joecool911
12-31-2010, 02:05 PM
Seems appropriate to discuss some cold weather casting ideas for bottom pouring.
The one so far that seems like it would help is getting a hot plate to pre-heat the mold. I am using a lee 265 grain mold and the bullet noses have wrinkles on them and some flaws on most somewhere on the lube bands. Gets better after 10 or 15 cycles, so I know the mold is not getting up to temp. If I put the mold in the pot of lead the aluminum mold creates a hardened block of lead in the top of the pot. Too much cold temperature transfer from the mold to the lead.
I dont have an electric hot plate, will a propane camp stove work?
Would it also help to cover the pot with a metal cover of some kind?
Should you raise the pot temperature when its cold?
The one so far that seems like it would help is getting a hot plate to pre-heat the mold. I am using a lee 265 grain mold and the bullet noses have wrinkles on them and some flaws on most somewhere on the lube bands. Gets better after 10 or 15 cycles, so I know the mold is not getting up to temp. If I put the mold in the pot of lead the aluminum mold creates a hardened block of lead in the top of the pot. Too much cold temperature transfer from the mold to the lead.
I dont have an electric hot plate, will a propane camp stove work?
Would it also help to cover the pot with a metal cover of some kind?
Should you raise the pot temperature when its cold?