Alan in Vermont
02-10-2012, 05:46 PM
Landmark day for my return to casting.
First time I used my RCBS Pro-Melt.
First time with a Lee mold, 410-195-SWC
First time using sawdust for flux.
First visit from the Tinsel Fairy.
Pro-Melt is working super after the repairs at RCBS to get it to melt properly.
Lee mold did OK but,,,,,,,,, it needs a lock screw on the sprue plate holddown screw. It also throws a bit bigger than I like, .415. I was hoping it would be small enough that I could pan lube some and try them as is because I don't have a .410-411 sizer. I don't think it will work being that big. That is with a very hard alloy, I added some pure lead to the pot and will see how that throws at the next session.
Sawdust works VERY nicely, I was pleasantly surprised at how little metal there was in the skimmings.
The Tinsel Fairy SUCKS! No damage to me other than some small red spots, only a couple made any sort of blister. I got dumb but now I'm both smarting and smarter. I had a fresh layer of sawdust on the pot and a bunch of cull boolits (429421) that I could not get to stop wrinkling, thought I had the mold free of any oil but apparently not. I picked up a handful and gently rolled them onto the sawdust which turned out to be not as dry as I thought it was. Some of it was charred but apparently where I laid the boolits on it it was not charred enough. That dozen or so boolits sunk a big slug of sawdust and the TF immediately puked up a gob of tinsel. Most of it got my forehead and glasses. Luckily what landed on the glasses wasn't enough to scar the plastic lenses and the forehead will be fine in a couple days.
First time I used my RCBS Pro-Melt.
First time with a Lee mold, 410-195-SWC
First time using sawdust for flux.
First visit from the Tinsel Fairy.
Pro-Melt is working super after the repairs at RCBS to get it to melt properly.
Lee mold did OK but,,,,,,,,, it needs a lock screw on the sprue plate holddown screw. It also throws a bit bigger than I like, .415. I was hoping it would be small enough that I could pan lube some and try them as is because I don't have a .410-411 sizer. I don't think it will work being that big. That is with a very hard alloy, I added some pure lead to the pot and will see how that throws at the next session.
Sawdust works VERY nicely, I was pleasantly surprised at how little metal there was in the skimmings.
The Tinsel Fairy SUCKS! No damage to me other than some small red spots, only a couple made any sort of blister. I got dumb but now I'm both smarting and smarter. I had a fresh layer of sawdust on the pot and a bunch of cull boolits (429421) that I could not get to stop wrinkling, thought I had the mold free of any oil but apparently not. I picked up a handful and gently rolled them onto the sawdust which turned out to be not as dry as I thought it was. Some of it was charred but apparently where I laid the boolits on it it was not charred enough. That dozen or so boolits sunk a big slug of sawdust and the TF immediately puked up a gob of tinsel. Most of it got my forehead and glasses. Luckily what landed on the glasses wasn't enough to scar the plastic lenses and the forehead will be fine in a couple days.