Greg_R
06-16-2015, 06:15 AM
As I noted in another thread, I have been casting using a camp stove and a frying pan.
Fired up my new equipment, I used the Lee 10 pound bottom pour. I followed some advice I learned from the stickys plus some that was given to me directly in response to my questions. Thanks for the help! I'm sure I will need a lot more! Here is what I did/learned.
I used a baking sheet under the melter to catch the melt should I experience a "lead waterfall". The pot really did not leak, just a drop or two, but it's doubtful I will ever plug in the meter again without one in place. Kind of like my car insurance, I hope to never use it, but it's there if I need it!
I bought some Ester to use as mould lube. Been using permatex. Ester seems too thin compared to what I'm used too but it seemed to do a good job. I probably used too much of it to copensate. I will say that it did not take but a few casts and the sprue plate became very easy to move, almost like the screw became loose, but it was tight??? This was the second time I had used this particular mold.
I made a mess with the bottom pour! Had to learn to use a very light touch. Once I did, it became apparent that the bottom pour is way faster than a ladle!
I fluxed using a small piece of wax. I was prepared for smoke and flame. Got very little smoke, but a lot of flame that lasted for several minutes. Is this normal? Did I use too much wax? I used a piece about 1/4 inch square. It was colored red and, although I didn't realize it at the time, it was scented. It smelled good though, apple and cinnamon! Was this the reason for all the flame?
I will admit, I have never fluxed before. I once read that it was not necessary. Just skimmed off the wheel weight clips and started using it. Man, was my lead dirty, crud kept coming to the top of the melt. Had a hard time getting it out too because of the rod down through the pot. In retrospect, I should have just poured the pot out. There is a small amount of lead/crud in the bottom of my melter. Hope I have not hurt anything. I never noticed this when using a frying pan, I guess because I kept the melt stirred. ???
I cast probably 150 - 200 boolits. Lee 356-95-RF. I only melted about 1/2 the pot capacity or a little less. I had a very high rejection rate, probably close to 40%??? The first few casts to get the mold up to temperature are a given, then a lot of wrinkled boolits, Ester oil in the mold is my guess? The last 100 or so for the most part looked pretty good. I would say the bottom pour is close to twice as fast as the ladle, but my first thoughts are faster, but not as efficient, my reject rate was never that high with the ladle.
Fired up my new equipment, I used the Lee 10 pound bottom pour. I followed some advice I learned from the stickys plus some that was given to me directly in response to my questions. Thanks for the help! I'm sure I will need a lot more! Here is what I did/learned.
I used a baking sheet under the melter to catch the melt should I experience a "lead waterfall". The pot really did not leak, just a drop or two, but it's doubtful I will ever plug in the meter again without one in place. Kind of like my car insurance, I hope to never use it, but it's there if I need it!
I bought some Ester to use as mould lube. Been using permatex. Ester seems too thin compared to what I'm used too but it seemed to do a good job. I probably used too much of it to copensate. I will say that it did not take but a few casts and the sprue plate became very easy to move, almost like the screw became loose, but it was tight??? This was the second time I had used this particular mold.
I made a mess with the bottom pour! Had to learn to use a very light touch. Once I did, it became apparent that the bottom pour is way faster than a ladle!
I fluxed using a small piece of wax. I was prepared for smoke and flame. Got very little smoke, but a lot of flame that lasted for several minutes. Is this normal? Did I use too much wax? I used a piece about 1/4 inch square. It was colored red and, although I didn't realize it at the time, it was scented. It smelled good though, apple and cinnamon! Was this the reason for all the flame?
I will admit, I have never fluxed before. I once read that it was not necessary. Just skimmed off the wheel weight clips and started using it. Man, was my lead dirty, crud kept coming to the top of the melt. Had a hard time getting it out too because of the rod down through the pot. In retrospect, I should have just poured the pot out. There is a small amount of lead/crud in the bottom of my melter. Hope I have not hurt anything. I never noticed this when using a frying pan, I guess because I kept the melt stirred. ???
I cast probably 150 - 200 boolits. Lee 356-95-RF. I only melted about 1/2 the pot capacity or a little less. I had a very high rejection rate, probably close to 40%??? The first few casts to get the mold up to temperature are a given, then a lot of wrinkled boolits, Ester oil in the mold is my guess? The last 100 or so for the most part looked pretty good. I would say the bottom pour is close to twice as fast as the ladle, but my first thoughts are faster, but not as efficient, my reject rate was never that high with the ladle.