Tinsel fairy got me!! I'm OK

[Patrick L]

Muddydogs,

I never said it was the lubed bullet's fault. As I said in the OP, and you correctly repeated, the flare up startled me and I jerked. I regard any undesirable flying lead as a visit from the Tinsel Fairy, as I think most here do as well.

Thank God I've only had the steam/exploding kind happen once, very mildly, with no injuries. That was enough!

[Shuz]

If you use a thermometer to moniter alloy temp, make sure you enter the sensing rod slowly or you'll get a visit from the dreaded Tinsel Fairy. Any cold metal introduced to a hot alloy will do this.

[rbuck351]

I usually water drop my boolits to harden them so I learned about the tinsel fairy the hard way. I took a few rejects that had been out of the water long enough to dry out. However a couple had holes in the bottom from poor fill out. Although the pot wasn't full, a ten lb Lee maybe half full, it was empty in a flash with lead splash on the ceiling. Apparently one with water in it had made it to the bottom before it steamed off and I had reinvented the steam cannon. Fortunately almost all the lead went straight up with only a few small bits landing on me. I do not believe cold metal inserted in molten lead will explode unless it has some moisture on it. You need something under the lead that expands rapidly and a lot to move the lead. I believe water expands about 1700 to 1 so it takes very little water under the lead to get a visit from the tinsel witch. Nasty creature. I no longer introduce any lead to the pot that hasn't been preheated. Unless you are in an area with very low humidity, most tools will have a bit of moisture on them and it does not take much.

[robg]

i use a leather apron as i cast sitting down .a lap full of hot lead is not my idea of fun.

[Hanzy4200]

I add mine to a cold pot. Considering the lube is going to be pulled under the surface, this is bound to happen. God forbid there is any moisture trapped on the bullet.

[dondiego]

i use a leather apron as i cast sitting down .a lap full of hot lead is not my idea of fun.

Me too and you should see the lead splatters on my apron!