First it was guns, then reloading, now casting. Does it ever end? What a great new facet to the sport! I got a single cavity mold as part of a trade recently and decided to jump right in. Ordered the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook off Amazon and started melting some of the lead I've collected over thirty years of diving, no matter how much lead a diver is wearing he can't swim past a dropped bullet weight, full weight belt, downrigger cannon ball etc. Now I want to improve my alloy. I read that adding 95/5 solder or some pewter will do that. My question is how much solder to add and how do I identify pewter?
New Caster questions.
- Thread starter skookumchuck
- Start date
Welcome to the craziness. First you will have to figure out what those dive belts and cannon balls were made out of. Some will be made of virgin lead some of what ever people could find.
My first question to you would be handgun or rifle.
Typically, soft lead is better for handguns and hard lead for rifles
My first question to you would be handgun or rifle.
Typically, soft lead is better for handguns and hard lead for rifles
leebuilder
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Join castboolits.
dive weights are usually pure lead, test for zinc before mixing.
sea pearl brand weights are up to 10+% antimoney, good score if you find them.
typical alloy for casting is 90% lead 5% antimoney and 5% tin.
for good mold fill out you need aleast 2% tin.
solder and pewter are the best sources of tin.
lube and boolit size are important.
neck tension is important too.
timsel fairy is always near, be safe!!!!!
That first boolit is the most expencive.
Every failure is a learning point you wont need to do again.
Dont be afraid to ask.
have fun!
dive weights are usually pure lead, test for zinc before mixing.
sea pearl brand weights are up to 10+% antimoney, good score if you find them.
typical alloy for casting is 90% lead 5% antimoney and 5% tin.
for good mold fill out you need aleast 2% tin.
solder and pewter are the best sources of tin.
lube and boolit size are important.
neck tension is important too.
timsel fairy is always near, be safe!!!!!
That first boolit is the most expencive.
Every failure is a learning point you wont need to do again.
Dont be afraid to ask.
have fun!
Maybe the factory made ones. In these parts a lot of the weights are done in the back yards of dive shop owners. They generally use the cheapest, scrounged, lead the can find. Much like people who make down rigger balls.
leebuilder
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
That's why I said test for zinc. I have melted down at least 200 lbs of dive weights and yet to see any zinc. But I still test for zinc and look for anything not normal in my melt. Even the cruddiest pock marked bubbled and corroded weights once fluxed with sawdust and or wax have produced good lead or lead alloy for making boolit alloy.
Be well
When in doubt chuck it out.
leebuilder
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
True.
Be well
Be well
