Lead melter
05-20-2008, 08:11 PM
As some of you know, i have been having a lot of trouble with a new Lyman 314299 mold. The problems and trial/error solutions have been multitudinous [50 cent word there] and I would guess I cast, melted, and re-cast nearly 500 boolits before deciding to send the mold back.
I also recently started to flux/stir with a pine dowel rod. I read it here and figured it was worth a try. The rod charred and small pieces break off when stirring.
Now to tie the two together! While casting all those boolits from the bad mold, I would simply dump the faulty ones back in the pot with lube and gas checks attached, stir and cast again. I never once removed any slag, dross, or whatever you wish to call it. It just built up more and more.
What I noticed was that the boolits kept getting progressively better in appearance with no 'trash' visible in the sides or noses.
After deciding to send the mold back, I cast 100 of the Lee C312-185-1R in my mold which has been beagled to cast .313"-.315". These are the best looking and most consistant I have yet cast. A sample averaged less than one grain variance with final weight at 178 grains.
Could the repetitive fluxing and melting with the pine dowel have cleaned up the alloy this much? Maybe the dross layer on top kept impurities at a minimum?
This is a 5-year old Lee 10lb bottom pour pot, not cleaned beforehand.
I'd like to hear of other results akin to these, or opinions on the matter.
I also recently started to flux/stir with a pine dowel rod. I read it here and figured it was worth a try. The rod charred and small pieces break off when stirring.
Now to tie the two together! While casting all those boolits from the bad mold, I would simply dump the faulty ones back in the pot with lube and gas checks attached, stir and cast again. I never once removed any slag, dross, or whatever you wish to call it. It just built up more and more.
What I noticed was that the boolits kept getting progressively better in appearance with no 'trash' visible in the sides or noses.
After deciding to send the mold back, I cast 100 of the Lee C312-185-1R in my mold which has been beagled to cast .313"-.315". These are the best looking and most consistant I have yet cast. A sample averaged less than one grain variance with final weight at 178 grains.
Could the repetitive fluxing and melting with the pine dowel have cleaned up the alloy this much? Maybe the dross layer on top kept impurities at a minimum?
This is a 5-year old Lee 10lb bottom pour pot, not cleaned beforehand.
I'd like to hear of other results akin to these, or opinions on the matter.