts @ 1220 F.

[sargenv]

Wow.. you found actual WW's in Cali? I thought all the old casters had picked them clean..