Casting with my homemade lead hammer mold.

[RogerWatsonfromIdaho]

6272
My wooden mallet was wearing out from hitting the sprue plates on my bullet moulds.
Also I had to hit the sprue plate several times on 8 and 10 cavity moulds to knock them open.
6273
I switched to a plastic hammer, but it was damaging the sprue plate.
6274
Sprue plate damage.

I could have purchased a lead hammer or a lead hammer mould.
I decided to make a lead hammer mould.
6275
1” brass “T” cut in half to make a lead hammer mould.
6276
Lead hammer mould held together with hose clamps.
6277
Heating lead hammer mould with a torch. Otherwise the lead hammer will have wrinkles. Lead hammer mould with metal plates as end caps held on by a “C” clamp.
6278
Insert the handle and fill the mould with lead. I used wheelweights as my lead alloy.
6279
Lead hammer mould filled with lead. Let it cool before removing mould.

Remove hose clamps. Pry off mould with a screwdriver. OR knock off mould by hitting it sideways.
6280
Finished lead hammer. I make several so when one wears out, I can pick up another one and keep casting.
6281
Now the lead hammer takes the wear instead of the sprue plate.

When the lead hammer wears out, I melt the worn out hammer off the handle and cast a new lead hammer.

[garandsrus]

Great idea for the mold!

John

[725]

neat. What are you using for a handle?

[NVScouter]

Looks like he fluxed a piece of copper tubing and dunked it in.

Great job!

[mtnman31]

Great idea and best of all cheap and simple. Thanks for sharing.

[rmb721]

Great idea.

You could put a bolt with the head up in the mould and then put a wooden handle on the bolt.

[PatMarlin]

Outstanding... :drinks:

[bobthewelder]

That's funny, I melted a bunch of lead hammer for my first ingots, they will be my first bullets. Great idea.

[osage]

Nice job.

Just what I need for the one mold that I have trouble opening the spur plate with a gloved hand.