question from someone new to cast bullets

[Ken in Iowa]

Excellent advice from everyone!

As for temperature, I do not have a thermometer and I let the bullets tell me what is happening. Cold bullets may mean cold metal and/or a cold mould. I usually pour a dozen before getting too excited about turning up the thermostat on my cheap LEE melter.

My father taught me the craft at a young age by letting me observe. I can imagine BlitzKrieg was just like Dad- he was NEVER so strict with me. I watched from a safe distance, listened and learned well.

My grown son wants to learn the art. Perhaps this fall we'll cast all of the lead I have left.

[dogtag]

One thing you should not do is put a steel mold in the hot metal to heat it. It will deform and become junk.
You can do it with Lee aluminum molds however.

[da gimp]

Dog, have you tried resting the mold on top/over of your elec pot as it warms up/melts initially? I have never had the problem you describe using Lyman steel/iron molds & have cast many 10,000's of 148gr LWC, 158 LSWC's in .38. huge numbers of lead .45 bullets & 9mm's using ours.....

[dogtag]

I use a gas furnace and I put the [steel] mold below. I usually discard the first 6 or so.
Are you saying you put a corner of your steel molds INTO the hot metal with no problems ?

[da gimp]

I'm saying that usin my old Lee electric pot, I rest the mold blocks on top of the pot as soon as I plug it in, discardin prolly first 5-10 or so, & have NEVER had a problem with them, generally we only cast 1 bullet style in a session, but have molded 9mm 124 trunc cone, 148gr 38LWC's, .38 158gr LSWC, , ,45 in 255 LSWC (Kieth style) .45 in 230LRN all in same day, but was plumb wore out afterwards (2/3's to 3/4 full 3lb coffee cans of each, using wheelweights & recovered bullets pre cleaned & cast into small ingots.

[Cadillo]

thanks for all the good saftey advice. already got an old welding coat and gloves. and saftey glasses. oh i found an old heavy gage aluminum pot 2 1/2 quart. i this okay for melting lead or should i source a cast iron something and save it for dross and scrap? how do you know when the more is too hot?

Someone will say not to worry about it, but I strongly urge you to find a steel or cast iron pot. Steel is much better as cast iron can on occasion crack and spill without warning. I've used a cast iron dutch oven for years without incident, but others have not been so lucky.

If that aluminum pot gets hot enough, it may open up and spill, which is !@#$ on wheels. I wouldn't chance it!

Do a search on "castboolits", and go to the website. You will be amazed. It's like the Brittanica of bullet casting.

[broom jockey]

Back in the day, I used all Lyman equipment including the sizer. Always had good results using a 4 gang Lyman mold. The 'pot' was a 20lb. Lyman with bottom pour and adjustable mold holder.

[rayg]

I'm saying that usin my old Lee electric pot, I rest the mold blocks on top of the pot as soon as I plug it in.

The way I do it also, Ray