FNilo
01-03-2007, 12:01 PM
Hi all. I have been viewing for a while trying to see how hard it is to cast my own. After reading lots of posts, I decided to give it a try. Many of you have been doing it for years and maybee you can give me some pointers. I'm sure that these questions have been answered many times before but if you can send me in the right direction I would be helpful. Sorry I these questions sound silly!
Anyway, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on equipment until I knew if I could do it. I am going to try the pot and dipper method and move up from there if need be. All I have for equipment is a 4 qt. cast iron pot, propane turkey fryer burner and slotted spoon and ladle. Moulds, dipper and sizer are on the way.
So while I wait for other equipment to arrive, I obtained a bucket of WW's and tried to smelt some usable lead. I melted it down, (don't know the temp. since I do not have a thermometer) skimed off the clips and other garbage, fluxed with pariffin wax (this is what I had) and began to take all the crap that floated to the top. As I stired the lead and continued to remove the stuff at the surface but I don't know if I am getting it all. I keep adding flux (pariffin wax) every so often and it seems like it is never ending. How do I know when all the crap is out? As I stir and skim (for about 15 - 20 mim at least) and continue to skim there is always a thin layer developing on the top looking like ice forming on a bucket of water. Is this the lead cooling on the surface or more crap. I have been trying to take it off abut it always develops. I don't know if I am throwing away good lead or is it just crap. Should I continue to stir and skim until the surface is shinny like the rest of the pot or I am wasting time? I don't want to try to cast with impure lead. As I said before I am just smelting right now, will try to cast when other equipment arrives.
I got tired of skimming last night and poured into pop can bottoms. After they cooled I removed them and they looked ok I guess but was not sure if they were ready to go so this morning I re-melted, added flux,stired and skimed, added flux, stired and skimed, etc............. and continues to form this ice looking film on the surface. How far do I go?
Any suggestions would be helpful. Sorry about being long winded.
Thanks!!
P.S. My wife says that I am already hooked!
Anyway, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on equipment until I knew if I could do it. I am going to try the pot and dipper method and move up from there if need be. All I have for equipment is a 4 qt. cast iron pot, propane turkey fryer burner and slotted spoon and ladle. Moulds, dipper and sizer are on the way.
So while I wait for other equipment to arrive, I obtained a bucket of WW's and tried to smelt some usable lead. I melted it down, (don't know the temp. since I do not have a thermometer) skimed off the clips and other garbage, fluxed with pariffin wax (this is what I had) and began to take all the crap that floated to the top. As I stired the lead and continued to remove the stuff at the surface but I don't know if I am getting it all. I keep adding flux (pariffin wax) every so often and it seems like it is never ending. How do I know when all the crap is out? As I stir and skim (for about 15 - 20 mim at least) and continue to skim there is always a thin layer developing on the top looking like ice forming on a bucket of water. Is this the lead cooling on the surface or more crap. I have been trying to take it off abut it always develops. I don't know if I am throwing away good lead or is it just crap. Should I continue to stir and skim until the surface is shinny like the rest of the pot or I am wasting time? I don't want to try to cast with impure lead. As I said before I am just smelting right now, will try to cast when other equipment arrives.
I got tired of skimming last night and poured into pop can bottoms. After they cooled I removed them and they looked ok I guess but was not sure if they were ready to go so this morning I re-melted, added flux,stired and skimed, added flux, stired and skimed, etc............. and continues to form this ice looking film on the surface. How far do I go?
Any suggestions would be helpful. Sorry about being long winded.
Thanks!!
P.S. My wife says that I am already hooked!