Help with lead source and casting/molds
- Thread starter dealwithit
- Start date
Thanks for the info. My Sawzall should do the job of cutting a block up into usable chunks. Given that I'm in Mission I'd probably have them send a block out to me as it's going to be "six of one and half a dozen of the other" in terms of cost and aggro to drive to Richmond and back.
Stuart
I found that my air hammer and flat chisel worked a lot better then the Sawzall.
outlan
if you get lead from the backstop at the range be very careful to allow it to dry out for a few weeks. My brother in law and myself were making ingots by melting down lead bullets that were spread out on the table so we know it was only lead and no jacketed bullets. As I was adding a ladle full of lead bullets to the pot there was an explosion and at least 1/2 the RCBS pot emptied on the ceiling of the garage, on my hand and arm and on my brother in laws head, we both still have the scars! His neighbor came running in as he heard the explosion from his yard and found us both laying on the floor wondering what the HELL happened. Not thrown by the explosion, just fell back from the shock of the lead hitting us? We had been doing this for a couple of years by this time and had never had anything like this happen before. Haven't used range lead since!
The only thing we can figure out is that there was moisture some where inside one of the bullets.
The only thing we can figure out is that there was moisture some where inside one of the bullets.
If you use range pickup lead, heat them up from a cold pot and let them come up to temp gradually, This will drive the moisture out safely, Do not add cold ones to a already hot pot, As you have discovered what can happen.
Using that method you will have no issue melting range lead.
Air hammer, haven't though of that. Maybe finally found a good use for that Costco air tool kit beside just the impact hammer.
Flat chisel is lots of work with lead 2.5" thick.
Sawzall didn't work well, the 3-4% antimony lead is pretty hard.
Gas from Mission to Richmond will kill you. WW is still best.
Flat chisel is lots of work with lead 2.5" thick.
Sawzall didn't work well, the 3-4% antimony lead is pretty hard.
Gas from Mission to Richmond will kill you. WW is still best.
Thanks for the info. My Sawzall should do the job of cutting a block up into usable chunks. Given that I'm in Mission I'd probably have them send a block out to me as it's going to be "six of one and half a dozen of the other" in terms of cost and aggro to drive to Richmond and back.
I use an axe to cut larger pieces to fit into the pot. Had a near 200lb chunk collapse the Bass Pro friers legs a couple times. Broke it up into smaller chunks.
Heat (possibly) wet lead from cold and no tinsel fairy. Even ingots you think are dry could surprise you when added to hot pot. A lot of people pre heat their ingots on a hot plate before dumping in. For safety and too keep the pot from cooling too much.
Heat (possibly) wet lead from cold and no tinsel fairy. Even ingots you think are dry could surprise you when added to hot pot. A lot of people pre heat their ingots on a hot plate before dumping in. For safety and too keep the pot from cooling too much.
