Rushthezeppelin
02-26-2014, 02:45 AM
It started when I picked up 160# of WWs about 3 weeks ago for only 40 bucks. It looked to be mostly lead (most where non squared out on the ends
Well yesterday I managed to find a $39 fish fryer at Wally World.
97899
I did some more shopping today. Tried Goodwill first and managed to find a Kenmore convection toaster oven for powder coating for $15 (even checked the fan at the store and sure enough it works as do the elements), a cheap steel spoon and two solid aluminum cupcake pans (not the silly ones with the inserts for each cupcake, all one stamped piece). Picked up a SS pasta spoon and a laddle from Wally World and found a cast iron pan at Big Lots. Went by harbor freight and and got some welding clothing and a face mask for protection in case of a splatter.
Just got done on my first batch of making ingots and taking a shower. Managed to make about 8 1/2 cupcake ingots with little trouble. Came out to 11 1/2#
Sorting blue pail for steel/zinc had about 4% non lead on this first time; grey stick ons
97900
Firing up the melt
97901
Pail is filed with water for dross skimmings (knew there was a reason I had been hanging on to these empty cat litter pails :P)
97902
Fluxed (free HD sawdust) and about to dross
97903
Casting ingots. Cast the first ingots with a laddle.
97904
Success
97905
97906
Also have the Lee 155 7.62x39 mold, Lee 20# bottom pour, 300 blk dies (including 30 carbine Lee powder through) and a pound of green PBTP on the way. Should hopefully see it by Friday in which case I'll build a quick table with some 2x4s and free plywood I got from HD and setup for casting in the back yard. Should be able to cast 500+ 155s (how much do these drop for others with straight WW alloy?) just from this batch alone...plenty to do load development with.
Well yesterday I managed to find a $39 fish fryer at Wally World.
97899
I did some more shopping today. Tried Goodwill first and managed to find a Kenmore convection toaster oven for powder coating for $15 (even checked the fan at the store and sure enough it works as do the elements), a cheap steel spoon and two solid aluminum cupcake pans (not the silly ones with the inserts for each cupcake, all one stamped piece). Picked up a SS pasta spoon and a laddle from Wally World and found a cast iron pan at Big Lots. Went by harbor freight and and got some welding clothing and a face mask for protection in case of a splatter.
Just got done on my first batch of making ingots and taking a shower. Managed to make about 8 1/2 cupcake ingots with little trouble. Came out to 11 1/2#
Sorting blue pail for steel/zinc had about 4% non lead on this first time; grey stick ons
97900
Firing up the melt
97901
Pail is filed with water for dross skimmings (knew there was a reason I had been hanging on to these empty cat litter pails :P)
97902
Fluxed (free HD sawdust) and about to dross
97903
Casting ingots. Cast the first ingots with a laddle.
97904
Success
97905
97906
Also have the Lee 155 7.62x39 mold, Lee 20# bottom pour, 300 blk dies (including 30 carbine Lee powder through) and a pound of green PBTP on the way. Should hopefully see it by Friday in which case I'll build a quick table with some 2x4s and free plywood I got from HD and setup for casting in the back yard. Should be able to cast 500+ 155s (how much do these drop for others with straight WW alloy?) just from this batch alone...plenty to do load development with.