- Location
- Under a rock in sw Ontario
I heard that there are dangers to casting even outside in a well ventalated area,how bad is the risk,If I'm casting,any precausions I should take
Casting dangers
- Thread starter YoungGunz67
- Start date
handofzeus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Trout Creekish Ontario.
Coverup!!! All it takes is a drop of rain or bird poop (if you cast outside without a roof) and most common and nasty because of the heat and obvious proximity.....drops of perspiration! Try to never be directly over your pot. A drop of moisture in a fully heated pot and you'll be covered in molten metal.
Drop of sweat will only be an issue if it gets under the lead. One should be adequately concerned but not excessively frightened. People have been doing this since before light bulbs...
Most of the tensile ferries come out when there is moisture in the stuff people put in the pot. Be it wet wheel weights or wet saw dust.
Most of the tensile ferries come out when there is moisture in the stuff people put in the pot. Be it wet wheel weights or wet saw dust.
Just wear the armour you wear at the range and a self-contained breathing apparatus while you watch someone else do your casting - from behind a tree.
In fairness, not a poor question, but it will come down to facts, myths and lies, and how to wade through them, balanced against your personal risk tolerance.
I've "smelted" over two tons of wheelweight and cast in my basement, and I'm ok - right? Right?
In fairness, not a poor question, but it will come down to facts, myths and lies, and how to wade through them, balanced against your personal risk tolerance.
I've "smelted" over two tons of wheelweight and cast in my basement, and I'm ok - right? Right?
As others have said, welding gloves, and ideally a face shield and mask if there isn't enough wind to take away the fumes while refining raw lead.
If your just casting with clean lead then gloves are good enough. A face shield or goggles are probably a good idea.
If your just casting with clean lead then gloves are good enough. A face shield or goggles are probably a good idea.
Boolitcaster
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island
I have been casting at least once a week for the past 3 years. I melt roof flashings, range scrap and wheel weights, which is the most hazardous activity. I was burned fairly badly when I added more range scrap to a melted pot of lead. I suspect a jacketed bullet with water trapped in it exploded. I no longer add scrap to hot lead and have had not further incidents. Melting scrap is also the more dangerous activity due to the oxide build up the scrap, which can be transferred to food and drink and be ingested or breathed in. After a melting session I always change my clothes and have a shower before relaxing on the couch or eating or touching anything that could cause cross contamination.
As long as temps are kept down to a reasonable level. fumes off of clean lead are close to zero. I do all my melting out of doors and have had my blood checked for lead each year. There has been no change in my lead levels since I started casting.
As long as temps are kept down to a reasonable level. fumes off of clean lead are close to zero. I do all my melting out of doors and have had my blood checked for lead each year. There has been no change in my lead levels since I started casting.
That's probably the best advice, don't add scrap lead to already molten lead. That's how water will get under the surface of the lead. A drop of water or sweat from your face will not likely get under the surface of the lead so it just boils off quickly.
Whenever I do my melting and casting I try and have a crossbreeze to blow the fumes away from me. If the wind is from behind, or in front of me, I don't bother melting.
And for the big melts, I dump in what needs melting and then go do some yard work away from the immediate area and just check periodically on how the melt is coming along.
I also have a lid for my dutch oven, made from the top of an old propane cylinder, which keeps the tinsel fairy contained. Usually
And for the big melts, I dump in what needs melting and then go do some yard work away from the immediate area and just check periodically on how the melt is coming along.
I also have a lid for my dutch oven, made from the top of an old propane cylinder, which keeps the tinsel fairy contained. Usually
Lots of good advice in the other replies. When lead 'vaporizes' it is an oxide fume, like welding fume, and can be filtered as a particle. Use a half face respirator and a P100 filter. Our company uses the 3M half face respirators with the 2097 pancake cartridge, but there are many options available. You can ensure it is protecting you by performing your seal checks:
https://w ww.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9781
Info about toxicology and PPE for working with lead:
http://w ww.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0368.html
Not your exact process, but discusses sources of lead pollutants:
https://w ww.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/leadsmelter/refiningcasting/casting.html
This. Don't just dump a bunch of fresh scrap into the melt pool. I got lucky that I blinked faster than the lead could get there. Still a scary minute picking lead off your eyelid, hoping you closed your eyes in time. Though I find that if you ladle fresh scrap on top of the pool, instead of dumping it, it's ok. Like others have said, the steam explosion happens when you force moisture under the surface of the molten lead.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Clearly, it's safe enough, I was one of the kids who kept lead pellets in their mouth when hunting small game, and most folks except my wife believe I'm normal. This said, I no longer cast, though I used to do a lot of it, there is just a lot more lead exposure in casting, even on the firing end when actually using the rounds and shooting cast.
Apparently you have been sticking knives in sockets as a child...and your still OK.
Maybe you are just a super hero and stuff does not affect you as it does others
(Insert smilies).
That picture could have been me - very curious and more than a bit foolhardy, even for a kid back then. Heck, back then an eight year old kid could buy explosives at the corner store - we called them firecrackers. Did you ever wonder what a firecracker would do if lit and then put in a glass jar with the lid closed? Kids wear helmets on tricycles now.
Today I take a very pragmatic approach to casting reloading and shooting. I seek to understand the risks, and then decide how much risk I am willing to take.
This old dude does it pretty much the same way I do, except I wear long sleeves.
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