With Obama-2 Now Certain, Going to Start Casting

[APynckel]

hardware update...




As far as ebay lead wheel weights go, is this a good deal?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-Pounds-Lead- ... 5898928f86

[Jumping Frog]

Depends on shipping. If it is USPS Large Flat Rate for $65 total, delivered, then it is an OK, not great price.

The risk you run is whether there are zinc or other non-lead wheelweights mixed in, lowering your yield.

You'll probably net about 35-40 lbs of usable lead alloy after removing the clips and any other trash.

This is an important point so I will boldface it: DO NOT MELT WHEELWEIGHTS IN YOUR NEW RCBS LEAD FURNACE.

The process of converting raw wheelweights or range scrap to usable lead ingots is usually called "smelting" in the bullet casting community, although that is not a technically accurate term to a metalurgist. Wheelweights are filthy and generate a lot of crud that has to be removed from the melt to end up with clean usable lead alloy. Most people recommend this is not done in a production lead furnace.

For example, I use a large stainless steel bowl from Sams Club over an old garage-sale turkey frier to smelt raw materials into usable ingots, then I perform my bullet casting using the clean ingots in my lead pot.

Smelting:


Vs Casting:


If I were in your shoes, I think I'd start with purchasing clean ingot alloy from someone first to get used to the hobby. You aren't really equipped yet to take on smelting.

[Don2]

Jumping Frog, I concur Sir......

That pretty much looks like my setup except for the Elly May Clampett muffins
It's a great idea and I do use one of the mini ones for base metals to add small qty's of tin or lead to a mix if needed.
I bought a few of the regular ingot molds at a flea market very cheap...else I would use the same pans as you. They work great and stack well also.
The ones I found cheap were a Saeco and a Lyman ingot mold...STRANGE...But I have seen WW ingots made in a Saeco mold sell for more than ones made in other molds....Guess that's called Branding???
It's all the same stuff, guess someone had a marketing idea??


Don2

[APynckel]

Depends on shipping. If it is USPS Large Flat Rate for $65 total, delivered, then it is an OK, not great price.

The risk you run is whether there are zinc or other non-lead wheelweights mixed in, lowering your yield.

You'll probably net about 35-40 lbs of usable lead alloy after removing the clips and any other trash.

This is an important point so I will boldface it: DO NOT MELT WHEELWEIGHTS IN YOUR NEW RCBS LEAD FURNACE.

The process of converting raw wheelweights or range scrap to usable lead ingots is usually called "smelting" in the bullet casting community, although that is not a technically accurate term to a metalurgist. Wheelweights are filthy and generate a lot of crud that has to be removed from the melt to end up with clean usable lead alloy. Most people recommend this is not done in a production lead furnace.

For example, I use a large stainless steel bowl from Sams Club over an old garage-sale turkey frier to smelt raw materials into usable ingots, then I perform my bullet casting using the clean ingots in my lead pot.

Smelting:
[ Image ]

Vs Casting:
[ Image ]

If I were in your shoes, I think I'd start with purchasing clean ingot alloy from someone first to get used to the hobby. You aren't really equipped yet to take on smelting.

I had no intention of melting down, smelting, and making wheel weight ingots from my RCBS. I have a dutch oven I'm going to be using for smelting. I am also aware of the material process differences between smelting and casting.

I have ordered that 50# lot of lead wheel weights.

[Jumping Frog]

I had no intention of melting down, smelting, and making wheel weight ingots from my RCBS. I have a dutch oven I'm going to be using for smelting. I am also aware of the material process differences between smelting and casting.

Great! I'd rather give the head's up than make an assumption that you already knew.

Good luck!

[AndyC]

Just for future reference, it would save you a step by buying pre-smelted ingots made from wheelweights like this;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-LBS-LEAD-ING ... 6863878%26

[APynckel]

Just for future reference, it would save you a step by buying pre-smelted ingots made from wheelweights like this;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-LBS-LEAD-ING ... 6863878%26

I wanted to try it once.

[AndyC]

Welcome to the game, then

[APynckel]

Welcome to the game, then

Danke. I have taken a step off the deep end :)

I have 50 lbs of 100% (well 99.7%) plumbers lead ingots that I'm about to alloy. I have 12 lbs of 30/70 Sb / Pb and 2 lbs of Sn ready for alloying as well. I'm anxious and giddy at the thought of pouring out my fresh ingots.

[Don2]

Welcome to the game, then

Danke. I have taken a step off the deep end :)

I have 50 lbs of 100% (well 99.7%) plumbers lead ingots that I'm about to alloy. I have 12 lbs of 30/70 Sb / Pb and 2 lbs of Sn ready for alloying as well. I'm anxious and giddy at the thought of pouring out my fresh ingots.

There is another step in casting that you may want to venture. Since you mention mixing your lead to get an alloy you want. There are a few BHN testers you may want to look at.
One that I really like is http://www.lbtmoulds.com/hardtester.shtml

There are others like the Cabin Tree tester plus all the others like Lee,Saeco etc...

Here is one you could make if you like this kind of stuff and have parts around.
http://www.mountainmolds.com/bhn.htm

Something to read.
http://www.lasc.us/Shay-BHN-Tester-Experiment.htm

Cant seem to find the formula someone posted about BHN vs velocity etc...But there is one out there somewhere. There is a lot to casting bullets, main problem to me is leading, which using straight WW's have not been a problem in any of my guns.


Have fun
Don2