Magma Master Caster Bench - Tips/Tricks/Pics?

[bjordan]

Hey Folks,

After looking for a few weeks for a used Magma Master Caster, I went ahead and ordered a new one. It has arrived, but I am being a good boy and waiting to open it for Christmas. So, I can't get any sense of how to set it up to drop bullets and cut-offs yet.

I was hoping to get some pictures of other's benches, tips and tricks. Why reinvent the wheel right?

Now, I am very handy when it come to making just about anything with wood and have a full production workshop. Steel fabrication and welding, well, that's entirely different - I do have the equipment, just not the instruction, but if you have some pics, I would still like to see them.

Thanks for any help.

Merry Christmas!

[VHoward]

This series of pictures shows how I mounted it. Has worked well.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j262/howard-v/DSCN0100_zpswgqsiyle.jpg (http://s82.photobucket.com/user/howard-v/media/DSCN0100_zpswgqsiyle.jpg.html)
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j262/howard-v/DSCN0101_zpsp2xmpzng.jpg (http://s82.photobucket.com/user/howard-v/media/DSCN0101_zpsp2xmpzng.jpg.html)
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j262/howard-v/DSCN0102_zpsqj3i7djf.jpg (http://s82.photobucket.com/user/howard-v/media/DSCN0102_zpsqj3i7djf.jpg.html)
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j262/howard-v/DSCN0103_zpsjvozpo0a.jpg (http://s82.photobucket.com/user/howard-v/media/DSCN0103_zpsjvozpo0a.jpg.html)
This is the catch box pulled out. When it is pushed in, the sprue catcher goes in front of it.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j262/howard-v/DSCN0104_zpsar1hwicn.jpg (http://s82.photobucket.com/user/howard-v/media/DSCN0104_zpsar1hwicn.jpg.html)
These covers keep any drips off the finished bullets.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j262/howard-v/DSCN0105_zpsonaqkc8r.jpg (http://s82.photobucket.com/user/howard-v/media/DSCN0105_zpsonaqkc8r.jpg.html)
This is the sprue catch pan.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j262/howard-v/DSCN0106_zpsgbagffxe.jpg (http://s82.photobucket.com/user/howard-v/media/DSCN0106_zpsgbagffxe.jpg.html)
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j262/howard-v/DSCN0107_zpsytcugx54.jpg (http://s82.photobucket.com/user/howard-v/media/DSCN0107_zpsytcugx54.jpg.html)

[ReloaderFred]

Make sure your bench is solid, first of all. It helps knock the bullets from the molds if the base is solid, and will save you some problems.

You can also make yourself a base for the machine to sit on, with a drawer or boxes under it to catch the bullets and sprues. I don't have a good picture of mine, but here's what the machine looks like sitting on top of it. It has two wooden boxes underneath, a large one catch the bullets, and the smaller one at the front to catch the sprues.

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m606/ReloaderFred/Master%20Caster%20001.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/ReloaderFred/media/Master%20Caster%20001.jpg.html)

An aluminum scoop is also handy for putting the sprues back into the pot, since it seems like molten lead splashes more than water.....

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m606/ReloaderFred/Master%20Caster%20003.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/ReloaderFred/media/Master%20Caster%20003.jpg.html)

I also made myself a tool for cleaning the orifices without removing the pour spout:

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m606/ReloaderFred/Master%20Caster%20002.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/ReloaderFred/media/Master%20Caster%20002.jpg.html)

Hope this helps.

Fred

[bjordan]

Thanks so far to VHoward and Fred. Good stuff. Exactly what I wanted to see.

Anyone else with pictures of their setup and tips, please keep 'em coming.

[ReloaderFred]

I also replaced the wire mesh guard with a half tall Lexan shield that I made. The purpose of the guard is to keep the cutoff sprues from jumping into your lap, which they're prone to do without a guard in place. I found that the wire mesh guard got in the way, and that most of the cutoff sprues just barely cleared the base of the machine, which is why I made the Lexan shield the height it is. I very seldom have a sprue "jump ship" anymore.

Sprues also like to jump out the side of the machine, so I fashioned a shield for the right side to keep them inside the machine. You can just see my modifications in the pictures above in post #3.

My machine gets a lot of use, as you can tell from it's condition, and those two modifications have really helped to keep "stuff" inside where they belong, yet allow me easy access to the mold, and good visibility. I used the Lexan because I had it, but one could be fashioned from wood, plexiglass, etc.

When I first started using my machine, the orifices would often get clogged, either from a little debris or more often because I put a large ingot into the pot without first warming it on the rim of the pot. I would fight with it, trying to get the alloy to flow, and just get frustrated. I would sometimes remove the pour spout (lots of fun with a hot pot) and use a wire to clean the orifices, but I finally stumbled on an easy fix. It's a Bernz-a-matic propane torch. When the alloy stops flowing due to the pot cooling off, I just hit the pour spout under the pot for a couple of seconds with the torch and go back to casting bullets. It works about 90% of the time, and the tool I made for cleaning the orifices works the other 10%.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[runfiverun]

I just mounted mine on a work bench and cut a hole in the top so the boolits would fall into the drawer.
I put a bunch of rags in the drawer.
the sprues are at the front and the boolits are in the middle, I just clean it all out about every 20 lbs or so and return the sprues to the pot.

find yourself a chunk of steel about 1/2" thick and cut a lid for the pot.
this allows you to pre-heat ingots up there and it also helps keep the pot at a more consistent temperature. [they don't wander much any way but it helps]

[bjordan]

Excellent tips! Thanks. I am like a kid again with they huge, heavy box just sitting there, waiting for me to tear it open tomorrow for Christmas.

I picked up another almost 300 pounds of scrap lead yesterday, so I am off to melt it down, clean it and get it into large ingots - I got my friend to weld up the ingot mold for me yesterday.

[jroc]

Here is pics of how I had mine set up. It was automated but would still be applicable. I had a sheet pan under it. I like the idea of containing lead in case of unforeseen problem. The cloth pajama bottom is cotton and was sewn in a couple spot so as to make a zig zag path for bullets to cool a little before they hit bottom.

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[bjordan]

Thanks to all for the tips and tricks. Here is a pic of the bench I made. I have to get some catch pans. I haven't even plugged it in yet, but I will soon!

184283

[jlnel2]

I can't wait to get one!

[BD]

I have my Master Caster set up on a bench I built out of Stainless sheet on angle iron. There is an opening under it the length of the machine. I have an old olive oil can set up on bricks under the center which catches any over pour, a leather "ramp" under the boolit drop which catches the boolits and gently rolls them into the wood box off to the side, allowing them to cool a bit before they are bumped together. I put an old steel paint can under the sprue drop, (it's removed in this pic for clarity), which catches the sprues which I dump right back in the melt when the can is about 1/3 full. I use two fans to cool the spurs and there's a kitchen exhaust hood mounted above it that exhausts outdoors through the back wall. I pile the little shelf above the pot with ingots to pre-warm them before I rest them on the rim of the pot to heat up a bit before they go in the melt. It's been set up like this for about 15 years and I have no complaints. I bought the machine used back then for $500 with 25 molds. About once a year I clean it up and re-adjust the guides to keep it running smoothly.



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