Ingots or bullets, which first? - The Firearms Forum

frosty · 01-21-2004, 11:53 AM

I understand that I will have skim off the clips and the crude off the top of the molten lead.

Is it best to just melt it all down and form ingots first or just straight to casting bullets?

Just wondering which would be better in the long run.

Signed
Green horn caster

inplanotx · 01-21-2004, 03:46 PM

Well, if you don't clean the wheels weights first, then you just might as well go ahead and after you lube the bullets, roll them in sand first. Sure will make for no leading?

You have to clean the wheel weights of dirt and clips. For this you are going to need flux and a spoon. You have to make sure that when you flux the metal and the dross forms, you do not take out the tin, which will float.

Did you get the 50/50 bar solder? Did you buy the Lyman book?

Xracer · 01-22-2004, 07:46 AM

Here's a suggestion. Go to WallyWorld and buy a plastic dishpan. Put in a 1/4 cup of dishwash detergent and fill with hot water. Stir it up. Fill it with wheelweights and let them soak overnight.

In the morning, scoop the wheelweights out by the handful and rinse them in hot tapwater until they're all well rinsed. Spread them out on a couple of layers of paper towels and let them air dry.

When they're all nice and dry (I usually let them air dry overnight), melt them (be sure to flux & skim) and pour them into ingots.

That way, you get all of the messy stuff out of the way at once, and whenever you're ready to cast bullets, just heat up the ingots.

If you're using a furnace, when you finally get the temperature adjusted to where it casts well.....don't touch it! When you're done casting, just uplug it, and leave the temperature where it was.

I, personally, don't use 50/50 solder.....I just cast straight wheelweights.

tuckerd1 · 01-22-2004, 07:58 AM

Definitely ingots. Clean the crud out as inplanotx and xracer have said. Makes things a lot easier to measure and mix your ingredients, if you are adding anyhting to the wheel weights, and a whole lot cleaner come bullet time.

inplanotx · 01-22-2004, 08:43 AM

I add the 50/50 bar solder at a 1 to 10 ratio. It really hardens up the bullets. I have found that they decrease the leading when making real hot loads for my 45 Colt. I use a 300 gr gas check bullet. Will usually go straight through any animal. Even a pig!

01-21-2004, 11:53 AM	#1
frosty V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 374	Ingots or bullets, which first? I understand that I will have skim off the clips and the crude off the top of the molten lead. Is it best to just melt it all down and form ingots first or just straight to casting bullets? Just wondering which would be better in the long run. Signed Green horn caster __________________ BEER POCKET BOOK ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS -->

01-21-2004, 03:46 PM	#2
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Well, if you don't clean the wheels weights first, then you just might as well go ahead and after you lube the bullets, roll them in sand first. Sure will make for no leading? You have to clean the wheel weights of dirt and clips. For this you are going to need flux and a spoon. You have to make sure that when you flux the metal and the dross forms, you do not take out the tin, which will float. Did you get the 50/50 bar solder? Did you buy the Lyman book? __________________ Last edited by inplanotx; 01-21-2004 at 03:47 PM..

01-22-2004, 08:43 AM	#5
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	I add the 50/50 bar solder at a 1 to 10 ratio. It really hardens up the bullets. I have found that they decrease the leading when making real hot loads for my 45 Colt. I use a 300 gr gas check bullet. Will usually go straight through any animal. Even a pig! __________________

01-22-2004, 07:46 AM	#3
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Here's a suggestion. Go to WallyWorld and buy a plastic dishpan. Put in a 1/4 cup of dishwash detergent and fill with hot water. Stir it up. Fill it with wheelweights and let them soak overnight. In the morning, scoop the wheelweights out by the handful and rinse them in hot tapwater until they're all well rinsed. Spread them out on a couple of layers of paper towels and let them air dry. When they're all nice and dry (I usually let them air dry overnight), melt them (be sure to flux & skim) and pour them into ingots. That way, you get all of the messy stuff out of the way at once, and whenever you're ready to cast bullets, just heat up the ingots. If you're using a furnace, when you finally get the temperature adjusted to where it casts well.....don't touch it! When you're done casting, just uplug it, and leave the temperature where it was. I, personally, don't use 50/50 solder.....I just cast straight wheelweights.

01-22-2004, 07:58 AM	#4
tuckerd1 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Paint Rock Valley, Alabama Posts: 3,147	Definitely ingots. Clean the crud out as inplanotx and xracer have said. Makes things a lot easier to measure and mix your ingredients, if you are adding anyhting to the wheel weights, and a whole lot cleaner come bullet time.