Author Topic: Newby on the block... well, to casting anyways. (Read 37011 times))

avator · « **Reply #741 on:** May 29, 2023, 08:41:57 PM »

Farfrompuken.

avator · « **Reply #742 on:** May 30, 2023, 01:21:54 PM »

Ok, back to casting.

The final bits n pieces arrived this morning to finish the PID.... the 700c probe.
It was tedious getting it connected to the controller because there is not much room left in the box. But with a few choice words, I got it in..

It's now up and running on the pot and everything appears to be working as intended. As you can see, I'm just waiting for it to come up to the set temp.

avator · « **Reply #743 on:** May 30, 2023, 02:18:17 PM »

Ok, as you can see, I have the PID set to 371c = 700f.
The rheostat on the pot is cranked to max and is feeding off of the PID.
The temp rises to the set point then cuts the power to the pot. When the temp drops to 370c it kicks back on and runs the pot back to 371.
I stuck my gauge in the pot and it read right at 700f.

Also you can see that I installed a muffin fan in the top of the box blowing directly down onto the SSR and heat sink. I may not have needed that at all because even after running at full tilt increasing the temp from 350c to 371c, the box is cool as a cucumber. It's been in operation for more than an hour now and it's still cold to the touch.
That said, it's my opinion that this PID set up (REX C100) does not need a fan for cooling. It's also my opinion that the 400c rated PID is plenty for the task at hand. Some folks like to pour a little hotter but I can't see anyone needing more than the 752f max of this controller. I've read that I can make it go hotter and I do have the 700c probe b ut, I don't see any reason.

avator · « **Reply #744 on:** May 30, 2023, 02:23:40 PM »

I ran an 80 pellet run from the 2 cav .22 magnum mold (40 sprues).
I added the sprues back into the pot at 12:05. The temp dropped to 318c.
I watched it and at 12:09 the pot was back up to 371c and ready to pour.
I gotta say, I'm impressed.

avator · « **Reply #745 on:** May 30, 2023, 02:27:02 PM »

Admittedly it took a few dips to get used to dipping the ladle and pouring with the probe and bracket in the pot but once I got my stride I was right back to normal pouring.

Hoosier Daddy · « **Reply #746 on:** May 30, 2023, 03:05:19 PM »

Nice set-up Bill..... Glad it worked out.

avator · « **Reply #747 on:** May 30, 2023, 03:16:10 PM »

Thanks, you know, I was probably doing just fine without it but it sure takes the guess work out of it. And if things go wrong it's one factor that can be eliminated from the cause.
Besides, even despite a bit of cussing here and there, I really enjoyed this project and actually saved money over buying a pre made one.

avator · « **Reply #748 on:** May 30, 2023, 04:07:02 PM »

Dropped another 80 or so, added the sprues back in. Put those 2 runs in the tumbler and shut things down. Looks like a storm might be brewing up. I'll give the tumbler 20 minutes or so then go out and shut that down. The goal is to fill a 3.5 cup Tupperware container then switch to the 217 20 RF brass mold and run the remainder of 3.5 cups of those.
Then I'll take a hiatus from casting and maybe get back to shooting more.

avator · « **Reply #749 on:** June 01, 2023, 12:45:06 PM »

A new mod for the mold oven..
I happen to have one of those camping toast deals like the one pictured below. It was new in the box and it must have came with the stuff I cleaned out of my BIL's garage when he passed. I took the wire toast supports off and the bottom fit the bottom of the oven cover like it was made for it. So I drill 3 holes and fastened it. It basically takes the place of the saw blade and I stick the mod it closed then once inside I open the mold slightly. With the hot plate on high it's runs the temp inside between 350f and 375f and cycles between those temps. The flap I left when I wrapped the cover with insulation gets tucked around the handle and prevents the wood form getting as hot as it used to.
So, I fired up the PID controlled pot and the mold oven with the mold inside and ran to the PO to drop off a package. When I got back everything was at the perfect pouring temps... pot at 700f and the mold at 350f. The very first pour dropped perfect pellets. I ran another 80 or so and added the sprues back to the pot.

WobblyHand · « **Reply #750 on:** June 01, 2023, 01:53:22 PM »

Seems like you have a very good system for cranking these out. Can you show a picture of your mold oven? Do the mold handles stick out? I was thinking of something simple like a hot plate to keep the mold temp high enough.

I have a 4 cavity WC mold, and couldn't get it hot enough by casting. A pre heat of the mold sounds like a good idea. My last session, all the pellets were cold. I was outside and it was windy which compounded the problem.

avator · « **Reply #751 on:** June 01, 2023, 02:14:19 PM »

Sure... here is a link back to where I made it.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=207107.msg156442068#msg156442068

I have since wrapped it with with 2400f fireproof insulation blanket and added a new gauge. Plus the bottom plate I recently added. I'll get some updated pics but you get the idea.

avator · « **Reply #752 on:** June 01, 2023, 02:21:43 PM »

Popped out to the Red Shed and snapped a couple pics.

As you can see it's up and running right now so I'll get a pic of the bottom tomorrow before I fired it up and it's cooled off.

That's the low end of the temp cycle. In a minute or 2 it will come back on and increase temp to 375f then cycle off again. It's kinda like it has it's own PID..

avator · « **Reply #753 on:** June 01, 2023, 02:28:07 PM »

This is also what I use to break in new molds (initial heat cycles) after a thorough scrubbing. I heat cycle them 4 or 5 times before using.

avator · « **Reply #754 on:** June 01, 2023, 02:34:44 PM »

One more thing I can do as an option for sprues. I have an SS sauce pan I can leave on the hot plate and drop the sprues in. They will melt as I add them. When the pot gets low I can just add the molten lead to it. This reduces the time to get the pot back to temp.
I haven't done that because, as I reported earlier, adding the sprues dropped the pot temp to 318c and only took 4 minutes to bring the temp back to 371c (700f).

avator · « **Reply #755 on:** June 01, 2023, 02:42:18 PM »

I have really learned alot in the short time I started down the casting path. I think I have a great system and the results are awesome. It kinda brings my airgun experience to full circle.
Learning to tune and repair airguns saved me money and raised the fun factor.
Going from running up and down the road to fill scuba tanks was upgraded to compressor and gave me air independence.
Now making my own pellets from free lead.
It's a great time to be an airgunner.

Insanity · « **Reply #756 on:** June 01, 2023, 05:27:19 PM »

Rabbit hole anyone how deep is it so far? You must be traveling at mach 3 at least.

avator · « **Reply #757 on:** June 01, 2023, 06:06:07 PM »

Quote from: Insanity on June 01, 2023, 05:27:19 PM

Rabbit hole anyone how deep is it so far? You must be traveling at mach 3 at least.

Truth be told, I think I can smell the bottom.

Well, today's 3 batch run on the 217 24 RF magnums put me about halfways to my 3.5 cup goal for this one.

Hoosier Daddy · « **Reply #758 on:** June 03, 2023, 10:31:49 AM »

Hat's off to you guys who cast .22!
My .457 slugs are a walk in the park compared to this new 217-20-RF-CE6 mold.
I keep getting shorts no matter how much I pre-heat the mold or how hot I have had the lead.
Culling about 75% so far on my 3rd session.
Then the mold fell in the pot while trying to keep it hot.. pins encased in lead.
Total SNAFU evening

Madd Hatter · « **Reply #759 on:** June 03, 2023, 12:24:38 PM »

Quote from: Hoosier Daddy on June 03, 2023, 10:31:49 AM

Hat's off to you guys who cast .22!
My .457 slugs are a walk in the park compared to this new 217-20-RF-CE6 mold.
I keep getting shorts no matter how much I pre-heat the mold or how hot I have had the lead.
Culling about 75% so far on my 3rd session.
Then the mold fell in the pot while trying to keep it hot.. pins encased in lead.
Total SNAFU evening

That's where pressure pouring comes to the rescue.

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

Author Topic: Newby on the block... well, to casting anyways. (Read 37011 times))