BULLET CASTING SESSION

[sixshot]

Yesterday while casting some 40's & 45's I had something happen that I've never experienced in 45 years of making my own bullets.
My casting setup is the tail gate of my truck, I place a 1" thick piece of wood (18"X24" on the tail gate, place my lead furnace on one side & an old shirt on the right side of the pot to drop the bullets on & start making the little beauties.
We are in Arizona for the winter, the temp is high 60's & life is good but I did get a little surprise when adding more lead, actually linotype to the pot. I always wear glasses & heavy leather gloves, more than once over the years I've had a few little pop ups that can burn the skin if it isn't covered, nothing serious but molten alloy can be very dangerous.
Normally when my pot gets 2/3's empty I add the sprues back into the pot & then any additional metal that I need to get the pot full. I had a 2 lb ingot of linotype & I eased it into the molten alloy.....the linotype was dry & nothing visible on the surface. I usually hold my gloved hand over the pot for 2-3 seconds when adding any new metal, just in case something pops.
After removing my hand I walked over to my RV & opened up one of the storage doors to get something when I heard a loud pop, looking over at the pot 10 feet away there was quite a bit of lead that had popped out of the furnace, if I had been sitting there it would have been quite a stampede getting off that stool, there was probably 2 ounces of lead on the seat of the stool.
Some how I had gotten a steam explosion of some kind & was very fortunate that I didn't get burned. I've found from past experience that it takes a minimum of 3 laps around the house to get the burning to stop.....thats if I'm wearing my Steelers Croc's, if I'm wearing the regular green ones it takes 4 laps.
Just a heads up to everyone who casts, sooner or later you will get a pop off of lead & I've heard of some guys who have needed plastic surgery to repair the injuries....not good!

Dick

 

[clintsfolly]

You got the Tinsel Fairy to visit you!!! Get a small hot plate heater($10. at discount store) and a small steel plate. (dull skill saw blade) Use this setup to preheat your molds then ingots. Warm ingot cut down on the tinsel Fairy wreath. Clint

 

[Robb Barnes]

Boy Dick, I am glad it did not singe any of your good looks, I mean lockes, off! I wonder where in the heck the moisture came from? I learned the hard way a few months ago that sweat works just like water when it drops into a pot of liquid lead!

Take care buddy and tell the wife hello for me,

Robb

ps: Hurry up and get home. I am going to be needing some of those 32 pills you cast as soon as the FA gets home from Mr. Bowen's.

 

[sixshot]

The linotype ingot was sitting in the sun (mid 60's) & when I placed it in the pot it was sitting on top of the pile of sprue, if it had been cold I would have pre heated it, thats what I always do in Idaho. Still, for some reason it decided to pop. My moulds always go on top of the furnace so they are pre heated also. I had been casting for close to 2 hours. It was a strange situation.
Most times when a steam explosion happens the caster leans over the pot & a drop of sweat gets him in a lot of trouble.

Robb, I probably have some 32's, I'll have my buddy Steve take a look & see what I've got. Good to hear from you.

Dick

 

[contender]

First, it's good to know that you weren't close by when it happened. No injuries equates to a good thing.
Now, is it possible there was a trapped pocket of air in the linotype? Or maybe an impurity? In any event, I'm kinda like you in that I do take a lot of precautions when adding metals. It's definately a bit of a puzzle as to why the tinsel fairy appeared this time!

 

[callshot]

I'll look for some 32's soon. I just let David shoot 50 of mine, and reloaded them up. I still have about a thousand left here also. Almost enough for next summer. :wink: Glad you weren't hurt. I put some fresh bees wax in my pot one time and it fizzed a little. Must have had a drop of honey or brood in it that caught me off guard. can't be too careful because I don't have any crocks to run around the house in if I get burned.

 

[GAR]

Glad to see you escaped the wrath of the Tinsel Fairy!!
She can be quite the problem!!

Have had my pot bubble a few times but never the volcanic effect.

Tom

 

[M'BOGO]

Good dodge, glad you didn't catch any.

You didn't say, the Crocks are allright, right?

 

[LAH]

The last big one for me was in NJ at uncowboys home. I was casting him some 429421s & while adding a little alloy got the steam over boil. Exciting times. :D These were stored outside & weren't preheated. Glad you're ok Dick.

 

[GP100man]

Glad there were no serious injuries !!!!

Yep !! water on top like a drop of sweat will just sizzle & jump around ,but forced underneath the surface is a completely different story !!!

I cast like an ignoramious ,on the bottom pour pot no gloves no sleeves but do wear prescription glasses or safety glasses(learned from previous injuries) but I never add to the pot during casting . Once it`s come to temp & fluxed to satisfaction I run the whole 20# pot out (to within an inch of the bottom)

Ladle casting is completely the opposite , gloves sleeves glasses , those LITTLE splashes are HOT !!!

But even when refilling the pots I prewarm EVERYTHING , lead,ladles, spoons for fluxing even if it was stored dry !

Everytime I`ve got burned or hurt casting/handloading I was trying to rush to do someting else !!


BE CAREFUL ,BE SAFE & HAVE FUN !!!!