casting lead

Maker · Sep 27, 2014

Wendelspanswick said:
I made a lead mallet in my youth, cut a hole in the side of an empty soup tin can, inserted a length of steel pipe and then filled the tin can up with molten lead. Wait for it to cool then cut the tin off. It has been reincarnated many times when it gets really deformed, just remelt and pour in to a fresh tin and new handle.
I now use the tall thin soup cans though rather than the traditional size cans as its too much of a 'persuader' with a big can.

That's a great Idea :clapping:

, Do you think it would work with brass from old taps as well?

KemppiFrog · Sep 27, 2014

Maker said:
That's a great Idea, Do you think it would work with brass from old taps as well?

Er.. Brass melts at a much higher temp than lead. Brass, 900C. Lead 327C.

sardine · Sep 27, 2014

We used to cast lead jaws for our vices, just a plain steel mould, warmed up a bit first. Melted in a ladle with a propane torch. Scrape the dross off first.

brightspark · Sep 27, 2014

weve got a metal die for making these in lead :laughing:

Maker · Sep 27, 2014

KemppiFrog said:
Er.. Brass melts at a much higher temp than lead. Brass, 900C. Lead 327C.

That was what I was trying to ask, would the soup can withstand the molten brass and would I run into any problems with the chrome coating?

brightspark · Sep 27, 2014

Maker said:
That was what I was trying to ask, would the soup can withstand the molten brass and would I run into any problems with the chrome coating?

i wouldnt be poring molten brass in to a bean can

ive poured it in to a sandcast mold box before and it leaked out , burnt my boots exploded on the concrete floor and nearly got splattered with molten metal . any metal that is melted down dross will form on the top and will need scraping off while molten

doubleboost · Sep 27, 2014

Cast some lead hammers today
Be in tomorrows video

Maker · Sep 27, 2014

doubleboost said:
Cast some lead hammers today
Be in tomorrows video

Looks good, What is the mould your using, it looks quite nifty?

doubleboost · Sep 27, 2014

It is a proper hammer mould
I borrowed it from a friend
They were made in various sizes

mike k · Sep 28, 2014

As suggested, use a heavy pan and preheat the mould.

doubleboost · Sep 28, 2014

Some lead casting

ibrooks · Sep 29, 2014

Wasn't someone asking about uses for disposable gas bottles the other day........ Chop a few inches off the bottom and it's a ready made crucible - weld on a tag to get a grip on with pliers or similar for lifting it and pouring.

I used to cast figures in lead and just used an old tobacco tin with a spout formed in one edge and a set of plumbers grips to lift it and pour. The quantities I was melting could easily be melted on the gas hob.

Iain

KemppiFrog · Sep 30, 2014

Maker said:
That was what I was trying to ask, would the soup can withstand the molten brass and would I run into any problems with the chrome coating?

I haven't tried it, and I wouldn't with a flimsy tin. I expect the brass would melt out of the chrome shell ( chrome melts at 1615C ) and it would remain in the tin while you poured out the brass. Let us know if you try it

Maker · Sep 30, 2014

KemppiFrog said:
I haven't tried it, and I wouldn't with a flimsy tin. I expect the brass would melt out of the chrome shell ( chrome melts at 1615C ) and it would remain in the tin while you poured out the brass. Let us know if you try it

I'm buying an oxy/propane torch very soon so I'll try it then.

julianf · Sep 30, 2014

ibrooks said:
Wasn't someone asking about uses for disposable gas bottles the other day........ Chop a few inches off the bottom and it's a ready made crucible - weld on a tag to get a grip on with pliers or similar for lifting it and pouring.

They would be fine for lead, but they flake / rupture if you try to go hotter. (yes, ive tried them)

MattF · Sep 30, 2014

julianf said:
They would be fine for lead, but they flake / rupture if you try to go hotter. (yes, ive tried them)

What do you mean by flake/rupture? Only time I've noticed peculiar behaviour with the gas canisters is during first use when coatings get removed and when they're rusty, (in which case the rust will merrily ping off when it's warming

), but I've run a propane bottle to red heat and never noticed owt weird in any other regard.

the snooper · Sep 30, 2014

years ago when I needed a small amount of lead I melted it down in a clean baked beans tin on a camping stove

daleyd · Sep 30, 2014

the snooper said:
years ago when I needed a small amount of lead I melted it down in a clean baked beans tin on a camping stove

I used an old tin can last time I did it, when I was about 12, over a fire in the back garden. Made a load of sea fishing weights in sand moulds.

the snooper · Sep 30, 2014

daleyd said:
I used an old tin can last time I did it, when I was about 12, over a fire in the back garden. Made a load of sea fishing weights in sand moulds.

must be an age thing with the tin cans I was about 14

julianf · Sep 30, 2014

MattF said:
What do you mean by flake/rupture? Only time I've noticed peculiar behaviour with the gas canisters is during first use when coatings get removed and when they're rusty, (in which case the rust will merrily ping off when it's warming ), but I've run a propane bottle to red heat and never noticed owt weird in any other regard.

Like when you drill a bit of slate, and dont get it right, the slate flakes up around the hole.

This happens more and more, and the cylinder then ruptures.

But, again, at lead temps its fine. Cast does not flake in the same way.

The cost of a decent crucible is what's currently got my casting plans on hold.

casting lead

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