Melting lead pot

[mountainman]

Thanks for all your information

[Daryl]

This is my second Lee bottom pour pot, converted as I noted on the first page of this thread, to dipping.




This is my first Lee 10 pound pot still used at that time as a bottom pour.  About 12 years ago it burned out and I replaced it with the pot in the top picture, a Lee 20 pound bottom pour pot converted to dipping.

[snapper]

Daryl

your balls are so mean you got to beat them with a stick?

I picked a good day to go to the junk dealer a few weeks ago.  He had a bunch of pure lead pipe that was used for electrically sheathing.  Got 250 lbs for around 70 cents a pound.  I did not pay attention to his math until I got home.  We had agreed at 75 cents.  Just goes to show you to wash your hands when handling lead.

Now I have around 600 lbs if lead, with over 1,000 bullets cast and a few hundred RB. 

Zombies, not worried.

Fleener

[Daryl]

I wear heavy lined leather work gloves when casting.  I open the sprue plate with my right hand, holding the mould in my left.  The hammer handle, now been used since the lat 1970's is for tappng the handle hinge to knock out bullets or round balls that do not drop freely from the mould when it's opened.

[snapper]

Next time you cast, take the hammer handle and push it on the corner of the mold when you open it.  That will usually cause the stuck bullet or round ball to drop out without tapping anything.

Fleener

[Daryl]

Next time you cast, take the hammer handle and push it on the corner of the mold when you open it.  That will usually cause the stuck bullet or round ball to drop out without tapping anything.

Fleener

So that it makes the block click - as in a slight jarring? Yeah - that might work - will try it - minus 10 still - too cold to cast balls - gotta wait for spring.  I need some .50's for the Winchester as well.

[snapper]

works great for the conicals. 

I dont tap on the handles at all anymore.  Just a little push on the corner when opening and the bullet drops out.

Fleener

[Daryl]

TKS for the hint. As I spray all my blocks with MS Moly bullet coating, most do drop free- but a couple sets of blocks need the tap/tap/tap on the hinge. I will try the push method. Been casting balls since 1972 & bullets since 1973.TKs for the tip.

[mountainman]

Thanks for the extra pictures