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- Thread starter Milsurp26
- Start date
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
A supply of lead is the crucial element to casting. It's nice to have some tin, and hardening elements such as antimony as well. If you can't establish a cost effective supply of these basic materials, I question whether or not casting is worth getting into.
Most commentary on sourcing lead was written 20 or more years ago, when anyone could walk into a tire shop and get a bucket of old wheel weights without much effort, and little or any cost. That situation has changed greatly.
Once you have the lead, then you need a heated pot, moulds and handles, some heat resistant gloves, and a carbon-rich material to use as what casters call a flux. I use sawdust, some people like to use wax, or commercial fluxes. It basically protects the hot lead from oxygen in the air.
Most commentary on sourcing lead was written 20 or more years ago, when anyone could walk into a tire shop and get a bucket of old wheel weights without much effort, and little or any cost. That situation has changed greatly.
Once you have the lead, then you need a heated pot, moulds and handles, some heat resistant gloves, and a carbon-rich material to use as what casters call a flux. I use sawdust, some people like to use wax, or commercial fluxes. It basically protects the hot lead from oxygen in the air.
I started casting with a cast iron pot over a propane burner. I now have two electric furnaces I use, different alloys in each. Both furnaces are bottom pour. I still use the propane burner and pot to cast my bullets for black powder cartridge and muzzleloaders. I use a Lyman ladle to fill the moulds.
The furnace has a valve at the bottom. You lift a lever and it opens, also adjustable for flow rate.
Butcherbill
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
You need the drive to become a lead farmer most of all lol, all the gear you need to melt lead into clean ingots, molds and melting pots is easy to buy.
You have to be able to scrounge for wheel weights, dive belt weights, etc etc anywhere you can. It’s part of the fun.
You ain’t a lead scrounger until you have walked across parking lots and pickup wheel weights.
I prefer powder coating over alox as it's less messing to a degree. Bullets look cooler lol. Go to Higginson's. They are a Lee dealer and you can get the Lee Pot IV bottom pour for about $120 and shipping is very reasonable. Get you sizing dies there while your at it.
Butcherbill
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
The wife always laughs at me when I do this, or when I’m out of town working and come home with multiple 5gal pails of wheel weights. Find it whenever and wherever you can is how I see it.
Powder coating is the way to go.
It's a much cheaper setup, giving superior results with a gentle learning curve.
Try to find a local caster who can show you the ropes.
It will be time well spent in avoiding aggravation down the road.
First rule, avoid the tinsel fairy.
Whereabouts are you?
It's a much cheaper setup, giving superior results with a gentle learning curve.
Try to find a local caster who can show you the ropes.
It will be time well spent in avoiding aggravation down the road.
First rule, avoid the tinsel fairy.
Whereabouts are you?
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Yes, whereabouts are you? as with all things reloading associated a close by mentor that has "been there done that" can save a fistfull of dollars and casting is one of the things that folks have been trying to perfect for 150 yrs and frustration kills a lot of enthusiasm for the operation before a lot of people realize any success.
i will offer up two things that made casting a very viable part of my shooting world....the other casting bible forum- Castboolits is invaluable to a starter...plan on reading for a few hours but will save days of frustration
...and Powder coating make it all worthwhile, almost daily I thank Augie Doggy for introducing me to PC'ing over 10 yrs ago...it just make the whole operation worth while.
i will offer up two things that made casting a very viable part of my shooting world....the other casting bible forum- Castboolits is invaluable to a starter...plan on reading for a few hours but will save days of frustration
...and Powder coating make it all worthwhile, almost daily I thank Augie Doggy for introducing me to PC'ing over 10 yrs ago...it just make the whole operation worth while.
