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

[avator]

I have heard that zinc will "poison" lead.  More commonly, brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc, is the source of the zinc that "poisons" the lead.  I have read that lump Sulfur, broken into pieces, will adhere to the zinc and then can be skimmed off to clean up WW lead.

NOE sells ALOT of brass molds.

My reference was to removing zinc mixed in with molten lead when using wheel weights.  A bit different than a brass mold at much cooler temperatures.

Yep, thought about that after I hit send.

You're fired, lol.  It was/is an interesting thought though.  I'm not a metallurgy expert by any stretch.

Yeah, I don't want to be sending any poison pellets downrange..   

[triggertreat]

I have heard that zinc will "poison" lead.  More commonly, brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc, is the source of the zinc that "poisons" the lead.  I have read that lump Sulfur, broken into pieces, will adhere to the zinc and then can be skimmed off to clean up WW lead.

NOE sells ALOT of brass molds.

My reference was to removing zinc mixed in with molten lead when using wheel weights.  A bit different than a brass mold at much cooler temperatures.

Yep, thought about that after I hit send.

You're fired, lol.  It was/is an interesting thought though.  I'm not a metallurgy expert by any stretch.

Yeah, I don't want to be sending any poison pellets downrange..   

LOL.  From what I am understanding the zinc pools within the lead and will leave pockets in the cast making the ammo vary in weight and balance along the way.

[avator]

Zinc melts at 787F. I never run anything that hot. I sort all the wheel weights and only heat until the lead melts. Then I scoop everything else out and use wx and/or sawdust to pull any drose off before pouring ingots. Most wheel weights have a code on them.

[sb327]

I just ran 2 50ct runs in the 217 24 RF aliminum (Magnum). With the long pins I got between 22.00 and 22.40 with 10% cull. The 10% cull was probably my fault for poor bottom pour. I missed the hole or poured to fast and splashed out.
The 2nd batch of 50 is in the tumbler. I tumble for 20 minutes give or take and they come out looking like little shiny diamonds.

I’m sure you have mentioned it before somewhere but what tumbler and media you using?

Thanks,
Dave

[avator]

I just ran 2 50ct runs in the 217 24 RF aliminum (Magnum). With the long pins I got between 22.00 and 22.40 with 10% cull. The 10% cull was probably my fault for poor bottom pour. I missed the hole or poured to fast and splashed out.
The 2nd batch of 50 is in the tumbler. I tumble for 20 minutes give or take and they come out looking like little shiny diamonds.

I’m sure you have mentioned it before somewhere but what tumbler and media you using?

Thanks,
Dave

Walmart cheapy... I don't use any media.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Maxx-Explore-Rock-Tumbler-Kit-Durable-Gem-Polisher-Children-Teens-Adults-Seniors-8/460026892?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227460026892_14069003552_202077872&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-295289030566&wl5=9012797&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=460026892&veh=sem&gad_source=1

[avator]

I ended up putting one wrap of electrical tape under the rubber belt so it wouldn't skip teeth while turning.

[2A Georgia]

I just ran 2 50ct runs in the 217 24 RF aliminum (Magnum). With the long pins I got between 22.00 and 22.40 with 10% cull. The 10% cull was probably my fault for poor bottom pour. I missed the hole or poured to fast and splashed out.
The 2nd batch of 50 is in the tumbler. I tumble for 20 minutes give or take and they come out looking like little shiny diamonds.

I’m sure you have mentioned it before somewhere but what tumbler and media you using?

Thanks,
Dave

Walmart cheapy... I don't use any media.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Maxx-Explore-Rock-Tumbler-Kit-Durable-Gem-Polisher-Children-Teens-Adults-Seniors-8/460026892?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227460026892_14069003552_202077872&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-295289030566&wl5=9012797&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=460026892&veh=sem&gad_source=1

Many thanks! my tumbler went in my exchange out of handloading and into casting,  I added the Walmart tumbler to my cart.  I also have a bag of steel pin media,  Do you think it would mar the 99,9 pure?  If your getting success without media I could always go that route.

[2A Georgia]

So the PID parts are assembled into one shipment by A;iEx and have left China.....I had like a dozen NOE cast 30 cal left so I cast a tin of slugs after cleaning the Pot again and opening the down pour hole.  I got a surprising number of 63.2 and 63.3.  The cull is the right pile mostly incomplete do to failure in my technique.  To the left are over-weights, all with the telltale vertical seam, meaning the halves weren't snug...
Like a dummy I got a rhythm with the right glove off...at the very end I emptied the pot into my yard sale muffin tin aka round ingot mold.  Of course I had to slide it a little to the right...two fingertips now have 80% fingerprints...good thing I don't lock my andriod with that feature...lol

[avator]

I just ran 2 50ct runs in the 217 24 RF aliminum (Magnum). With the long pins I got between 22.00 and 22.40 with 10% cull. The 10% cull was probably my fault for poor bottom pour. I missed the hole or poured to fast and splashed out.
The 2nd batch of 50 is in the tumbler. I tumble for 20 minutes give or take and they come out looking like little shiny diamonds.

I’m sure you have mentioned it before somewhere but what tumbler and media you using?

Thanks,
Dave

Walmart cheapy... I don't use any media.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Maxx-Explore-Rock-Tumbler-Kit-Durable-Gem-Polisher-Children-Teens-Adults-Seniors-8/460026892?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227460026892_14069003552_202077872&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-295289030566&wl5=9012797&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=460026892&veh=sem&gad_source=1

Many thanks! my tumbler went in my exchange out of handloading and into casting,  I added the Walmart tumbler to my cart.  I also have a bag of steel pin media,  Do you think it would mar the 99,9 pure?  If your getting success without media I could always go that route.

I haven't used media for quite some time now. Yes, the 99.9 is quite soft. I tumble them until they are real shiny.. about 20 minutes or so. I let them cool before I tumble them. They are too soft when they are hot.
I pour 50 to 100 then add the sprues back to the pot. By this time the previous batch has tumbled and I sort and weigh them while the pot heats back up. I repeat the cycle until I'm tired of standing.. usually 500 or so.

[Hoosier Daddy]

WHOA!   
 I got a bar stool and can't do 500 in a sitting!
That's a lot of pours!

[avator]

I have airgun and outdoors streaming on the flat screen, a gun at the shooting window bench and a fridge full of various hydrating products  so I do it in a more relaxed way.

[sb327]

Thanks for the info!

Dave

[avator]

Welcome...
Casting is just another level of the airgun experience. And the good part is that you get to save a whole bunch of money. Trapping and recasting your pellets takes the savings to another level.

[Madd Hatter]

Welcome...
Casting is just another level of the airgun experience. And the good part is that you get to save a whole bunch of money. Trapping and recasting your pellets takes the savings to another level.

That's what I do 👍👍👍

[triggertreat]

It's a great feeling to reclaim lead from the traps.



It's an even better feeling to recast them to go again.

[avator]

Nice couple of piles ya got there.

[2A Georgia]

I have airgun and outdoors streaming on the flat screen, a gun at the shooting window bench and a fridge full of various hydrating products  so I do it in a more relaxed way.

Now THAT is a mancave...cheers!

[triggertreat]

Nice couple of piles ya got there.

Thanks!  The trap got too heavy to move around, so it was time to clean it out.  My .357 test slugs are in the basket.  They were cast with 1 to 40 lead.  The rest are a mixed bag.

[avator]

I've worked myself into a situation resulting from Squirrel moments.
Instead of staying on track with pouring and testing the new 99.9% pure lead I started this yardwork project.
I have the samples poured and sorted into bins on the shooting bench but I m compelled to see the yard project through.
I'll see if I can squeeze a few minutes in to test some in the NoDoze today at the least.

[Hoosier Daddy]

No "hot plate" to preheat the molds but I found this indoor electric grill in the closet.