So, I decided tonight to bite the boolit!
I had some scrounged range lead, and tried to smelt it down, and then cast some boolits for my first time!
I used a Coleman propane camp stove, and a old cast aluminum pressure cooker pot (no lid - $0.25 at yard sale!)
I skimmed off the jackets, and most of the dross, I used part of a crayon . . . then skimmed again and again, and again! I cast a bunch just to get the Lee TL358 SWC up to temp, and played around with it trying to get the hang of pouring from a spoon . . . I also applied Bullshops Spue lube, then I dumped everything back in the pot and here is what I made . . . I threw some back in the pot, as they were obvious rejects . . .the four on the back row are ones I was trying to make bigger to be used for slugging my barrels . . .If I have to use them, I'll just trim off the "ears" or whatever they are "officially" called!
My "keepers" Do you think they look OK? Or should I practice more?
My rejects, mostly to cold . . .
Here are my "left overs" am I skimming off too much dross? Near the end I was getting the gold ayer on top, which I now understand was that the pot was too hot! Next time I'll turn it down some . . . I only noticed the gold color after I transfered to a stainless steel pan, so I thought that had something to do with it, but it was a lot smaller pan, with the same fire under it!
I started out with 7lbs 2.5oz of jacketed bullets, and ended up with 5lbs 0.5oz of lead . . .is that about right?