I usually don't wear a respirator. I play the wind and only hang around the pot when I absolutely have to.
Wearing one though is not a bad idea.
Total beginner's question about melting lead
- Thread starter Big Bad
- Start date
I usually don't wear a respirator. I play the wind and only hang around the pot when I absolutely have to.
Wearing one though is not a bad idea.
For processing wheel weights its a good idea to have a mask. For casting I never worry about it. Most lead enters the body through the mouth. Practice good hygiene, don't eat drink smoke while casting, thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.
Been a few years since I melted any lead.
My first experience was visiting a guy in the neighborhood that was selling cast bullets. This is many many years ago. Well he was melting the lead and making bullets in his basement! I did not spend much time there to say the least.
Back in the day the process was to collect wheel weights from tire shops. An old brake drum with the stud holes welded shut made a nice container. This allowed for bulk melting and cleaning of the molten lead before pouring into one pound ingots.
Then your basic electric melting pot fed with the pre-made one pound ingots and fluxed with candle wax worked very well.
Did it outdoors trying to stay up wind of the fumes and made a ton of cheap excellent lead bullets in a variety of calibres.
Processed them in a sizer luber with a gas check and they worked about as good as a factory bullet for handgun metallic silhouette shooting in 357, 7mm and 30 cal.
You have to be careful and pay attention to what you are doing around molten lead. You don't want the electric pot ending up in your lap!
My first experience was visiting a guy in the neighborhood that was selling cast bullets. This is many many years ago. Well he was melting the lead and making bullets in his basement! I did not spend much time there to say the least.
Back in the day the process was to collect wheel weights from tire shops. An old brake drum with the stud holes welded shut made a nice container. This allowed for bulk melting and cleaning of the molten lead before pouring into one pound ingots.
Then your basic electric melting pot fed with the pre-made one pound ingots and fluxed with candle wax worked very well.
Did it outdoors trying to stay up wind of the fumes and made a ton of cheap excellent lead bullets in a variety of calibres.
Processed them in a sizer luber with a gas check and they worked about as good as a factory bullet for handgun metallic silhouette shooting in 357, 7mm and 30 cal.
You have to be careful and pay attention to what you are doing around molten lead. You don't want the electric pot ending up in your lap!
