Carrumba!

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10-08-2018, 04:23 PM
Echo

3 Attachment(s)

Carrumba!

I'm having trouble with a Lee 2-banger that I hadn't had trouble with before. Folds and incidents, with temp ~720 and alloy that hadn't given any trouble before. See the pictures...Attachment 228473 Attachment 228474 Attachment 228475
Two of the four came the same time, different cavities! ***, Over? Re-scrubbed the mold, re-did it with brake cleaner, boiled it with Dawn, samo samo. My next attempt will be to soak it in either MinSpir or acetone... Any clues? Actually added an ounce of Sn (maybe 6 lbs in furnace), no joy. Carrumba...
(And 3 different furnaces!)
10-08-2018, 04:33 PM
DonMountain

Your mold isn't hot enough. Either heat it up on the shelf above the lead pot or on a electric burner. Or cast several more rounds until the mold gets hot enough. Turn your lead temperature up to 800 degrees until the castings start to come out frosted, then adjust down in temperature.
10-08-2018, 05:44 PM
Bookworm

On the first two pics, I agree that the mould is too cold. That third pic, it looks like some sort of inclusion in the boolits.

I can't say as I've ever seen that before.
10-08-2018, 06:27 PM
Dusty Bannister

Perhaps you are casting in a breeze with the recent cooling rains in AZ? The folds and bright shine on the bullets suggest cool mold and/or cool alloy. You added "tin" as in solder, or pewter? If you are using a bottom pour pot, it is free flowing or has a debris build up slowed the alloy flow which will also reduce the amount of heat in the mold. Dusty
10-08-2018, 07:16 PM
NoZombies

That sure looks like contamination to me. Did you lube the sprue plate or pins?
10-09-2018, 02:03 PM
Echo

Thanks to all - Sn was added as 50/50 solder - and I will turn the pot up! Yes, cool breeze was blowing that day! Thanks again...
Ed, AKA
10-09-2018, 08:53 PM
sutherpride59

gotta agree with it being cold, could always be wear and tear on your pot. Electronics have a mind of their own sometimes might have been running at a lower temp at you normal setting.
10-09-2018, 11:58 PM
Echo

Thermometer in pot, running about 720 to start (first pot), higher w/second (LEE), about 720 w/3rd SAECO. third loaded w/'A' alloy (~2+% Sn 6+% Sb. Will try third tomorrow, up to 750+ - first pot gets up to 720 wide open, so I guess I need higher for the balmy breezes of Fall in AZ...
10-10-2018, 01:17 AM
David2011

Pot temp is only one part of the equation. It takes a while to get the mold up to temp. You might try fluxing with sawdust. It does an amazing job getting rid of contaminates.
10-10-2018, 03:57 AM
hermans

Very shiny boolits = cold mold, slightly frosted boolits = good mold temp:D
10-12-2018, 12:13 PM
rbuck351

What hermans said is dead on.
10-12-2018, 08:29 PM
jimb16

Try sticking your tongue in the other cheek....*LOL* Some days things just go ****. The next day they go fine and no changes.
10-12-2018, 08:53 PM
waksupi

Along with a cold mold, try tipping the mold as you fill.
10-13-2018, 05:15 AM
GregLaROCHE

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echo

I'm having trouble with a Lee 2-banger that I hadn't had trouble with before. Folds and incidents, with temp ~720 and alloy that hadn't given any trouble before. See the pictures...Attachment 228473 Attachment 228474 Attachment 228475
Two of the four came the same time, different cavities! ***, Over? Re-scrubbed the mold, re-did it with brake cleaner, boiled it with Dawn, samo samo. My next attempt will be to soak it in either MinSpir or acetone... Any clues? Actually added an ounce of Sn (maybe 6 lbs in furnace), no joy. Carrumba...
(And 3 different furnaces!)

Acetone OKAY, but not mineral spirits. That’s going the wrong way. It’s a very refined oil, but oil no less. You risk it soaking into tiny pores in the mold, only to come out when you pour lead in.

Have you tried changing the temperature of the pot? Both up and down?

I have had that sort of thing happen, but have always been able to cast through it and start making good ones.
10-13-2018, 01:37 PM
Echo

Will have to use furnace #3 from now until spring. It will get hot enough to take care of the wrinkles...
10-14-2018, 07:41 AM
WRideout

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregLaROCHE

Acetone OKAY, but not mineral spirits. That’s going the wrong way. It’s a very refined oil, but oil no less. You risk it soaking into tiny pores in the mold, only to come out when you pour lead in.

Aerosol brake cleaner is good also; leaves no residue at all. The non-chlorine stuff is pure hexane, which is very volatile. Just don't use it near a flame.

Wayne
10-14-2018, 07:43 AM
marshall623

Looks like a cold mold , and what I've run across also is even a warm mold and the sprue plate is still cold will mess with your pour . I've never had trouble on the mold cleaning ( I use acetone or alcohol) most of my problems have come from getting sloppy with lubricating the alignment pins and under the sprue plate .

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