Pete E
07-10-2011, 04:43 PM
Hi Folks,
I would like to start low volume casting for my 9.3x62mm, plus things like fishing sinkers ect..
This project has been on my mind for a while and after a little research I started to accumulate what i thought I would need for the first stage, ie making ingots..
So far I have the following :
120lb of very old and very cruddy wheel weights.
Propane burner and gas bottle...
Electric hot plate.
Small dutch oven ( internally measures 7"x4" at the widest)
Lyman Thermometer
Assorted ladles, spoons ect,
Vice grips, round wooden mallet
Bunch of candles for flux.
Muffin tins for ingot moulds
Couple of steel baking trays to put stuff on and sprue and slag tins...
Pair of safety glasses and leather garden gloves..
I was about to give things a go this weekend, when I read some of the horror stories on here re visits from the tinsel fairy and decided I needed to upgrade my safety equipment with a leather welders apron and decent gauntlets..
My original intention was to set up in the back yard and give it a go, but given the vagrancies of the British weather, while I think it would work short term, a small covered work area would be better in the long run..
I don't have much space where I am and don't have a garage or anything similar.
I do have a small out-building, but I don't want to start casting in there as I also use it to hang game ect and do my butchering...
So what I thought was to set up a small ply wood lean-to casting area...Basically I am thinking what amounts to a
lean-to covered 48"x24" bench..
I would have doors on for security, but they would be open while in use.. I am thinking that if I make the roof over hang by a couple of foot, when the dooors are open I'll have a 4"x4' covered work area, with a 24" deep bench across the back...
I don't intend using this set up in the rain, but I am thinking it would give me some protection from showers/pigeon poo ect...
Is a 4'x2" bench big enough?
I want to go with this semi enclosed design as the sides will act as a wind break while still offering good ventilation...
With the doors closed, it will also be somewhere to securely store the casting equipment and the lead ect..
I want it next to the existing out building so i can get power into it for the hotplate and possibly a light..
I propose to put the burner in one corner of the bench and I anticipate needing to fireproof/insulate the walls and possibly the roof?
Although the gas bottle would be stored inside when not in use, I suspect it would be wise to put it outside when I'm actually casting, so as to to avoid any chance of molten lead pouring on it in the event of an accident.
I should add that I already reload and my main bench is set up in the house, so this little bench would be for casting only..
Does this sould like a viable set up? Any advice or tips would be appreciated...
Have I missed anything equipement wise? (I intend buying moulds once I have got through this stage)
I think also a larger pot for the initial WW melt might be advisableas to , so keep the small pot "clean" for the actual casting??
Also, I'd be very interested in seeing a few pics of peoples set ups?
Thank in advance,
Peter
I would like to start low volume casting for my 9.3x62mm, plus things like fishing sinkers ect..
This project has been on my mind for a while and after a little research I started to accumulate what i thought I would need for the first stage, ie making ingots..
So far I have the following :
120lb of very old and very cruddy wheel weights.
Propane burner and gas bottle...
Electric hot plate.
Small dutch oven ( internally measures 7"x4" at the widest)
Lyman Thermometer
Assorted ladles, spoons ect,
Vice grips, round wooden mallet
Bunch of candles for flux.
Muffin tins for ingot moulds
Couple of steel baking trays to put stuff on and sprue and slag tins...
Pair of safety glasses and leather garden gloves..
I was about to give things a go this weekend, when I read some of the horror stories on here re visits from the tinsel fairy and decided I needed to upgrade my safety equipment with a leather welders apron and decent gauntlets..
My original intention was to set up in the back yard and give it a go, but given the vagrancies of the British weather, while I think it would work short term, a small covered work area would be better in the long run..
I don't have much space where I am and don't have a garage or anything similar.
I do have a small out-building, but I don't want to start casting in there as I also use it to hang game ect and do my butchering...
So what I thought was to set up a small ply wood lean-to casting area...Basically I am thinking what amounts to a
lean-to covered 48"x24" bench..
I would have doors on for security, but they would be open while in use.. I am thinking that if I make the roof over hang by a couple of foot, when the dooors are open I'll have a 4"x4' covered work area, with a 24" deep bench across the back...
I don't intend using this set up in the rain, but I am thinking it would give me some protection from showers/pigeon poo ect...
Is a 4'x2" bench big enough?
I want to go with this semi enclosed design as the sides will act as a wind break while still offering good ventilation...
With the doors closed, it will also be somewhere to securely store the casting equipment and the lead ect..
I want it next to the existing out building so i can get power into it for the hotplate and possibly a light..
I propose to put the burner in one corner of the bench and I anticipate needing to fireproof/insulate the walls and possibly the roof?
Although the gas bottle would be stored inside when not in use, I suspect it would be wise to put it outside when I'm actually casting, so as to to avoid any chance of molten lead pouring on it in the event of an accident.
I should add that I already reload and my main bench is set up in the house, so this little bench would be for casting only..
Does this sould like a viable set up? Any advice or tips would be appreciated...
Have I missed anything equipement wise? (I intend buying moulds once I have got through this stage)
I think also a larger pot for the initial WW melt might be advisableas to , so keep the small pot "clean" for the actual casting??
Also, I'd be very interested in seeing a few pics of peoples set ups?
Thank in advance,
Peter