pictures of your " Casting Station " ???

[LAKEMASTER]

my daughter is crawling around, trying to stand...........

ever since she was born, ive been paranoid about her safety and WORSE-CASE-SCENARIO situations.

last night i started mocking up my new " lead station " in the garage, its the area where my 1500 lbs of lead sits. i mounted my lee production Pot to a commercial size baking seet ( ruined by chemicals) and im going to screw it to my bench top

my goal is to never have the cord grabbed or tugged and the pot tip over.

before long, ill have my exhaust fan set up and take it for the first trst run.



anyway, do any of you have pictures of where you cast your boolits ?

[Mike W1]

http://i.imgur.com/19suSGb.jpg

[pete501]

Mike
The pot above the pot is genius. You can pre-melt ingots above and transfer molten lead to your casting pot below and never have to wait for remelt.

[454PB]

I suggest you place your casting station where she never has access. Kids are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. Having a toddler walking/crawling on the floor below a casting pot is probably not a good idea.

[lightman]

I suggest you place your casting station where she never has access. Kids are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. Having a toddler walking/crawling on the floor below a casting pot is probably not a good idea.

I'll second this. I would not let children around the bench or on the floor. I would never let them get near the pot full of melted lead. Just to much risk with really bad consequences.

[rancher1913]

mike you are a sick twisted fellow for that photo, puts my little rinky dink operation to shame.

[bessemer20]

184884
This has been the project for this winter.

[rototerrier]

Not pretty, but gets the job done.

184887

[LAKEMASTER]

I suggest you place your casting station where she never has access. Kids are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. Having a toddler walking/crawling on the floor below a casting pot is probably not a good idea.

she never will.

i guess my real question refers to " how to you have your casting pots set up "

my reloading area wont be accessible nor will the lead itself be reachable

[OS OK]

193164

It doesn't take a lot of room to cast, a place for sprue cuts and boolits in the pull out trays beneath the pots. A small pot for very soft and one for higher pressure Pb. Over on the corner my lube-sizer mtd on a heater on this metal table.
Under the top on the first shelf all my molds and temp. probes a box of parafin and a few extra trays.
Then on the floor below I stack all my various blended ingots. Not a large area but entirely adequate.
There is a large box fan I turn on and aim at the garage door to make a good draft without putting undue air directly on a pot.
My shop has to double duty as a wood shop, metal shop, handloading and casting shop...then general repairs too but all has an area and I can't allow one to overly encroach on the other or it quickly becomes chaos.
Basically it is 6 pounds of stuff in a 4 pound box.


184888

[JWT]

OS OK, that nut on your hotplate is brilliant. I'm copying that one.

[454PB]

184924

[Mike W1]

I'm always copying someone else's good idea but first I've got to know what the nut on the sawblade top of the hot plate does. Have not grasped that one yet.

[JWT]

I'm always copying someone else's good idea but first I've got to know what the nut on the sawblade top of the hot plate does. Have not grasped that one yet.

Allows for the removable hollow point pin for a Lyman mold to be heated.

[RogerDat]

First I thought meant nut on left hand pot, looked like there might be an oversized nut to add weight. Then I saw the hollow point pin on the hot plate (just as the post said hot plate, duh!)

I cast in garage and reload in basement.

Casting is on a steel welding table with angle iron legs. I sometimes set a pair of folding saw horses with a plywood top for a side table. Shelf behind it has electric melter on it. Along with a few ingot molds, box of clean shavings from planer for flux

I worry about the dog & hot lead or picking up lead so I try to block her from the area. I wouldn't want her licking an ingot and if she steps on any of the drips and spatter she will probably groom it off her feet with her tongue.

I removed the riser that made for lest stooping or bending and added a tall stool, so I can cast seated. Back is not happy with standing, stooping, or repeated bending.
184941

The below is the clean version. I use a small C press on the right side for sizing or gas checks. Since the picture added ammo boxes on floor under bench for bulk cast bullet storage, moves up when being lubed or sized. Now days that shelf on the right and floor in front of it is only loaded ammo. Bulk plastic Plano ammo boxes, cheaper than steel and hold hundreds of rounds in baggies.

184942

Old factory rat I guess. Brass on the far left, with powder and lead for assembly in the middle at work station and then it moves to the right as finished stuff :-)

[runfiverun]

my bench top is about 46" off the floor.
I added 3/4" pieces of wood under the pots so that the casting part is just below eye level.
the cords run to the back of the bench and down through a hole right to the plug.

[lightman]

I guess I misunderstood the question. No pictures, but I cast on my shop table. My back likes for me to sit so I use an old stool. The top is 1/4 in steel plate on 2 X 2 sq tubing legs. I had the top broke, at a place that does that, so that there is a turndown on the front edge and a turn-up at the back. I used to use a metal gun cleaning case, opened up, with a folded towel across it for a landing zone. Bullets went on one side and sprues on the other side. I seem to have lost it so I built a shallow wooden box to use with the same towel arrangement. I heat my mold on the lip of the pot but will soon be using a hot plate.

[georgerkahn]

184952Here is what I put together. Two notes are: 1/ This was/is the "clean & new" set-up shortly after I put it together; and 2/ It is pretty much the same, now, only real changes being an inverted can sits atop the mould warming hot plate to create an oven effect; and, I added an office-type incandescent lamp to the table. I keep unit in garage, and roll it to just under door to cast, and specially, bion, on bright sunny days -- more light on what I'm doing on the "dark side of the bench" (contrast?) necessitated this lamp.

Works well for me....
geo

[OS OK]

I like this idea George...that's a 'casting console' for sure! Roll her out there where the air can circulate and get with it...

[Ickisrulz]

My lead melter is in a little tray that will contain a spill and allows the spruces to be collected. It is made from a 2x4 and plywood and lined with cement board. I drop bullets onto a towel. I use a ladle.

The power outlet is above the bench to prevent anyone from tangling in the cord and pulling it over.

Access is limited and I normally cast early on weekend mornings when the kids are still in bed.

The bench is extremely strong and cannot be knocked over or even disturbed if knocked.


184956

184957

[Mike W1]

Allows for the removable hollow point pin for a Lyman mold to be heated.

Never have even seen a HP mold, no wonder I didn't have a clue!

[OS OK]

I have a couple of those old molds, .38/.357 & .45, single cavity...about as slow as it gets in casting but, the HP's literally jump out of the molds when all is right in the kingdom...I think these are mid 30's vintage. I feel lucky to own them.

[Jal5]

I really like that table georgerkahn and may modify mine to copy some of that design. Thanks. Joe

[Pee Wee]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=170378&d=1466129507&thumb=1

I used an old steel Desk, I cast here and make my gas checks here. (The red container are filled with water) The drawers and peg board hold all tools essential to the task a hand. I'm retired so I don't have to worry about small children> and grandchildren are grown. It also serves as my brass cutting station. The big file drawer holds the harbor freight cutoff saw. There is a desk lamp mounted to it to the left and a large fan on top of the file cabinet that pushes out any smoke if it occurs.

[kmrra]

188920

Im just getting my casting room put together, almost done

[lightman]

I finally got around to taking and downloading pictures. This is my set-up. I often have a Buddy or two over to cast.


http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy164/PTheodo/IMG_1276.jpg (http://s788.photobucket.com/user/PTheodo/media/IMG_1276.jpg.html)

The table is heavy enough that it can't be turned over or collapse and the lead pot can't be jostled around. There are enough circuits behind the table to run several lead pots and hot plates so there are no cords in the way or running across the floor to trip on. The wooden box has a divider across the back to separate the good bullets from the sprues. The hot plate sits to the right side.

[shoot-n-lead]

I don't like casting inside...I have a rolling table that winds up wherever the best shade is...that depends on time of year and time of day...so, I don't have a picture to post.

[Drew P]

In Oregon the best time for casting is in the rain, so it's often and indoors lol. I've made improvements to the station lately but inspired by this thread greatly so I'll make some more before posting.
Curious that most of you don't water drop it seems?

[TCFAN]

My simple casting bench

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/TCintheOzarks/Cast%20Boolits/DSC_1624-rdy2prnt.jpg (http://s755.photobucket.com/user/TCintheOzarks/media/Cast%20Boolits/DSC_1624-rdy2prnt.jpg.html)

[3006guns]

my daughter is crawling around, trying to stand...........

ever since she was born, ive been paranoid about her safety and WORSE-CASE-SCENARIO situations.

I have no suggestions to offer since most have been covered very well already. No, the reason for my post is simple........I just wanted to publicly commend you for being a good father. Many of us are older now and have forgotten the concerns of being parents. I'm watching my 2 1/2 year old grand daughter these days, and the idea of her being hurt due to something I did scares me to death. As a result, I hover over her like a guardian angel.........just like you.

I salute you sir.

[Dadswickedammo]

Nutten fancy just finished building and stocking still unsure of press, super swag, powder meauser, case sizing, mounting locations. 191122

[lightman]

Nutten fancy just finished building and stocking still unsure of press, super swag, powder meauser, case sizing, mounting locations. 191122

Are you back on your feet? Hope you are better!

[Dadswickedammo]

Thank you for asking! The V.A. hospital took fine care of me. Not 100% yet still quickly tired but going to try the gym before work tomorrow.

[kmrra]

191155191156191157

Casting room is getting smaller with the addition of my radios, going to have to rethink that decision . and my smelting is done outside

[Reddirt62]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170320/82ea73b58fae52061cf921ae107e04fb.jpg

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[kyswede]

I cast in my basement reloading room. I have everything on a 3 shelf wire cart that I can roll out of the way when not being used. I have a Lee 10# pot feeding a Lee 20# pot.
191286

[therealhitman]

I take over the table and the south end of the back patio to cast before the family rises in the morning. Upside is it's under cover. Great from Spring til Fall and still doable in Winter. Downside is it all has to get set up and broken down every session.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l22/THEREALHITMAN/20170329_153730_resized.jpg

[RED333]

My little corner for casting, powder coating and what ever is needed. There is a power vent just above the table. Table came from a yard sale.
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac165/redintn/reloads/reload1_zpse1e7502d.jpg (http://s896.photobucket.com/user/redintn/media/reloads/reload1_zpse1e7502d.jpg.html)

[Kskybroom]

193120

[Dadswickedammo]

193127
So it's casting reloading and relaxing

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Not fancy and not clean and I'm after one thing when I cast production at a high rate!!!!!!!!!

With the exception of when I cast for my 45/70, I use multiple molds all hopefully of 4 or more cavities.

With the original poster's idea of one pot over another, that is the only way a bottom pour might keep up with my old open pot system.

A 40 - 45lb. pot over an old Coleman gas stove flat out gets er done and does so at the rate/volume of production I require.

When casting by myself and not for the 45/70 where I use a single 4 cavity 465gr mold, I will be running up to three molds and if I happen to be casting with a partner will up the number of molds to 4.

Once the molds are all up to temp, it is almost a none stop process with only short breaks to flux/skim the pot and add back the sprues and fresh ingots.

With this size pot and plenty of heat, I seldom need to stop casting and only then if I allowed the pot to get too low before adding more ingots.

May not be neat, but it is what it is, a system which allows me to cast a lot of bullets in a 2 - 3 hour casting session.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

193170193171193172

[luis7]

It´s mine.
Greetings from España.193643

[Echo]

I bought a work-bench from Harbor Freight, Son put it together for me when I was out of commission, and had an electrician run power from the box around the corner that originally ran the spa. All my stuff is not here, but with Tucson weather being what it is, casting on the patio is a pleasure - except for the occasional breeze. Monsoon rains (July & August) make things iffy, but generally No Drama. Plastic bowl in a drawer catches the loobed boolits from the Star...193744

[David2011]

Just the basics, a furnace and a hot plate. The drip tray is an automotive drip pan from Wal-Mart and it's sitting on a scrap of 1/2" sheetrock to protect the bench in the event of a big spill.

193855

David

[tward]

Just an outdoor setup, I only cast when the weather is good!194488

[juan916]

I cast on a concrete picnic table I made