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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 255 Likes: 20
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 255 Likes: 20 |
I'm casting some keel grabber weights for my duck and goose floaters and I'm having two issues. First, I can't get the molds to fill all the way. The mold is warm and I dusted the cavity with talcum powder. The 8 oz weight works fine. 6 oz and 4 oz won't fill. Second, I can't get the weights to release from the mold and have to pry them out. I have casted a bunch of fishing sinkers of different kinds and never had either of these issues. I'm using wheel weights that I've melted down, skimmed off the dross and cast into ingots.
What am I doing wrong this time?
Nothing the government gives you is free.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14,016 Likes: 1819
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14,016 Likes: 1819 |
I've never had an issue like that when casting them, or bullets, or ingots. If I had to guess I'd say you might try to increase the heat some and get the molten lead hotter. I like to see it solidify at the top of the mold a few seconds after filling. Get you some pine tree rosin and flux the molten lead with that, too, before casting. It'll bring more dross to the top.
SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,696 Likes: 226
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,696 Likes: 226 |
AND you need pure lead and not an alloy that expands
Try rolled lead roofing or lead pipe
Mike
USAF RET 1971-95 ![[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]](http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/57865_80x60.jpg)
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 191 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 191 Likes: 4 |
Unless they are old wheel weights they aren't 100% lead anymore.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 255 Likes: 20
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 255 Likes: 20 |
Thanks guys. I appreciate it.
Nothing the government gives you is free.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14,016 Likes: 1819
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14,016 Likes: 1819 |
AND you need pure lead and not an alloy that expands
Try rolled lead roofing or lead pipe
Mike Or, lead sheeting from old x-ray rooms, or lead sheaths from old telephone line junctions, or discarded lead plumber's ingots. I've got a pile with all that in it. SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 255 Likes: 20
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 255 Likes: 20 |
All I've got right now is a couple 5 gallon buckets of ingots cast from the wheel weights, which I know also contain tin and antimony. I'll have to scrounge some pure lead.
Nothing the government gives you is free.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 711 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 711 Likes: 1 |
Had the exact problem myself a week ago. Casting the j weight 4:and 6 oz. Cast enough so that once the mold was hot the weight filled in good with the exception of the tip of the J. Never could get that first 1/4 in to fill in. And I am using pure lead. I think it's cooling before it gets there. I was using my bottom pour Lee pot. Will try the ladle and cast iron pot next time and get it a little hotter and see what happens. The ones I cast work pretty good as is.
Last edited by 12brd; 10/24/18 11:06 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,696 Likes: 226
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,696 Likes: 226 |
I turn my wheel weights into shot  
USAF RET 1971-95
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