Suggestions for Lyman # 2 casting temperature

[Nimbus3000]

Anyone have a suggestion on a good starting temperature for casting Lyman # 2 into 225 grain 45 round nose mold? Just getting ready to start doing my first casting and not sure where to start temp at. Thanks.

[Yodogsandman]

I'd start at 725*F. The "rule of thumb" is 100*F over the point where your alloy melts and turns to full liquid state.

[bobthenailer]

I run my pot @ 650 to 700 degrees , using from a 2 up to a 8 cavity mould with usually a 8 to 10 second sprue cut off time . i use a mounted to the bench stop watch to keep track of the time.
when using Lee moulds i usually run @700 to 750 degrees.

[dale2242]

Most of my molds like it about 750....dale

[Larry Gibson]

Anyone have a suggestion on a good starting temperature for casting Lyman # 2 into 225 grain 45 round nose mold? Just getting ready to start doing my first casting and not sure where to start temp at. Thanks.

I use 725 degrees for #2 alloy with a Mag20 bottom pour pot. I keep the Lyman thermometer in the pot while casting and maintain the temp by tweaking the temp adjustment and adding alloy and the sprues. I also keep the sprue plate 1/4 - 1/2" from the spout and adjust the spout stop so the pour is fast and gets into the cavity quickly and pour a generous sprue. I then simply adjust my cast tempo so the mould stays just hot enough for excellent bullets w/o frosting them.

Not all thermometers or furnace adjustments are calibrated so you might have to tweak +/- for best results. Many use a PID to maintain constant alloy temp but with the above method I've not found it necessary. Just keep in mind the alloy temp will fluctuate as the level of alloy drops or when you add alloy. By monitoring the alloy level, the alloy temp and adjusting your casting tempo it's not hard to cast excellent bullets, especially with a quality ternary alloy like #2.

Larry Gibson

[Nimbus3000]

Thanks to all for the help. I have built my pot to be controlled by PID.132796

[Yodogsandman]

That's an impressive setup! If it were me though, I'd move the PID up and away from the immediate casting area a few feet, for more room. You really don't need to monitor the PID all that much except as Larry's pointed out, when adding alloy and sprues. A hot plate to preheat the mold to about +/- 400*F would really help too.

[bhn22]

I mostly cast at 750+, but always under 800. There is no one temp for me because I cast with a large number of different moulds. I tend to run a bit hotter on 4 cavity aluminum, and close to 750 on 4 cavity iron. I keep a damp microfiber sponge sitting on an old license plate to help cool the sprue plates when needed. The sprue plates seem to stay hotter than the blocks on most moulds, especially aluminum.

[Budzilla 19]

Plus one for the comments about the lead level in your pot. bhn22, I totally agree. I stopped having problems when I let the pot go to 750*, also sped up my casting cadence so aluminum molds stayed hot seemed to help too. Cast 300+ .30 cals on Sunday with maybe 10 or eleven rejects after the temp got to 750+.Just my 2 cents.

[Nimbus3000]

I looked at several options for the control box but settled on this since I will be mounting the casting bench to a rolling cabinet. The cabinet will also have a toaster oven and powder coating box on it. The oven will be set next to the casting area so that I can use the same PID to control the oven. Next to the oven will be an enclosed box with window for spraying powder coating. It is hard to see but on the left of the pot is a mold warming shelf that sets just above the pot.

[SSGOldfart]

Thanks to all for the help. I have built my pot to be controlled by PID.132796
Set it@723.5 and give it a few pours to be sure your mold is up to temp,and enjoy it, casting not how many you can make its more how many prefect boolits you can make

[Defcon-One]

I am with the majority here. 725 Deg F. If I go much higher, I get too much frosting. Fill-out is excellent, cooling is almost instanateous and there are no other issues. I use two cavity molds exclusively.

DC-1

[jmort]

680 degrees +/-