db22
07-23-2007, 09:20 AM
First post here . . . heard of this board at Graybeard Outdoors. Have started casting again after a 10-year layoff -- lucked into two big buckets of WWs for just ten bucks, and inherited some really nice old Lyman and Ideal molds, so had to give it another go.
Having trouble getting iron blocks to fill out with pure wheelweight metal, and also with Lyman #2 alloy. It's happening with both a .38 wadcutter, and with longer bullets, also .358 diameter (Lyman 358627 and 358318). When the blocks heat up and start dropping frosted bullets, one side of each bullet has good, sharp edges and the other is slightly rounded where it should be sharp. I carefully clean the molds with rubbing alcohol on a q-tip before starting.
I have a Lyman thermometer. Where should I stabilize temperature for pure WWs, and where for Lyman #2? I lost my old copy of the Lyman manual (found just enough of my old casting rig to get in trouble . . .)
Also -- when I make ingots of #2 alloy, they appear all frosted with a crystal-like surface. Is this just because the metal is too hot when poured, or have I contaminated it with something like zinc?
Thanks!! -- Dave
Having trouble getting iron blocks to fill out with pure wheelweight metal, and also with Lyman #2 alloy. It's happening with both a .38 wadcutter, and with longer bullets, also .358 diameter (Lyman 358627 and 358318). When the blocks heat up and start dropping frosted bullets, one side of each bullet has good, sharp edges and the other is slightly rounded where it should be sharp. I carefully clean the molds with rubbing alcohol on a q-tip before starting.
I have a Lyman thermometer. Where should I stabilize temperature for pure WWs, and where for Lyman #2? I lost my old copy of the Lyman manual (found just enough of my old casting rig to get in trouble . . .)
Also -- when I make ingots of #2 alloy, they appear all frosted with a crystal-like surface. Is this just because the metal is too hot when poured, or have I contaminated it with something like zinc?
Thanks!! -- Dave