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Post by magnumwheelman on Aug 29, 2017 20:57:19 GMT -5
Presses... maybe... but I've not been happy with my old melting pot ( I inherited from my FIL... an old model 61 Lyman pot, I think 10 lbs ) ... I'm a newbie when it comes to casting, and I can't get the temperature to stabilize so I'm having some issues actually casting "good" bullets... the newer pots must be better at holding temps right??? is it worth changing out the controller??? the pot does heat up... I've read of a couple guys changing out their controllers Any suggestions as to a newer controller if you think that is the answer???
I have a new Lyman digital lead thermometer, and it was suggested that I start at 725 - 750 degrees...to get that hot, I'm way past the marked settings on the controller, and then it shoots up to over 800* I've not found a sweet spot yet in that area past the marked settings, & as far as the dial will turn... so I'm fighting wrinkly bullets & have tried putting the mold a couple distances from the spout... I've started my casting adventure with those 475 heel seated bullets in a single cavity aluminum mold ( my buddy says it works great for him ) so maybe if it's not my pot, it's just new guy glitches??? last night with the lead at or around 750 - 800 degrees ( my final pour ) I got about 1/3 bullets that were wrinkle free... the rest went back into the pot with everything else I had tried last night ( 50-60 )
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jsh
.327 Meteor
Posts: 884
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Post by jsh on Aug 30, 2017 7:42:38 GMT -5
I quit looking at the supposed numbers or temps on the dial for any kind of setting. Use a thermometer.
A fellow I was helping get started in casting had issues with his new pot. He didn't own a thermometer. He would set the dial to what he wanted and go from there. Had all kinds of issues.
Thermometer was put in the pot and it was not even close. He also turned the knob all the way down every time when done casting. I get mine set and leave it there.
Another good reason for a PID, which I still have not got for myself.
Jeff
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gunzo
.30 Stingray
Posts: 423
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Post by gunzo on Aug 30, 2017 8:35:43 GMT -5
^+1^
A reliable thermometer petty much solves a lot of issues when casting. Come to think of it, I got a new digital cooking thermometer this year & haven't had an overdone steak since. Thermometers are a good thing.
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jgt
.327 Meteor
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Posts: 782
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Post by jgt on Aug 30, 2017 8:59:58 GMT -5
Sounds like you are starting with a cold mold. Do you heat your mold before you start your casting or let the casting heat your mold? If it is the latter, getting wrinkled bullets is normal.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Aug 30, 2017 9:04:16 GMT -5
on this one, I let the casting heat the mold, & I'm expecting wrinkles on the 1st 12-15 bullets... however I was still getting some wrinkles towards the end of my casting... thinking my temp is cooling off on the pot... it's like if I turn it up as far as it'll go, the heat doesn't shut off, and anything less, & it gets hot, & turns off, & doesn't turn back on until it cools for 50 degrees or so???
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Post by magnumwheelman on Aug 30, 2017 9:11:05 GMT -5
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Post by foxtrapper on Aug 30, 2017 9:48:55 GMT -5
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Post by magnumwheelman on Aug 30, 2017 9:54:34 GMT -5
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Snyd
.375 Atomic
The Last Frontier
Posts: 2,392
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Post by Snyd on Aug 30, 2017 10:03:18 GMT -5
Stick the mould in the pot for a bit to heat it up.
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Post by sixshot on Aug 30, 2017 12:14:21 GMT -5
Pre-heating the mold is important but also the flow coming out of the spout is also important once the alloy is up to temp. If the flow is slow you can still get poor quality bullets. You might also try pressure casting, put the mold right up against the spout & hold it a couple of seconds & then pull it away, this should give you good fill out.
It does sound like your alloy is plenty hot so it has to be either mold temp or flow.
Dick
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Post by magnumwheelman on Aug 30, 2017 12:59:14 GMT -5
as flow was mentioned, my machinist buddy ( that owns this mold ) actually made a new sprue plate with a larger hole, which is why he says this casts well...
I'm still thinking it's maintaining the temp... I think I'm getting wrinkly bullets both 1st & last... 1st because of the cold mold, & last, because I'm thinking the controller shuts it off, & doesn't turn it on quickly enough???
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Post by sixshot on Aug 30, 2017 13:41:06 GMT -5
I don't think so. I have a Saeco 41 caliber mold with very small holes in the sprue plate & it makes wonderful bullets once the mold is hot & the alloy is hot. I also don't think your alloy is changing that much. If you try pressure casting with the mold up against the nipple/spout of your furnace or dipper, whatever you are using & hold it for a couple of seconds I think you will see a quick change in the wrinkles. If you need to run your furnace hotter then do it, I do, you can always slow down your casting or switch to two molds at a time.
Dick
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Post by magnumwheelman on Aug 30, 2017 13:53:16 GMT -5
Thanks again for the comments Dick... I thought about putting it up against the nipple... but I was a little concerned about spraying out.... I was kind of over cautious there, as I'm not wearing any protective gear, & when emptying out the previous pot ( to get bad lead out ) I was towards the bottom, & thought I'd fill a couple ladles for small ingots... FIL's stuff has been sitting in the basement on a shelf for 15 years... didn't think about it, but there must have been some moisture in the corrosion in the bottom of the ladle, as it erupted when I just about had the 1st ladle full... heavy lead doesn't fly too far, but it made me a little over cautious since I was casting in the hot garage, sweating, & wearing short pants, a short sleeve shirt, & a pair of generic Crocks ( very careful about dripping sweat, I'm 100% sure I did not drip sweat into the ladle ) it started making a noise while filling, & just when I was ready to stop, because of the noise... it popped
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gunzo
.30 Stingray
Posts: 423
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Post by gunzo on Aug 30, 2017 14:04:00 GMT -5
Apologies for my thermometer post, I did not notice that you do use one. |
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Post by magnumwheelman on Aug 30, 2017 14:05:40 GMT -5
no problem... bought that a while back... long before I dug out FIL's stuff out of the basement  |
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