stupid?

[JCools]

When smelting, why cant I cast some boolits? Then cast ingots for a later session?

[lwknight]

I don't know . Why couldn't ya.
Personally , I would not want to deal with smelting when casting.
And vice versa

[Muddy Creek Sam]

I've done it, but just a few to test the alloy in the mold.

Sam :D

[blaser.306]

Why not just cast all 100 lbs in one sitting ? after all the lead is already molten?!!!!!!!:kidding:

[uncle joe]

if you use a ladle why not after you get through smelting you have a full pot of liquid boolits, just pour them into their little shape makers.

[GabbyM]

I’ve done that before to get a small pile of pure lead conical and round balls for my muzzle loaders. Don’t need to large a pile for ML and that saved me from changing a casting pot over from alloyed lead. Not very fuel efficient to run a 175,000 BTU burner under a casting pot though. Especially bottled propane.

[home in oz]

If you are melting wheel weights, and will use that melt as boolits....why not?

[buck1]

you can!!

[Bret4207]

I saw the thread tittle and thought my wife was calling me...

[gray wolf]

Are you are talking about casting with clean metal and then Smelting in the same pot with dirty metal ?? ----- if so you could crud up your pot with the dirty metal and then have to clean it up before casting again. I guess if it's not a bottom pour pot it wont be to bad.
I wouldn't do it with my bottom pouring pot, why make the extra work.
But you could do it as long as you know the results.


Sam

[mdi]

Yes. Before I was informed that I needed two pots (one for smelting and one for casting) I did everything with one pot, one stove, one small ladle, and a soup ladle. My .44 S&W liked them...

[sqlbullet]

Like Sam said, for testing I do.

I don't otherwise cause I don't refine in my bottom pour casting furnace. I refine in a big dutch oven. I don't particular like ladle casting, so I only do a few when I am trying out a new lead type and need samples to determine it's properties.

[Doc Highwall]

I cast with both a Wage pot and a Lee Pro 4-20 and I try to keep them as clean as possible and the last thing I want when trying to cast good bullets is dirt in my melt. I am a big proponent of smelting my raw lead into large ingots to get it as clean as possible and determine what it is and then remelt it again and alloy it for what I want and pour it into smaller ingots that fit into the casting pot. Now when I cast bullets I can be more productive as I do not have to stop and flux as often keeping the alloy and mould at the working temperature with most of my culled bullets being found after I cut the sprue and before I open the mould.

[BABore]

Kind of like washing your dishes in the toilet. :redneck: