Newby on the block... well, to casting anyways.

[avator]

Copy... I get it..
Heck, I just want my free pellets to hit what I aim at.... 

[Spacebus]

Copy... I get it..
Heck, I just want my free pellets to hit what I aim at.... 

Me too! Speaking of I need to get some casting done this weekend while its too windy to shoot.

[Back_Roads]

 
 Wow them are some Big Bore Slugs there 

[Wayne52]

All the NOE airgun molds specifically call for pure lead to begin with.

[triggertreat]

Use paraffin wax to mix the tin back into the lead.  Then use borax  to remove the impurities/draus.  Any zinc in the lead will ruin the lead.  Sawdust will clog a gravity spout.

[avator]

All the NOE airgun molds specifically call for pure lead to begin with.

So how does that work with your recycled water pipe?  Is that pure lead?

[avator]

Just smelted 5 more pucks with the #8 lead shot...
I know it's been reported that the tin content it high but, I'm in learning mode and I am the kinda person that has to see things for himself.

[Back_Roads]

 Simple lead hardness test can be done with a #2 pencil, soft lead will engrave way before you break the graphite.

[avator]

Good to know... some of the tricks of the trade.

[triggertreat]

All the NOE airgun molds specifically call for pure lead to begin with.

So how does that work with your recycled water pipe?  Is that pure lead?

NOE is just referring to the weight to expect when specifying pure lead.  Pure lead is not required.  It is good to have 5% tin mixed in with pure lead  to help the mold to fill out better.

[Wayne52]

Lead pipe is pure lead, that's all I've been using for the last couple years now, I use to use it a lot before I ran out of what I had found in the past metal detecting,
after that I started buying split pig ingots from Rotometals until a contractor for the city left me piles of lead pipe, I still have a big pile to melt in my 10lb caster yet.
The Junctions on lead pipe aren't any good so cut those out.

[avator]

Yep... I have alot to learn but, I'm ready.
Thanks again to all who have joined in this thread.
Hang out, we're just getting started.... 

[Wayne52]

All the NOE airgun molds specifically call for pure lead to begin with.

So how does that work with your recycled water pipe?  Is that pure lead?

NOE is just referring to the weight to expect when specifying pure lead.  Pure lead is not required.  It is good to have 5% tin mixed in with pure lead  to help the mold to fill out better.

Tin makes the pellets harder and also takes a lower temp to melt the mix.  All my pellets/slugs for airguns are 4bhn which is as soft as you can get, softer the better for airguns because powder
burners have harder barrels and can take the hard lead more than an airgun barrel.  Muzzle Loaders also require pure lead as well and that's all I've ever used in them as well.  Years ago you could buy
plumbers lead in 5lb cakes all over however the only place I've found it recently is Lowes but the prices are crazy, you can also buy it a gun shops but the prices are insane.

[avator]

Well, I have a pile to test and I can't think of a better test tube than a Chinese 705 .25.

[avator]

Any which.... that's a wrap from the Red Shed for the evening. My mini beer fridge is empty. Time to go in the house and get me a ham sammich and watch some recorded NASCAR or some such.

.... to be continued.

[Nvreloader]

Bill
Here is some info on pellet hardness, that you can test your self.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=149581.0

Another good read, for casting lead,
http://www.lasc.us/fryxell_book_contents.htm


HTH's
Don

[Wayne52]

Soft lead pretty much negates having to clean barrels too, the only time I clean a barrel is when it's new or I bought it on ebay, Crosman pellets are terrible on barrels because they're loaded
with antimony.  Even the JSB's have a small amount of antimony in them so if I happen to use them in my trap I take them out and trash them before melting all the pure lead stuff.

[Firewalker]

OK... another Noob question.
I have been using wax for flux and it seems to draw out the impurities (draus) well and I can then skim it off.
Now I read wax is not a flux...and sawdust is... So why is candle wax (paraffin) even suggested?

There is a MILLION old wives tails about casting, flux (we are not fluxing anything!) and dros. If you want the actual chemistry, google it but for the majority of us casters, bee's wax is a really good all-in-one "flux" as it provides the "flux" of the sawdust as well as attractant that paraffin supplies. 

[Firewalker]

Soft lead pretty much negates having to clean barrels too, the only time I clean a barrel is when it's new or I bought it on ebay, Crosman pellets are terrible on barrels because they're loaded
with antimony.  Even the JSB's have a small amount of antimony in them so if I happen to use them in my trap I take them out and trash them before melting all the pure lead stuff.

I guess I dont have any problems with CPHP's or JSB's and use both to cast slugs and pellets from all the time.

"Crosman pellets are terrible on barrels" is a pretty broad statement with no supporting evidence.

[Wayne52]

I haven't bought pellets or slugs for a long time so I just stick with pure lead because it works fantastic in my airguns and muzzle loaders.