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

[avator]

Trial run....
Melted down some #8 shot into happy little corn on the cob ingots.
Lots of dross in that stuff... I used sawdust to spoon it out.
Perfect for just slipping into the pot when needed.

[Madd Hatter]

Let us know how the 8 shot works casting pellets. I've got about 15# of 7.5 or 8 shot in the airgun she'd.

[avator]

I melted it hot then drossed it with sawdust.. I pulled alot of stuff off the top.

If I'm honest, I don't know anything about what % pure led it is and frankly, I don't care. If I weigh 10 pellets and they come in at 19.75 to 20.50 I'm a happy boy.
I'll leave all that other stuff to y'all.   

[Spacebus]

You are really cranking out these pellets! I need to get a bigger lead pot so I can increase my pace.

[avator]

You are really cranking out these pellets! I need to get a bigger lead pot so I can increase my pace.

Not really.. I melt down/smelt/dross stuff in a pan on the hot plate then I pour the ingots to add to the 10# LEE bottom pour pot. I add sawdust again when I put ingots in.

[avator]

Had me a little corn roast this morning. I still have plenty more to go.

[Spacebus]

Bill, you sure are motivating me to cast up a few hundred pellets this weekend. Maybe I can figure out some sort of mold oven as well.

[avator]

Pretty basic... the discount stores have hot plates for around $15 and any second hand store would have a suitable pot. Even aluminum would work. A circular saw blade can be scrounged. I've found that setting the temp just past medium heat works well. I rest the molds in there sprue plate down and slightly open.
Once you get casting they stay hot enough. I only use the oven to get them up to temp and keep them up during breaks. I'm eventually going to get another set of handles so I can cast 2 calibers in one session.

[avator]

Today I didn't run the pot at all. I used the hot plate to make the ingots. I plan to continue that tomorrow.

[Spacebus]

I have a flat top ( don't need the saw blade) hot plate that I use for my pressure cooker. I do normally use it, but it doesn't help much being outside. A cover of any kind will be beneficial.

[avator]

I have a flat top ( don't need the saw blade) hot plate that I use for my pressure cooker. I do normally use it, but it doesn't help much being outside. A cover of any kind will be beneficial.

Agreed

[Back_Roads]

 If I were a squirrel I sure would be hungry for some yummy Corn Lead   

[avator]

Dropped a couple hundred .22 wadcutters this morning. Got them in the tumbler right now. Probably do a batch of .22 HP slugs next.

[avator]

Regroup...
That batch came out 50% too much flash on the skirts. Pretty sure it's from having the pot too hot for the brass mold. So I turned the heat down and added all the sprues. I'll let that melt down and give it another go after breakfast.
Got a good reminder why I don't order from China... been waiting a week for the temp gauge and tracking says it's not even in Country yet.

[Madd Hatter]

Boy you sure do spend a lot of time casting. You sure you don't have a casting couch out in the red shed for them starlets? 💞💞💞

[avator]

Boy you sure do spend a lot of time casting. You sure you don't have a casting couch out in the red shed for them starlets? 💞💞💞

Just trying to learn.. alot of it is trial and error. I just got the ok from the finance dept. to take a ride to the big city and look for temp gauges. She didn't put a price limit on me either...   
Truth be told, I think he wants me out of the house so she can clean and do laundry. She told me to close the gate when I go so that tells me she's gonna kick the dogs out too.
I also have some molds here on loan and I need to get done with them so I can return them. But 50% culling is not good for me... I need to figure out why.

[Madd Hatter]

Pressure pour casting will fix you right up. So no starlets?😞😞

[Spacebus]

Boy you sure do spend a lot of time casting. You sure you don't have a casting couch out in the red shed for them starlets? 💞💞💞

Just trying to learn.. alot of it is trial and error. I just got the ok from the finance dept. to take a ride to the big city and look for temp gauges. She didn't put a price limit on me either...   
Truth be told, I think he wants me out of the house so she can clean and do laundry. She told me to close the gate when I go so that tells me she's gonna kick the dogs out too.
I also have some molds here on loan and I need to get done with them so I can return them. But 50% culling is not good for me... I need to figure out why.

I would check the pins first, they are easy to eliminate as a potential issue. Then try changing the melt temp until they start dropping nicer.

[avator]

Yeah, Lowes had the new temp gauge for the oven. It registers up to 650f. It's a replacement gauge for a Char Broil BBQ grill.
The oven only runs between 250 and 300 ambient. I'm sure the mold is getting hotter because it's in direct contact with the saw blade. I also open it slightly so the pins get the heat.
I don't want to mess with the pin adjustment because this one is not my mold. I suppose I have to wait for the pot gauge to get here off of the slow boat. Nobody in town had a 1000f stick gauge.

[Spacebus]

Lyman makes a good casting thermometer