Show your setup! Pics and descriptions, please...

[BigDanS]

I am a casting virgin, hard to say I am a virgin at anything at 54 years old.

I am in the process of investigating setting up to cast in low volumes ( 100 or so at a run ) and I envision casting in 45-70, .30 rifle, and .38 revolver / pistol. Although I own guns in many calibers, these seem to be the candidates. I could add .40 pistol, but I digress.

Like many noobs I am contemplating Lee, Lyman, and RCBS smelters, but what I would like to see and hear about is how you are setup.

I live in South Florida, and casting in my garage would be in 90 F heat, not ideal. I might want to setup outside on the north end of my house. I have nothing really to start with, except guns, and ammo.

Please school me and the others that would like to see your bench.

D

[1911KY]

I too, am new to casting, but I have begun to accumulate equipment and lead. Here is what I have acquired and how I plan to use it. I will get pics posted tomorrow.

I have a 110V Lee Production Pot, Lee ladle, Lyman thermometer, Aroma hot plate, 4 total bullet molds all Lee 2 cavities (2 for 45s, 1 for 9mm and 1 for .38s), Lee sizing dies for each caliber, flat aluminum pot catch pan and as much lead as I can find. I plan to cast in my garage on my work bench with a fan blowing to keep any fumes away. I will use the hot plate to bring my molds up to temp and keep them there if need be. I am thinking about mounting my pot to something with a little more weight to it as the pot frame is rather light.

For smelting I have a 60,000 btu Bayou propane burner from Home Depot, a cast iron skillet about 3" deep, 4 cast iron ingot molds (2 egg pans, 1 cornbread pan & 1 muffin pan), 1 aluminum muffin pan for ingots, long iron ladle for pouring ingots, welders gloves, face shield, NIOSH N95 particulate masks, stainless steel vented dross spoon, aluminum dross pans and I am accumulating sawdust for flux. I plan to smelt outside in my backyard as far away from the house as I can get. I will lay a towel in my wheel barrow to transport my cooled ingots back to my garage. Where I will be storing them in heavy duty plastic storage containers sitting on the Harbor Freight furniture movers so I can wheel them under my work bench with ease.

I also have a toaster oven that will come in handy when I go to bake on the Hi-Tek coating for my bullets. Still need to work out a drying rack, but I have a little time before I get to that phase of the process. Looking at some close knit metal mesh or kitchen draining screen.

Hope this gives you an idea of what you will need. Pics are forthcoming.

[Uncle Grinch]

I'm moving into a larger house and will have a room all to my reloading, instead of a closet! Until my shop is built for my casting, I want to make my new room set-up for reloading as nice as possible. I am considering picking up some used kitchen cabinets from the local shops. I can refinsh them to my liking and store the heavy boolits in the lower cabinets.

Some overhead cabinets would be nice to for powder and gas check storage. Could also store brass there too, I believe, as it's not too heavy.

How is your set-up?

[Garyshome]

I fall you are going to cast is 100 don't bother, too much prep/setup time to mess with that. It will take 20 min to melt the lead. I use 2 bottom pour pots a #10 and #20 [This way there is little down time waiting for lead to melt ,way faster casting, Melting in 1 pot casting from the other. Depending on the mold I'll cast 2 different boolits [molds] at a time, I try to use 6 cavity molds if that is what I need to cast that day. I water drop everything so I can check for fill out constantly. I won't cast less then 3 or 400 per session usually more [400 is filling a 6 cavity mold around 70 times]. So you get 54 123 gr boolits out of #1 lead. It's hard work casting, I like to knock it out and get on to other things. Cast in the winter time & cast enough so you don't have to cast when it's 90 outside.

[BigDanS]

I fall you are going to cast is 100 don't bother, too much prep/setup time to mess with that. It will take 20 min to melt the lead. I use 2 bottom pour pots a #10 and #20 [This way there is little down time waiting for lead to melt ,way faster casting, Melting in 1 pot casting from the other. Depending on the mold I'll cast 2 different boolits [molds] at a time, I try to use 6 cavity molds if that is what I need to cast that day. I water drop everything so I can check for fill out constantly. I won't cast less then 3 or 400 per session usually more [400 is filling a 6 cavity mold around 70 times]. So you get 54 123 gr boolits out of #1 lead. It's hard work casting, I like to knock it out and get on to other things. Cast in the winter time & cast enough so you don't have to cast when it's 90 outside.

If I get to this, I intend to cast 400 gr boolits, most likely 2 at a time or one at time, so it is a little different. They will be hard and have gas checks, too.

D

[williamwaco]

Start with the two cavity Lee molds. They are cheap enough to be almost disposable.

If you decide you don't like it you are out less than 20 bucks.

If you do like it and want to cast/shoot more then you can graduate to more expensive tools.

[silverado]

Second the 2 cavity molds.... If you don't know what you are doing (which still applies to me occasionally) the 6 cavity molds are a bit finicky. Also some cheap-o welding gloves would be in good order, I have a pair that comes up to my elbow.

[A pause for the COZ]

Start with your 38 revolver.

Order a LEE mold for the 38. Also order a .358 sizing die with ALOX lube.
Find some lead.

Have a Colman stove? Use that or an equivalent. Make a charcoal fire out side if you want.

Go to Goodwill or equivalent. Buy a steel sauce pan, Steel ladle, Steel spoon.

Your in business!!!!

Sort of... You need safety equipment. Leather gloves, face shield, long sleeve shirt ect.

[Handloader109]

I'll give you my take on a year of casting. First, do what others say, get cheap lee mold. Pick what ever you want to use to test. Get a lee pot. I got a 4- 20 and it works well, few dollars more was worth it. I would get lead from one of the guys selling here. To easy to do and helps keep the guys here. Along with knowing what you are buying. Forget smelting, no reason to think about it. Especially smaller volumes. Yes gloves. I had a pair of cheap insulated driving gloves I had screwed-up changing a tire, they work well. My garage is usually below 90 when I cast, but it isn't that bad. I'd probably try to use w/of sizing, but search the site for help with the caliber you decide on. Enjoy

[williamwaco]

Start with your 38 revolver.

Order a LEE mold for the 38. Also order a .358 sizing die with ALOX lube.
Find some lead.

Have a Colman stove? Use that or an equivalent. Make a charcoal fire out side if you want.

Go to Goodwill or equivalent. Buy a steel sauce pan, Steel ladle, Steel spoon.

Your in business!!!!

Sort of... You need safety equipment. Leather gloves, face shield, long sleeve shirt ect.


THAT's good advice.

[jabo52521]

Simple setup113412

[1911KY]

As promised...here is my pot and ladle and setup where I will probably cast from..
http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140812_232641_zpsxucaxkut.jpg

I did add some guides to the wood block to hold the pot in place.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140812_235849_zpshjafwxop.jpg

Here is my smelting setup that will be used outside.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140812_232930_zpsc1mcu0cg.jpg

Gloves, face shield, dross pan and dross spoon.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140812_233039_zpswgb9enyd.jpg

What I plan to use for ingot molds.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140809_182509_zpsgumzmzfn.jpg

[1Shirt]

William's advice is sound and practical.
1Shirt!

[BigDanS]

The only Lee double mould in 45-70 that has a gas check is 500 gr. That bullet does not get to more than about 1500 fps in the 1895 marlin and it is not really necessary. I need a mould in 300, 350, or 400 gr with a gas check.

[BigDanS]

Looks good 1911KY... How about others?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I cast in a Upstairs room...the kitchen, as this house was setup as a duplex, but I live here alone. The Bench is a modified butcher block (real wood, not laminate on partical board) dining table, I bolted to the wall after I cut it down to size...$10 at a garage sale. I prefer to 'see' the silver stream, so I mounted the furnace atop a block, it is also bolted securely.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/100_1641.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/JonB_in_Glencoe/media/100_1641.jpg.html)

I smelt WW's on a coleman stove with a 4 QT SS Soup pot on the back of a trailer.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/100_1008.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/JonB_in_Glencoe/media/100_1008.jpg.html)

I pour the ingots on the back of another trailer. The trailers are parked next to each other.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/100_1005.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/JonB_in_Glencoe/media/100_1005.jpg.html)

[BIGRED]

I live in Palm Beach, i do all of my casting in the garage. i have a fan above it so the fumes rise and get sucked into fan and out garage away from me. i cast for 9mm, 40, 45, 45-70, 30 cal, 35 rem. for the 45-70 either the Lee 405GR mold or RCBS will serve you well. i chose the RCBS 405 FNGC and the Marlin GBL loves them. sub moa @ 100 yards. I use a lee 4-20 modified & a PID controller. I use a combination of lee push thru sizers and a RCBS LamII.

I am only 1-1/2 hours away if you ever are heading north and want to stop by and get a little more knowledge or a tutorial let me know

Ron

[Ben]

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/876_zps0e8ae099.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/876_zps0e8ae099.jpg.html)

[3jimbo3]

Start with your 38 revolver.

Order a LEE mold for the 38. Also order a .358 sizing die with ALOX lube.
Find some lead.

Have a Colman stove? Use that or an equivalent. Make a charcoal fire out side if you want.

Go to Goodwill or equivalent. Buy a steel sauce pan, Steel ladle, Steel spoon.

Your in business!!!!

Sort of... You need safety equipment. Leather gloves, face shield, long sleeve shirt ect.


The Lee alox is good lube and easy to use but I find it very smokey especially for an indoor range. I am currently experimenting with some easy to make lube from here on site. Some are really good and cheap to make and so far work very well.

I second the safety equipment, especially protect your eyes." This aint no fun if you're blind"

[dragon813gt]

This was all in the past. I have since gotten rid of all my reloading/casting equipment as well as all my evil firearms.

Processing
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/511C58CC-1A10-4C02-B471-067CCD5F7235-39648-000024655E843BAC.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/3A032738-C32F-4B85-9172-AB9B7828501B-14651-000009CA04FCB0C1_zps4fb37ef8.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/17E85211-EB90-485D-BCE4-01B51A655109-16208-00000AF9069C08BF_zps3d29d554.jpg

Casting
You can see the sprue dump pan in the bottom right.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/AE03B300-F766-46B4-A5EC-9E7E05F88A8D-3097-000002C2C72BABB5_zps00483a9d.jpg

Sprue dump pan on the left. Bullet pan on the right w/ a towel in it to cushion the fall.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/E180E25F-40AD-47FD-BB7B-627E4C005C96-452-0000000FF05A41E9.jpg

Bullet pan full of finished product.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/6E494703-D4F7-4F27-BC51-22E5F6788F41-452-00000010034134FC.jpg

More bullets
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/37503FC4-BE9D-4D27-980C-B1B8BABE5629-962-0000004489C40B0C.jpg

One w/ a mold posing ;)
Apparently I like taking pics of the bullet pan.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/1FFF390C-A861-4A79-A05B-3E32848DB531-16881-00000A9602690D73_zpsdb7ce7d2.jpg

My elbow hurts just looking at this pic knowing all of them needed to be sized and lubed.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/89687B4F-2BC1-42A5-AAA7-0CAD1E16A1F2-7166-00000437CA797BD4_zps7955d295.jpg

[dragon813gt]

And since there seems to be a ten pic limit here is where it all used to happen.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/TimeToMakeAmmo/0F34F7DD-6A2A-414A-A303-E769546CE063-5569-000003D50A578D6A_zps512beed0.jpg

[Mark Daiute]

not much to go on but it gives you some idea. If I get better photos I'll post them



114196114197

[madsenshooter]

Unusual pot there Mark. The Electro Melter. Nice stack of 311284s there. I'd take some pics of my setup, but I don't think you'd like seeing the mess. I have a homemade bench under there somewhere!

[Mark Daiute]

It was one year ago this week that I got the Electro Melter for 40 bucks at a gunshow. Wow. Hundreds of pounds of alloy later what can I say but wow! If you eve find one grab it! 50 lbs of alloy at a whack.

[McE1911]

I am a casting virgin, hard to say I am a virgin at anything at 54 years old.

I am in the process of investigating setting up to cast in low volumes ( 100 or so at a run ) and I envision casting in 45-70, .30 rifle, and .38 revolver / pistol. Although I own guns in many calibers, these seem to be the candidates. I could add .40 pistol, but I digress.

Like many noobs I am contemplating Lee, Lyman, and RCBS smelters, but what I would like to see and hear about is how you are setup.

I live in South Florida, and casting in my garage would be in 90 F heat, not ideal. I might want to setup outside on the north end of my house. I have nothing really to start with, except guns, and ammo.

Please school me and the others that would like to see your bench.

D

That makes the two of us BigDanS!
I also 'am a virgin from Miami who's looking to get into casting. Have you made any progress on what to get or how to set up yet?

[Bullwolf]

I often cast smaller batches of boolits. It's easier on the old body, and still gives me a decent sample group to test a new boolit, new lube, or to work up a new powder load with.

Not very high tech, I am simply casting on the picnic table, and dropping boolits on a soft old towel. I set my hand held pot up on a fire brick. I have glued a wooden handle holder together, and have a piece of old plywood on the table top so as not to scar the surface. My mould and ingot pre-warmer is an old skill saw blade set on top of an inexpensive electric hot plate.

Here's a small batch of 100 or wad cutters I cast during a cool evening.
114930

A photo of my electric hotplate mould pre-warmer oven.
(Thanks to JohnB_in_Glencoe for the handle idea)
It works great when there's a breeze or wind blowing while casting.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=114714&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1409027142

A container of 250 or so Lee 358-158-RF. Also cast using my little Palmer Hot Pot.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=114679&d=1409181929&thumb=1

When I cast in small batches like this, I often use something called an Electric Ladle. Mine is a Palmer brand Hot Pot. I found this larger better image online, of a Palmer Hot Pot.
http://thmb.inkfrog.com/thumbn/relicman30/HOT_1_001.jpg=800

There are also a few other threads on Cast Boolits about their use. A quick search turned up this one.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?120640-Casting-Boolits-%28Bullets%29-With-A-Hot-Pot-2

Basically the Palmer Hot Pot is a small hand held melting pot that you pour from like a giant electric plug in ladle. The downside is that it only holds a few lbs of molten alloy at a time, and requires a much smaller ingot.

I've found that mini muffin ingots work well with the Hot Pot, so I often custom blend up mini muffin ingots just to use with the Palmer Hot Pot.

I like to smelt my lead into ingots using a gas, or a propane Coleman camp stove and a cast iron pot. Here's a few images of me making a small batch of mini-muffin ingots on the Coleman stove from Dental X-ray lead backing film foils.

Melting down some X-ray lead foil backings. I flux and reduce with sawdust and paraffin. (I also stir & scrape the mixture with a dry hardwood stick)
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_187904f3b0b713d881.jpghttp://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_187904f3b0caa9eb68.jpg


Some mini-ingots for my small hand held electric pot. The ingots sure drop easily from my old rusty mini muffin pan.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_187904f3b0cbeecffd.jpghttp://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_187904f3b0de87c371.jpg

Finished product: A handful of mini muffin ingots. Shown next to a few larger bottom of the pot ingots.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_187904f3b0eaeb722d.jpghttp://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_187904f3b0ec2500c9.jpg






- Bullwolf

[BigDanS]

That makes the two of us BigDanS!
I also 'am a virgin from Miami who's looking to get into casting. Have you made any progress on what to get or how to set up yet?

Not yet... I have acquired a 5 gallon bucket of wheel weights I am sorting through.

D

[McE1911]

Due to where i live in the city, I think i will have to buy some clean ingots instead. Not sure i will be able to smelt any wheel weights eventhough i have a pretty big backyard & a garage.

[el34]

Due to where i live in the city, I think i will have to buy some clean ingots instead. Not sure i will be able to smelt any wheel weights eventhough i have a pretty big backyard & a garage.

Got a BBQ grill? The sideburner works great with a Walmart 6qt stewpot, $6.97. Lay out muffin pans/ingot molds on the grill, fill 'em with a SS soup ladle.

116407

[1911KY]

I have been messing around with my hot plate and smelting just outside of my garage. If you get a pot with a base the size of the hot plate burner then this is doable. Do it at night when everyone is asleep, no fume complaints!

[dragon813gt]

Got a BBQ grill? The sideburner works great with a Walmart 6qt stewpot, $6.97. Lay out muffin pans/ingot molds on the grill, fill 'em with a SS soup ladle.

116407

I would not recommend this if you still use the grill to prepare food. It's general practice to keep lead processing away from food production. There is all types of nasty garbage that comes along w/ wheel weights. I want that around food production even less than lead.

[el34]

I would not recommend this if you still use the grill to prepare food. It's general practice to keep lead processing away from food production. There is all types of nasty garbage that comes along w/ wheel weights. I want that around food production even less than lead.

Copy that!
Now to figure out how to keep bird poop from getting too close :?

[Mike W1]

Here's mine. Stacked pots with PID on bottom one. Fan box to cool sprue cutter (as needed, it's switched), removeable catch boxes for the sprues and drips from spout. Padded sloping shelves to catch bullets that eventually dump into boxes in the rear. Upper pot is reversed and has spacers to nicely clear bottom pot which can slide back for filling. Upper is lag screwed to unit, can't tip. Lower pot has smooth aluminum floor spacered to get proper clearance and rounded front lets you sweep the drips into that little catch box. LED to light up the sprue holes for visibility. Aluminum warming shelves on both pots to preheat the moulds and ingots to add to the top pot while casting. Everything there and minimum shuffling.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u310/Mike4245/setup-9-14_zps37fadab2.jpg

[el34]

Mike that is a sweet rig! Lot of thought and energy went into it.

[Catshooter]

Sweet well thought out set up Mike.


Cat