Piedmont
03-16-2013, 03:39 AM
I have been using some new range lead that I bought. At the end of the casting session before tonight's I noticed the top of my melt wasn't melting properly but the bottom pour spout allowed casting to still take place. I use a 22 lb. RCBS pot that is 9 years old and normally run it full out and re-add sprues and additional alloy to the top as I cast.
It was with some trepidation that I fired up the pot tonight. I was worried that maybe my pot was dieing (thermostat or heat element). It took a little longer than normal and I thought I wasn't going to get anything out of it but eventually I got a stream below. The top stayed hard. I was eventually able to push down through it to try to mix it.
The top stayed slushy/oatmealy which I have read on here may be zinc contamination. One other thing I should mention is I melted one wheel weight of 1.5-2 ounces that I found on one of my walks to the pot during the session before tonight. So I might have zinc contamination from that or from the range lead I bought. (Obviously I don't know that weight was zinc and didn't think it was or it never would have made it to the pot.) I should also mention that this is the one time in my 28 years of casting that I wish I had a pot thermometer. I don't know how hot my lead was, only that it was going full blast.
So tonight I ran 200-300 240 grain bullets. The bullets were good. I added a couple of pounds of wheel weight ingots and a couple of 20-1, thinking these known good alloys might dilute what was in the pot for the better. I also fished out perhaps 7 lbs. of "oatmeal" and drained my pot and tipped the last pound or so in the bottom away from the spout so I can easily get it out when it cools.
So what do you guys think? Do I have zinc contamination or do you think the pot is dieing? I think I read years ago in a Fouling Shot that I can readjust my thermostat by taking the knob off and reorienting it for more heat. What would be the smartest thing to try first? Refilling with known good alloy?
If this "oatmeal is contaminated lead should I just throw it out or can it be rehabilitated? I have read zinc contamination will not allow good bullets but I got good bullets tonight.
Suggestions are welcomed.
It was with some trepidation that I fired up the pot tonight. I was worried that maybe my pot was dieing (thermostat or heat element). It took a little longer than normal and I thought I wasn't going to get anything out of it but eventually I got a stream below. The top stayed hard. I was eventually able to push down through it to try to mix it.
The top stayed slushy/oatmealy which I have read on here may be zinc contamination. One other thing I should mention is I melted one wheel weight of 1.5-2 ounces that I found on one of my walks to the pot during the session before tonight. So I might have zinc contamination from that or from the range lead I bought. (Obviously I don't know that weight was zinc and didn't think it was or it never would have made it to the pot.) I should also mention that this is the one time in my 28 years of casting that I wish I had a pot thermometer. I don't know how hot my lead was, only that it was going full blast.
So tonight I ran 200-300 240 grain bullets. The bullets were good. I added a couple of pounds of wheel weight ingots and a couple of 20-1, thinking these known good alloys might dilute what was in the pot for the better. I also fished out perhaps 7 lbs. of "oatmeal" and drained my pot and tipped the last pound or so in the bottom away from the spout so I can easily get it out when it cools.
So what do you guys think? Do I have zinc contamination or do you think the pot is dieing? I think I read years ago in a Fouling Shot that I can readjust my thermostat by taking the knob off and reorienting it for more heat. What would be the smartest thing to try first? Refilling with known good alloy?
If this "oatmeal is contaminated lead should I just throw it out or can it be rehabilitated? I have read zinc contamination will not allow good bullets but I got good bullets tonight.
Suggestions are welcomed.