Another first time caster and first post.

[brokeasajoke]

Hello all from WNC. Sniffed around here for years so thought I'd finally join. Wasn't much into casting my own but did shoot lead from places like SNS and Acme. Neighbor gave me a plumber's lead pot so I thought I would put it to some use. Mold is a Lee 158 .358 and the sizer is lee as well. Right now I'm getting about 50/50 usable bullets. Still learning. I need a lead pot temp gauge for sure. Got mold too hot first go round and 2nd time took a while to get it up and sprue plate bolt came loose causing flashing on base of bullets(is that the correct term?). Alloy is 100% wheel weights, clip-ons and stick-on. Mold takes several raps to get bullets to fall out so I need to address that and I know there is a thread on that here. Beveled the edge of my sprue plate especially the corner that was scratching the top of aluminum. As of now casting is a novelty. Got a $4.25 toaster oven from a resale store and going to order Smoke's powder coat this week. Thanks.

[Wag]

Nice looking bullets there.

Beware. They multiply!

--Wag--

[brokeasajoke]

Thanks. Sizes seem to drop in the .362 range and weight is 161.7-162.5 with some around 164gr.

[sigep1764]

Keep going! It won’t be a novelty for long! There are gonna be some rub marks on the top of the mold, don’t worry. Just make sure there is no gouging. Most of us here use synthetic two stroke oil on a qtip to lube the pivot points and the bottom of the spruce plate and the block pins. That’ll keep everything in good working order.

[Misery-Whip]

My 358-158-rf runs heavy too. Everything looks good to me. Keep going.

[dverna]

It is a useful and possibly necessary skill to develop. Stay with it.

[oley55]

Welcome to the forum and the boolit casting addiction. If nothing else recycling cast boolits is so much easier than pulling boolits and fixing reloading errors. LOL

Good on you for including your general location/area. There is a good chance a local caster may PM you and invite you over for a casting session or two.

[brokeasajoke]

I am using 2stroke oil for the lube on pins, sprue bottom and pivot. I'm considering a Rowell ladle as well when I pick up a thermometer. Found a cheap probe type cooking thermometer on Amazon that goes up to 700 for like $12

[oley55]

I am using 2stroke oil for the lube on pins, sprue bottom and pivot. I'm considering a Rowell ladle as well when I pick up a thermometer. Found a cheap probe type cooking thermometer on Amazon that goes up to 700 for like $12

700 will likely not be high enough, sometimes conditions require 725-750 degrees. Although I now use a pid controller on electric Lee pots, I have this one for "this n that" and smelting batches of wheel weights: https://www.amazon.com/PIC-B3B6-TT-C...2486819&sr=8-9

$18.43 for last one in stock, but be warned this thing is pretty large with a 3" dial and 1/2" pipe threads. I made an adjustable older out of steel Tees and a lead filled bottom base to hold it. It is also adjustable for a true set temp (calibrated via boiling water).

[brokeasajoke]

Would I be good just laying this on the side of the cast pot or should I make up something to suspend it over the pot keeping dial away from propane heat coming up sides of pot?

[pworley1]

It looks like you are off to a good start. Keep it up.

[GregLaROCHE]

Looks like you’re on the right track. Practice helps and molds tend to work better after they have been used for a while.

[Walter Laich]

Would I be good just laying this on the side of the cast pot or should I make up something to suspend it over the pot keeping dial away from propane heat coming up sides of pot?

keep the dial away from direct heat. I made a a stand off holder out of sheet metal. doesn't touch the sides or bottom. that way you're getting temp of lead without any errors

PIDs are great but you'll still need a dial one to calibrate

and welcome to the fun and games

[oley55]

Would I be good just laying this on the side of the cast pot or should I make up something to suspend it over the pot keeping dial away from propane heat coming up sides of pot?

sending a PM

[brokeasajoke]

Just ordered some powder coat from smoke4320 so I'm gonna try this shake and bake thing.

[brokeasajoke]

Haven't checked my die for leading, but sizing with Windex seemed to work pretty well since I'm trying to keep lube off of them for powder coat. I may have read about that trick here. Rubbing alcohol worked but I'd
Swear Windex is slicker pushing the bullets through.

[GregLaROCHE]

Haven't checked my die for leading, but sizing with Windex seemed to work pretty well since I'm trying to keep lube off of them for powder coat. I may have read about that trick here. Rubbing alcohol worked but I'd
Swear Windex is slicker pushing the bullets through.

Why don’t you PC them before sizing?

[brokeasajoke]

Should I? I just figured sizing would be easier in 2 steps. I don't know what I'm doing so I'm up for suggestions. They drop at about .362 non coated. Thanks.

[sigep1764]

Those are pretty fat already before coating. Sizing in two steps is prolly best. What are you gonna use to shoot these? 38 Special or 9mm or???

[John Guedry]

Lots of good information to be had here. Most folks here happy to share with any new guys.