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

[Firewalker]

The pot is heating up and I'm getting ready to cast some .22.

Heat and pressure are your friends. 

[avator]

Yep, providing it's the right amount of both.
My pellets drop best when I run the pot at about 4.5 on the dial and hold the mold tight against the fill nipple to pour.
As for pressure.. best to keep my pot abouot halfways full. The weight of that much lead works best.

[brewbear]

Yep, providing it's the right amount of both.
My pellets drop best when I run the pot at about 4.5 on the dial and hold the mold tight against the fill nipple to pour.
As for pressure.. best to keep my pot abouot halfways full. The weight of that much lead works best.

You got it right! As long as the mould is warm and doesn't stick to the pour nipple. The problem i had with the 10# melter was running out of lead too fast so I bought the #20 one.

[Spacebus]

Yep, providing it's the right amount of both.
My pellets drop best when I run the pot at about 4.5 on the dial and hold the mold tight against the fill nipple to pour.
As for pressure.. best to keep my pot abouot halfways full. The weight of that much lead works best.

You got it right! As long as the mould is warm and doesn't stick to the pour nipple. The problem i had with the 10# melter was running out of lead too fast so I bought the #20 one.

I am using a 4# pot and I am slowed down significantly by having to add metal back to the melt constantly. I'm trying to decide if a 20# pot is worth the investment. The RCBS easy melt is not much more than a Lee 20#...

[avator]

The LEE 10# seems perfect for me. Only problem is that a ladle don't fit in it past the pour rod. It would if I filled the pot but I don't like loading it that full. When I venture into ladle pouring I will do it with the stainless steel sauce pan on the hot plate that I use to make muffins.

I still amazed at how well saw dust works. I hung an ice cream bucket off the back of the DeWalt chop saw to catch the saw dust. I have a large hole shaker spice bottle to store it in. Works good. Nice dry pine dust smells good too when added to the pot... 

[maraudinglizard]

The LEE 10# seems perfect for me. Only problem is that a ladle don't fit in it past the pour rod. It would if I filled the pot but I don't like loading it that full. When I venture into ladle pouring I will do it with the stainless steel sauce pan on the hot plate that I use to make muffins.

I still amazed at how well saw dust works. I hung an ice cream bucket off the back of the DeWalt chop saw to catch the saw dust. I have a large hole shaker spice bottle to store it in. Works good. Nice dry pine dust smells good too when added to the pot... 

Bill, try the bottom pour in to the ladle, I do that when I have molds that to big or to heavy to get under the pot.

[Spacebus]

The LEE 10# seems perfect for me. Only problem is that a ladle don't fit in it past the pour rod. It would if I filled the pot but I don't like loading it that full. When I venture into ladle pouring I will do it with the stainless steel sauce pan on the hot plate that I use to make muffins.

I still amazed at how well saw dust works. I hung an ice cream bucket off the back of the DeWalt chop saw to catch the saw dust. I have a large hole shaker spice bottle to store it in. Works good. Nice dry pine dust smells good too when added to the pot... 

Bill, try the bottom pour in to the ladle, I do that when I have molds that to big or to heavy to get under the pot.

I never thought of that, I was thinking to just get a ladle only 20-ish pound furnace.

[RonsPlc]

I have the Lee 20# bottom pour pot.
I ended up turning the bottom pour off, and using Waynes method of pressure pouring.
It is easier if I keep the pot filled more than half way. I never have to refill the pot during a session, and the added bonus is that with that much hot lead in the pot, when I add the sprues back in, it doesn't drop my temperature a whole lot.

[avator]

The LEE 10# seems perfect for me. Only problem is that a ladle don't fit in it past the pour rod. It would if I filled the pot but I don't like loading it that full. When I venture into ladle pouring I will do it with the stainless steel sauce pan on the hot plate that I use to make muffins.

I still amazed at how well saw dust works. I hung an ice cream bucket off the back of the DeWalt chop saw to catch the saw dust. I have a large hole shaker spice bottle to store it in. Works good. Nice dry pine dust smells good too when added to the pot... 

Bill, try the bottom pour in to the ladle, I do that when I have molds that to big or to heavy to get under the pot.

Never thought about that.... thanks.

[avator]

I have the Lee 20# bottom pour pot.
I ended up turning the bottom pour off, and using Waynes method of pressure pouring.
It is easier if I keep the pot filled more than half way. I never have to refill the pot during a session, and the added bonus is that with that much hot lead in the pot, when I add the sprues back in, it doesn't drop my temperature a whole lot.

The 10# does not have a shut off.
Also, I add my sprues when I'm taking a break... Been looking for a temp gauge at the local stores but most are for cooking and do read above 500. A PID would be nice but I seem to be doing ok.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Lead thermometers...

Analog - https://www.brownells.com/reloading/bullet-casting/melting-pots--accessories/lead-thermometer/

Digital - https://www.brownells.com/reloading/bullet-casting/melting-pots--accessories/digital-lead-thermometer/

[Insanity]

I have this one works great. If you are getting results with out it might be a waste of money right now. Plus it's one more fiddly thing to fuss with. Esp for what you require.

[avator]

Thanks Guys..
That's what I'm thinking Matt.


BTW... the Urban LOVES the boat tails... I'm talking dead nut stacking at 30 yds. Even better than the slugs.
So, I know what I'll be casting... a boat load of boat tails   

So now that I have the 217 20 RF Brass on the way, I'll start saving my nickles for the boat tail mold.

[Madd Hatter]

This is the one I use.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/bullet-casting-reloading/melting-pots-and-related/thermometers/lead-pot-thermometer-5-stem/

[RonsPlc]

Thanks Guys..
That's what I'm thinking Matt.


BTW... the Urban LOVES the boat tails... I'm talking dead nut stacking at 30 yds. Even better than the slugs.
So, I know what I'll be casting... a boat load of boat tails   

So now that I have the 217 20 RF Brass on the way, I'll start saving my nickles for the boat tail mold.

My Urban loves the boat tails as well.
My Grandson came over, and I pulled the Urban out.
I had it loaded with BBTs.
I told him to put the center dot of the scope on the 6" steel plate that I have at 100 yards.
8 out of 10 shots hit... Hard!

[avator]

Another gun confirmed to shoot the .22 pellets I plan to cast...
The Beeman 1358 shoots the Meplats and the Boat tails well.
I still have Betty Lou's Maximus, the FD-PCP and a couple of my HPA 'lego' guns to try.
And there might be some stragglers I'm not thinking of right now.
I also have one springer to try... the Yukon Reaxis.
This is looking as good as I had hoped for.

[Wayne52]

I've never used a gauge for measuring the temp of lead.  I basically set it to where it cast's best for the lead that I'm using.

[avator]

You know, something has always been a nuisance to me has been trying to keep track of what gun like which pellet. I've always told myself that I would one day make a log of them all....   yeah right.    That never happened.
So, at least in .25 and .22 I should be able to nail it down to 1 or 2 choices.
I also told myself that guns that didn't shoot these would make their way to the chopping block.. I'm happy to see that most of my favorite guns won't face the guillotine.
.20 cal is easy... They all like the same pellet.
The .177 is another story... many of them like the same one or two but there are a few picky ones.

[avator]

I've never used a gauge for measuring the temp of lead.  I basically set it to where it cast's best for the lead that I'm using.

Wayne... that's how I will go about unless I start to have issues. Then a gauge may come in handy to see if temp is the issue.

[Wayne52]

Bill I seen that you had your caster set to 4 1/2, with pure lead it takes more heat, I run my 4lb caster at 6 1/2.  Tin alone will drop the melting point
quite a bit too.  I should try casting with tin sometime because they say you can fill the cavities much better. The pellet is harder but not a whole lot
running 1% tin plus fights corrosion much better.  I did try it once but with that old single heat caster I used it was too hot and I'd get whiskers.