I prefer ladles? What about you?
I started casting with a cast iron pan... then I splurged and got a bottom pour... within a week I sold it. Something about casting with a pan and flame seems to make it infinitely more fun. Whats your preference?
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...62389034_n.jpg
its not much, and its not like I dont have the funding to get better, just feels right this way.
Ladle & bottom pour casting
Once upon a time there were no bottom pours and folks using ladles did just fine. The oldest thing I recall seeing (in a picture) was a bottom pour that was made by Potter and it was heated the same as an ordinary cast iron pot. I used (and still have) a Saeco model T34 which is a 20 pounder and always did well with it and a Lyman, RCBS and an open soup style that I bought from H&G to run my first 4 cav. It was and still is messy to pour uphill, but the bullets are fine. For those interested in a good analysis of ladle vs bottom pour there is a classic article written by an icon in the casting world named Jim Carmichael, in the "Art of Bullet casting" (still on sale by Wolfe Publishing). It compares techniques and claims by proponents of either of the two methods and discusses results to be expected. Definitely worth the bucks. LLS