Home made Cerrosafe

[DAFzipper]

After reading some information here and a few other articles, I decided to try the sulfur/graphite method. I mixed 4 parts garden sulfur I purchased at the garden supply for $5.99(a lifetime supply) and 1 part graphite that I had on hand for my shot making. I heated it in a small tin can. First try I heated it too fast and it caught fire. Next batch I heated slowly with a propane torch on the lowest setting. I put a cork with a wire through it in the lightly oiled barrel and poured in the mixture. With a dower rod to push as I pulled the wire it popped right out. Mix 4 times what you think you will need, it holds the heat better and stays liquid longer. I measured my 45 at .450 and my 380 at .356. Next I will try a full chamber cast of my 30/06.

[DLCTEX]

Thanks for the info and pics. How long did you let cool befrore removing?

[DAFzipper]

Only took 3 to 4 minuets to set up.

[oneokie]

Did you mix your ingredients by weight or volume?

[JeffinNZ]

Great effort. Thanks for the superb photos. Off to buy sulphur.

[RonF]

That's pretty awesome. Would it be safe to liquefy the sulfur on a hot plate or Coleman stove? Also, does it smell bad, or is that only if it catches on fire?

Thanks,
Ron

[shotman]

I have had good luck with parifin wax pour in and set in fridge or in front of ac, will tap out and be correct

[DAFzipper]

Mixed by volume. Smokes some even when heated slowly. Fumes are toxic, use well ventilated area.

[stubshaft]

Casts look good.

[xr650]

That is interesting.
How did your measurements compare to Cerrosafe casting or slugging?

[TREERAT]

would you care to post a picture of the package your sulfer came in, so I can find the right stuff?

[JeffinNZ]

Just tried it. Works GREAT. I did casts of my No4 MkII, SMLE and .303 Pygmy. A picture is worth 1000 words.

Low heat is definitely the answer. I used my propane stove set on the lowest mark. I was surprised the mixture will remelt.

[warf73]

would you care to post a picture of the package your sulfer came in, so I can find the right stuff?

not sure if you never seen this post DAFzziper but would you please post pic of the package the sulfer came in :)

Thanks Warf

[blackthorn]

The beauty of using the sulfur/graphite mix is that, once cast, the dimensions never change (unlike cerosafe) so there is no need to measure exactly at the one hour point or to have to fool around with a mathamatical formula later.

[mrbill2]

Where should I go to buy the graphite ? I'd like to give this a try also.
Mr. Bill2

[randyrat]

For Graphite...go to an implement dealer where they sell farm equipment or a seed dealer. It is used in the planting process and cheap. example= John Deer dealer

[sundog]

I've been using this method for years -- my deceased gunsmith buddy put me on to it years ago. The first time I did it was using some salvage sulpher from a ripped bag at at a chemical supply house - they gave it to me and I took it home in a baggie. I didn't have any powdered graphite handy, so I ground up a pencil lead really good. Worked great.

added - powdered/micro graphite from the hardware store, often sold as lock lubricant.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

I recently had the throat of my #1s - 45/70 opened up just a tad and the gunsmith used just plain sulfer for the castings to check his progress.

Said he learned the trick while in gunsmith school..

If you get a bad cast, or have old ones around, just remelt them for reuse.

However, as has already been pointed out, melt over a very low temp to prevent the sulfer from getting on fire.

Also, if you have some streaks of sulfer over the edge of your melting container, they are likely to get on fire and move the flame to the sulfer your trying to melt.

And yes, it does cool rapidly.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot