First Time Casting Round Balls

[@genevisneski7708]

One other thing, I can't quite remember but I think the melting point for lead is 550 degrees, I set the temp on furnace to 700 degrees, I do this because soon as lead leaves the pot it begins to cool though it is still hot. It pours and fills mold a bit better when hotter but this is just my opinion.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

Thank you for the information I really appreciate it. Have a great day.

[@williamschlosser77]

I'm an outback mountain man at 10k', and a minimalist, very frugal, or at least I try. So I use an old small hibachi, or a small fire pit and make a small fire with split 1" diameter X 7" long pin; making a grid pyre, with several levels. Smaller pieces burn fast and make a pile of coals, which I put my crucible into once bright orange. The entire process takes 10 minutes from cold pit to molten lead. Very cheap and efficient, and traditional. Ty for your post, I'm subscribed now. FREDRICKSBURG!

[@greywolfoutdoorshomestead9962]

Yep. That stick is a tire thumper.. yeah yeah we'll go with that.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

That's originally what I bought it for when I was driving trucks. But it has many uses . 😁😁

[@mattparker9726]

11:17 you've got two audio inputs recording that's why you sound super deep. I saw that on a stream once before.

[@williamschlosser77]

Most slightly ill formed balls can be rolled between glass to smooth and round them. (In fact many do this anyway.) Unless they're missing a great deal of lead in a void or cavity, which I think are the result of lead not hot enough.

[@SpiritoftheOutdoors]

Ive only done this 2 times for my 50 cal and it worked well . I heated the mold up and use a small cast iron pot and use my butane burner to heat but i have a history of doing excellent on the first try then screwing up second because i get cocky lol.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

LOL

[@tacticalcornbread3506]

What I do when I pour lead is keep everything hot keep the ladle and mold hot and skim the top of the lead with an old spoon to clean off the clumps and I drop my hot lead balls into a bucket of water with a old 100% cotton t shirt in the bottom to keep the round balls from getting flat spots on them when hitting the bottom of the bucket. Also there are different mixtures of lead some require higher heat to keep it flowing. I use wood chips to Flux the lead.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

Thank you for the information. I think I need to get the pot out of the breeze to. Thank you for watching, and have a great day.

[@petemidwest1071]

What I have learned: I own a bottom feed furnace which stops premature cooling. Your every movement from dipping your ladle to bringing to mold, ambient temperature and pouring allows the lead to cool somewhat which gives you inconsistent pours. Next is, speed of flow into the molds. This is the key to successful consistent output. Also: you don’t have to worry about the floaters with a bottom feed furnace...Wish I had better info for the set up you already have.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

I definitely think I'll be getting another pot with the bottom spout. Thank you for watching, and have a great day.

[@russellkeeling4387]

Even without a bottom feed furnace he could do much better if he had a different type of ladle to pour the lead into the mold. A round ladle with the nipple on it has a lot of cast iron mass which helps to keep the lead hot longer.

[@genevisneski7708]

Not bad for first time. I've been casting bullets for quite some time and this is what I do, I'm sure others have their own methods and its whatever works for you though these tips might help you find it. Also doing this outdoors is a little more challenging, use a wind block. I use a SAECO casting furnace (bottom spout) but I have also used ladle method as well. The scum that forms on top is the impurities from the lead, skim it off with spoon or something similar and dump it in an old can or something. I do this after fluxing with small piece of bees wax, it will flame up so when flame gos out, skim scum off the top and you will find a nice shiny layer of molten lead. The scum is also what is sticking to ladle, after pouring lead into mold, put ladle back into pot to keep it hot which will also prevent the sticking. Also pre-heat bullet mold by resting it on rim of melting pot, casting a couple balls will bring it up to temp as well. The wrinkles in the ball are likely from lead not being quite up to temp, slow pour or both and this could also be from doing this outdoors with a slight breeze. After tapping the sprue cutter open, turn mold upside down and tap the bolt on the mold and it will fall off. Again both methods work well however for production, the bottom pour casting furnace works best. Sometimes I use the ladle method just because I like using it as well. Last week I casted about 150 .483" round balls using a bag mold and first 30 or so I used ladle and finished the remainder using the SAECO furnace. I'm not sure but I don't think SAECO still makes the casting furnace but they probably can be found on eBay, maybe? I have a LEE mold for casting .457" round balls and it works great however I don't use them for conical bullets because I have run into problems such as pins falling out just to mention one. At any rate I hope this helps and a final note, the more you do, the better you'll get at it. Great Video! 👍

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

Thank you again have a great, day and stay prepared.

[@a.N.....]

This is great, reminds me of that scene in the Patriot, where hes casting the lead soldiers down into musket balls.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

I don't think I have seen that movie. I'll have to check it out. Thank you for watching and stay prepared.

[@bentalbert350]

@@LivingFrugalAndPrepping it's a great movie

[@raysheppard8040]

Lead needs to be very hot closer to 800 degrees For the ladle pours

[@genevisneski7708]

Back again... A couple other things worth mentioning, if you get a bottom pour furnace, alway's leave a 1/2" or so in bottom when finished otherwise impurities can get stuck in the valve which will cause it to leak the next time using it. When fluxing, If your temperature is right the wax will likely flame up, after flame goes out, stir well scraping bottom & sides to remove any impurities that stick. After skimming drouth off top eventually you will see another layer forming on top that will resemble thin crinkled tin, thats because it is tin, if casting for muzzle loader you can skim it off too, if casting for modern firearms stir to mix it back in, I say this because I add tin when casting for modern firearms. Also, not necessary to drop in water, I just knock them out on an old towel dedicated to the process, works well.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

Thank you for all the advice.

[@runforestrun5274]

hi great video

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

Thank You.

[@woodrowbrimm2805]

Be careful to only use Pure Lead in Black Powder Guns. The Lee Ladle is worthless. I keep my Casting Pot on a Table just about Eye Level and I use a bottom pour pot. Also the thermostat on the Lee Pots isn't very good so I built 2 PID controllers to regulate the Temperature (Johnie's Loading Bench Video shows how). The Lyman Ladle is much better. I use Cedar wood chip Pet Bedding to Flux with as the wax can cause Gas Bubbles on the Lead and Gum up the Pour Spout. Keep but in your Temp. just under 700*F. Your Mold and Ladle should be Hot enough the Lead doesn't stick. In Hot weather .451 Balls are O'k but in Winter stick with .454 or Powder Coat the .451. Minor wrinkles won't hurt you but if you can feel it with a finger nail or if they weigh more than about .5 Grains light remelt them. If you have a Vibrating Case Tumbler it will get rid of the Flat Spot from the Sprue Cutter just don't use any Media in the Tumbler. I also make 00 Buck Shot the same way but with Hard Lead and a little Graphite Spray in the Tumbler .Run them for about an hour and the Sprue Cut should be almost invisible as should any minor wrinkles.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

Yes I use 99% pure lead .

[@russellkeeling4387]

I don't use pure lead in my black powder rifles and I like the harder lead. I don't worry about the barrel because the ball never touches the barrel. I get a slightly lighter ball with a lighter metal mixed in.

[@russellkeeling4387]

The lead was sticking to your ladle because the ladle was not hot enough. If you are leaving the ladle in the lead then the lead isn't hot enough. When you put bees wax in you need to actually stir it to help bring the impure stuff to the top to be ladled off with a spoon. Be very careful with the gray dust stuff because it may be zinc oxide, very toxic.

[@mattparker9726]

This was a cool video!

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

Thank you and thank you for watching. *_Have a great day and stay prepared._*

[@mikewickerham8149]

You can stir more to help stop the oxidation at the top of the pot. Flux often and stir often for top dipping. You don’t need to drop them in water. I use the Lee molds for round balls also. They work well. Invest in a bottom pour pot and quality and ease will improve. Thanks for the video.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

Thank you for the information and advice. Yes I definitely want to get one with the down pour spout. Thank you for watching, and have a great day.

[@frankiegee8656]

Will you be doing a video casting square balls next?

[@ShellShock11C]

Very cool my friend.

[@Wexelent]

Since deciding to setup a homestead, I've seen black powder as the most self sustainable option. Thanks for showing the trial and errors you've gone through.

[@LivingFrugalAndPrepping]

_Thank you for watching, have a great day and stay prepared._

[@russellkeeling4387]

Have you learned to make your own powder yet?

[@Wexelent]

@@russellkeeling4387 Know how, yes, and I have grapevine of the finest quality for my powder mix already dried just in case. Grows on my property. I'm highly confident in my ability to do this as I have worked with... uhhh... other powdered substances IN MY YOUTH. I am now mid 30s and a legal seagull but there's no lack of experience.

[@JoeJoe-gm6qf]

A Lyman ladle works better for me than the Lee.

[@raysheppard8040]

Yup almost got to run that pot to highest temp

[@johnhoward7298]

I'm not sure , but , I'm guessing , I'd say You shouldn't put cool lead back into the pot ( it'll cool the pot down ) .

[@JohnSmith-nh9vr]

For plinking 18gn of titewad , any shell any wad that not to small for the shell ( cut of petals or it WILL GO BOOM the way you dont want )

[@goodolgoldy1976]

😎

[@mattparker9726]

I think you aren't getting the lea hot enough. The ripples made me think that.

[@rwl8150]

Keep your mold hot.