Casting Tip

[Al Bear]

For those of you who are relatively new to the casting world, you may find that molten lead doesn’t fill the mould consistently. You may see that the bearing bands are not filled equally. If that’s your case then try this: when the lead pools up on the sprue cutter, try tapping your mould on your table top. Tap it gently (otherwise you’ll have a mess) and before it hardens (otherwise it won’t work). This will overcome the surface tension of the molten lead and force it more deeply into the mould’s grooves.

 

[theshootist]

I've also read you can lower the surface tension and fill the mold better by adding a touch of tin, and of course keeping the mold at a warm enough temp.

 

[Helka]

I had that problem and started to add 2% (of total weight) of pewter (tin) to the pot and that problem vanished

 

[jethunter]

Most casting issues are heat related. Soft lead needs more heat to flow and fill out than antimonial lead in the same mold. Run the mold hotter, and/or use some tin

 

[fwm]

What temperature do you run your pot.

 

[Al Bear]

Dunno. I use a Lee pot on a small propane burner. I heat the mould with a propane torch while the lead is heating up.

What temperature do you run your pot.

 

[Lionel]

I have a bunch of 1oz fishing weights that I filled with 50%lead and 50% tin.
If I'm having trouble wih mold fillout, then I just add another fishing weight. Onow or two usually does the trick.
And, to prevent and expensive mistake, I clipped all the loops off the weights, No way I can accidentally loose/use
them if I ever go fishing

 

[Dogleg]

I heat my smoked moulds by floating them on the molten lead until the lead drops away cleanly, then cast a couple bullets or mould fulls while heating a second mould the same way. I usually don’t even look at the first ones, just discard them with the sprues. It’s easier to toss them than to sort the inevitable first bad ones out later. When the second mould is up to heat I alternately fill, set down, pick up, open and fill with 2 moulds at a time until the pot is empty. I do use a bit of tin, or a lot for BPCR bullets.

 

[trevj]

Dunno. I use a Lee pot on a small propane burner. I heat the mould with a propane torch while the lead is heating up.

You'll really like the difference that having an electric pot makes, IMO.

I cast a lot of heavy fishing weights (10-18 ounce pyramids) and use a steel pot over a Coleman stove for that, but they really don't need that much care in the making, just volume.

I have an old Saeco pot with a thermostat, as well as a K Type Thermocouple probe that goes on a $10-on sale at PA, meter, and it makes a huge difference, being able to know that the pot is back up to temp (after adding material, ferinstance) as well as being able to see that the temp is raised or lowered when an adjustment is made.