.457 Newb

[maraudinglizard]

I use anhydrous borax for casting, it cleans all the gunk out of the pot, couple of shakes from a shaker container and scrape the dross off with a spoon. 1lb will last for ever.

https://pmcsupplies.com/1-lb-anhydrous-borax-deoxidizing-casting-coarse-powder-flux-for-melting-precious-metals.html

[Hoosier Daddy]

You say Borax I think of "20 Mule Team" Mom used in the laundry... I can get at Walmart
Will that do??

[Insanity]

This is what it is.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_Mule_Team_Borax

[Hoosier Daddy]

I thought that is what the wax that I already had did? 

[Back_Roads]

 nNeed a thermometer too, if none handy and want to test your luck, run the pot at about 4.5, can runn hotter getting the first lead to melt, then a thermo helps find the pots dials sweet spot, good to keep an eye on temps, they get out of wack and so do your cast.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Thanks James..
 What's a good target temp to work with?

[Spacebus]

Thanks James..
 What's a good target temp to work with?

This is one of those "it depends" questions. NOE says not to get the aluminum mold over 550f, but I tend to keep my melt above 600f. Basically you only want the melt as hot as it needs to be to remain a liquid while you are pouring. If your slugs come out half formed, turn up the temp. If they come out "frosty" and then you are too hot.

The paraffin wax just isn't good Flux. I've tried wax and plain old 20 mule team borax and prefer the borax. Just a pinch or so will do it. The reaction is also fun to watch. When you use borax, impurities, oxidized metals, etc. Bind to the borax and its very clear what is slag and what is your good melt alloy.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I am getting excited!
Needing a lead thermometer put a kink in the works as I do not have one other that a thermometer for the deep fryer but it doesn't go that high.
 THEN I remembered what I do for a living. (duh)
I am going to work and grab my pyrometer and an immersible thermocouple and get an accurate reading of the lead temp and a contact thermocouple for the mold.
 Hopefully game on tomorrow!

[Wayne52]

I use wax myself.  I have used borax before but I think if you're already starting out with pure lead it don't make a lot of difference.  I usually only clean the recovered lead
from targets and that's about it.  I do use wax when casting up my ingots from lead pipe though.

[Spacebus]

I use wax myself.  I have used borax before but I think if you're already starting out with pure lead it don't make a lot of difference.  I usually only clean the recovered lead
from targets and that's about it.  I do use wax when casting up my ingots from lead pipe though.

That's a good point, I've been using reclaimed lead.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Thanks... I am starting off from scratch.
Rotometals 99.9% pure lead to give me the best leg-up.
 Once I get the hang of it I'll start reclaiming spent pellets and scrap lead I find.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Somewhere I read, maybe here, Stihl 2-stroke oil is synthetic and is good for lubing the mold hinge points.
I got that for my Beast of a Chain Saw... low and behold it does say "full synthetic"!

[Wayne52]

Scott I only use soft lead myself, if you make it to this years airgun show here in town, I'll bring ya some ingots.  The dental lead from xrays, lead water pipe and the really old shotgun slugs are soft also.  The newer shotgun slugs are harder lead than the old ones though, I can tell just by the color of them when I dig them up metal detecting.  Pure lead in the ground ends up with a super white oxide on it.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I'll see you at K-Zoo for sure!

[Back_Roads]

Thanks James..
 What's a good target temp to work with?

650- 750 is a good place to start, I start getting issues when temps get to 780ish, or below 600. I did experiments when first casting when shutting the pot off I kept pouring bullets till they would no longer flow out my bottom our to see where the low end of casting lead temps were.

 Big bore molds heat up and hold it faster than small bore, so pacing your session to give mold time to cool but stay in the sweet spot for that projectile.

[Insanity]

I tell you 5 time need thermometer. You no listen.

[brewbear]

I got an "el cheapo" ir thermometer from harbor freight. It is not lab equipment precise but it does the job.

[Insanity]

I got an "el cheapo" ir thermometer from harbor freight. It is not lab equipment precise but it does the job.

I have one to check mold temps haven't really used it on lead though.

[Wayne52]

I've NEVER used a thermometer in the 47 years that I've been casting for muzzle loaders and never used one for any of the airgun molds that I use.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I tell you 5 time need thermometer. You no listen.

3... but who's counting.
LOL... one should be enough.