Test pic

[S Mac]

 

[S Mac]

Maybe I have learned something.

 

[KeithB]

Nice hollow base SWC there.

 

[waco]

Looks good!

 

[fiver]

very nice.

 

[Brad]

Good job on both casting and posting a photo!

See, I told you it was easy

 

[KHornet]

They look very good!

Paul

 

[freebullet]

Ya got it!

Looks great!

 

[S Mac]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Pistolero]

Good job.

 

[Rick]

Fine lookin HB bullets S Mac. Good job.

 

[S Mac]

Something I have yet to figure out is the cause of the fine wrinkle like places on the very base, visible in the pic. Maybe add a touch of tin?

 

[Rick]

Possibly a hotter sprue plate, not alloy in the pot but the plate itself. Mold temp looks good.

 

[Brad]

Not just a hotter plate since it is a hollow base. The mould needs to be run fast and hot so the pins don't cool too much. No time for looking at bullets and admiring your work. Cast em fast so mould temps stays high.

 

[fiver]

think of it as heat being sucked away from the alloy before it can flow well enough to work it's way into the crevices fully.

 

[Rick]

Not just a hotter plate since it is a hollow base. The mould needs to be run fast and hot so the pins don't cool too much. No time for looking at bullets and admiring your work. Cast em fast so mould temps stays high.

Very true. I was thinking of larger sprue puddle for more heat on the plate which is correct as far as it goes but Brad is absolutely correct.
.

 

[S Mac]

It takes a while to get this mould up to temp because of the humoges pin. When it is up to temp my sprue is very small, casting with a ladle any more puddle just runs off. Yes, casting fast and furious.

 

[Rick]

That is the idea, hold the mold over the pot and pour heat (alloy) until it runs over the side of the mold for each cavity. Aim at the sprue hole while it's running off the side forcing alloy into the cavity.

 

[fiver]

heat the pin part up with a torch, just play the flame back and forth in the area.
your not trying to turn it blue/red or anything, just get the area good and hot.

 

[Brad]

That is the idea, hold the mold over the pot and pour heat (alloy) until it runs over the side of the mold for each cavity. Aim at the sprue hole while it's running off the side forcing alloy into the cavity.

YES!
That excess lead pouring off the mould with the ladle is HEAT! That heat will keep the mould hot. This is the real key to using a ladle to get ready better bullets. Let the extra lead run back into the pot.

Heat, not lead, is what you are pouring. Always keep that in mind.