New to casting... Should I be adding Tin?

[Labanaktis]

I'm new to casting. I bought a Ballisti Cast Mark X. I am casting 124 gn. 9mm with Ballisticast moulds. The results are ok, but the lead seems like it is not filling out in the moulds... Especially in the back of the bullet where the chamfer is at.

Will adding Tin help? I have read that adding Tin will make the lead more "Wet".
Seems like it will help but I wanted some other opinions about it. I am casting at 705 degree

Thanks, Matt

[waco]

The short answer is yes, tin will help with fill out. A dirty or cold mold will also produce boolits that are not filled out.

Welcome to the board!!

[Labanaktis]

Thanks so much! I'll have to start looking for some solder at radio shack then. Here's a pic with the new moulds from Ballisticast. They are loner moulds until my no lube groove moulds come in. I am getting .3575 to .358 consistently. Should be perfect to coat with Hi-Tec coating and size.

Matt

[dilly]

Probably would be helpful to know the alloy you are starting with too.

[Outpost75]

If you are starting out with wheelweights or range scrap of uncertain composition, adding as little as 1% tin by weight can make a big difference.
Keep your pot temperature below 750 degs. F. so that you don't oxidize the tin out of the melt. If you can run about 710 +/- 5 degrees you are in the right ballpark. It should be unnecessary to add more than about 2% tin to the mix.

[dh2]

I would add 2% tin and let the mold lay on top of the pot to get warm .

[Labanaktis]

Thanks. Yes it's mainly range pick and wheel weights...I am trying to add some pics but the manager is not loading them from my ipad

thx, Matt

[Labanaktis]

I have been casting for awhile to warm the moulds up then just melting down the scraps.

[Labanaktis]

Here are the pics

[Labanaktis]

Hey.. It worked

[Beagle333]

"New to casting, and you start out with a Mark X. Impressive! That beats the heck outta a 2-holer Lee mold over a Coleman stove, any day!

And it looks like you're all set to make boolits now. Tin is a wonderful thing. Happy Shooting!

[Labanaktis]

It started with a machine gun....then you gotta feed it. I'm not a fan of reloading but it's the only way I can afford to shoot. $65/1000 bullets if you don't count the case and reuse the lead.

not to bad that way. There are 4 of us to...that helps.

m

[Larry Gibson]

Hey.. It worked

Not only does adding the tin give better fill out but you end up with a better alloy also.

Larry Gibson

[Labanaktis]

Thanks Larry! Will some solder from Radio Shack work? Thats the only place around me that might work... i hear a little goes a long ways.

Thanks, Matt

[threewheels]

try a hard ware store in the pluming section the solder you get at radio shack is made for soldering wire and is acid core.

[Labanaktis]

thanks for the tip. I will do that.

[Beagle333]

Pewter is my favorite way of adding tin. It's cheaper than either pure tin or solder.

[Labanaktis]

I will look into pewter to.

thx, M

[bangerjim]

Check any of the hardware stores or big box stores in the plumbing section. You want lead-free solder which is very expensive but is almost all Sn. Solder from RS will have rosin core NOT acid core! Neither is what you want.

Unless you can find scrap solid wire solder at a junk yard, that is a very expensive way to get your Sn. Have no idea where you are located because you did not put on your location....very helpful to know when asking for help on here!!!!! Check used stores and yard sales for pewter. Around me, there is none but other locations seem to be lucky.

Also pre-heat your mold on an electric hotplate. Much better and more convenient than waiting for your casting pot top to heat it. I bring my molds up to casting temp on the hot plate and start dropping perfect boolits the first pour! And use that same plate to preheat your casting ingots! Speeds up things when you add more to your pot. I have my plate set at about 620F.

banger

[Larry Gibson]

Thanks Larry! Will some solder from Radio Shack work? Thats the only place around me that might work... i hear a little goes a long ways.

Thanks, Matt

As mentioned pewter or using plumbers solder is better and far less expensive. You can also order tin from a couple venders here. The tin, while initially seeming expensive does go a long ways. At 2% for 10 lbs of COWWs you only need 3.2 oz. One lb of tin will do 50 lbs of COWW alloy.

Larry Gibson