making leads?

[John Marshall]

Steve,
the advice above is all good, may I add

Don't do it in the kitchen, your mum/otherhalf will hate you, and you'll end up painting. All lead even clean brand new lead will smoke a bit and dirty lead smokes like a volcano.
Goggle do it moulds or pm Omahyank for loads of info on lead making.

[John Marshall]

Forgot to ask what mould is it?

[steve devon]

Just a ron thompson 6oz mould

only one i could find that was the shape i wanted apart from the expensive DCA ones

[Highlander]

Heat the lead til it turns black/dark and you'll not have to worry about pre-heating the mould. I use a small gas camping stove and aluminium camping tin which seems to be strong enough to fill a 3,4,5,6 mould

[Omahayank]

Steve, your first answer is a smallish ladle with a good well formed pouring lip. A long handled ladle maybe 2" in diameter, w/a sharp "V" shaped lip. Take a file to it to sharpen up a "V"

I hope you dont go off the deep end w/molding like I have. I counted my molds recently...I have 60.

First make sure your work surface is absloutely stable and sturdy, and the work area uncluttered. You dont want to trip holding a ladle full of molten lead!!

All of the advise so far is good, now besides that long sleeves and probably trousers are a really good idea! and 100% cotton or wool, NO synthetic fabrics! Cotton gloves are usually good enough too, but leather is good. Do Not use insulated leather Winter gloves, unless you are Positive its not synthetic insulation.

As for pouring the lead, small pouring lips are prob going to be your best friend.
Before you begin, black or soot the mold w/a candle w/a smoky flame. Hold the mold at the tip of the flame and deposite soot on the inside of the mold cavity, wherever molten lead touches, wipe it off the mating surface. When you begin, pour the mold full without inserts or loops and let it rest abit to bring it up to temp.

Let us know how it goes. I can go on and on if you want more info.
Thank you John its nice to be acknowleged

[codhead]

Look for a mini-vice or clamp that can be screwed to a block of wood to hold you mould absolutely stable. I use the Gemini sinker system and found their clamp invaluable. I also leave my sinkers outside for a few days before going fishing to take the shiny finish off them, you could soak them in vinegar but I prefer it on me chips.

Good tip re: candle smoke BTW Omaha

[maghouse]

Another tip on melting lead - use a old fashioned paint can - the ones painters used to pour paint into to paint from (if that makes sense) can still buy them I think - you can easily bend the lip into a spout to pour BUT dont put too much lead in at one time otherwise it is very difficult to manouvre a heavy pot of lead ! Although they are thin - lead melts at a very low boiling point so little risk of metling the can !
Best bet is to use a purpose built ladel - best place to get then is a gun shop - ask for a LYMAN lead ladel (see photo) - absolute doddle to use & very safe - the only downside is I think it would only hold about 4-5oz but would be very easy to have 2 quick pours provided the mould is very hot to keep the fist pour molten/semi molten.
Just to re-iterate one point if I may - ABSOLUTLEY NO WATER - anywhere near, I once had a brick explode showering molten lead everywhere - I used to make ingots and the v shape on the inside of a brick was perfect but made the mistake of using a wet brick - wrong !!! So glad I was wearing safety glasses ....
Hope that helps ...

[steve devon]

Cheers for all the advice will be tryin it when i can get my campin stove off my bro

[pingu]

bit late on reply but waited until kids back at school before making any but I hope this helps for you steve

heat pan and mould

dont overfill pan as will be dangerous(and gets heavy) this is enough for 3 sets of this particular mould

pour slowly into mould as this will hold back any muck in lead if left

till just comes to top

leave for short while and break out

trim of the tag ends(which can go straight back into melt again

and roberts your mothers brother so to speak


the principles the same for all moulds and the warnings in all previous replies as well

[steve devon]

Cheers for that had my 1st attempt yesrerday made 1 lead then my stove gas ran out so gotta wait a while now to make some more

Must have enough lead to make at least 100 leads though so gotta start doin em