Casting Set-up

[boatswainsmate]

Hello All,
I've been wondering what other caster's set-up's look like. This is my meager casting area. I'm using a 250 CFM range hood to remove the fumes from my casting area that is being feed outside air from the pipe to the right. I would love to see what other caster's area's look like to find idea's to improve upon mine. Thanks. Boats

 

[JWFilips]

Mine is not elaborate but it works...behind my chair is the cellar steps with a a small draw fan hanging from the door frame

 

[Tomme boy]

FAN??? What is this you speak of?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Mine is a narrow bench with elevated pots and a hot plate beneath and a PID off to the side. Its in my garage with front and back doors for ventilation. I have a 30" fan I can roll out into driveway for positive air flow if needed.

I found a perfect 16" square, roll around "bench" that I cover with a few layers of once white towels. To release bullets on. This bench has a fold out side table about 6" lower I use for a 2.5gal plastic bucket if I quench. Off to that benches side and beside those three elevated pots I have a letter press steel tray with tools and a harbor freight magnet screwed to the front for allens and set screws and small screwdrivers. Its working well for me.
I have storage behind the pots on the wall and it that roll around bench there is two drawers and a shelf. I store all my molds and handles down in loading toom where temperatures are more moderate.

 

[richhodg66]

I actually have a big old work bench I salvaged from being thrown out by a neighbor that stays outside. I move my pot and stuff out there when I cast. Have to watch the weather beforehand, but I like doing it outside. I do cast standing up.

Haven't really done as much casting the past several years. Moved Mom and Dad into assisted living a few years ago and I got a whole lot Dad had cast up over the years, been gradually shooting those up, just now beginning to see a dent in them. The plan eventually is to settle on one, maybe two bullets per bore size, cast in quantity and not have to do it for a long time.

 

[Winelover]

Mine are completely portable. I cast outdoors. Either, in front of the garage or on the lower downstairs back porch, respectively. Depends on the time of year and wind direction.



Bench is a Black & Decker Workmate.



Bench is a pine Tete-tete aka tea set.

 

[Tomme boy]

@Winelover Chevelle SS!! I had a 70 SS 396 in high school.

 

[popper]

@Winelover Those gloves are too new to be casting with. My cast/reload/workbench is in garage, open door if too hot, close during winter. Only the press is permanent. Everything else, kinda semi-permanent - depending on how lazy or what needs to be done.

 

[Winelover]

I tend to wear out the fingers on those canvas gloves. I purchase them by the dozen.

 

[Winelover]

@Winelover Chevelle SS!! I had a 70 SS 396 in high school.

Should have kept it, they go for big bucks nowadays.

 

[Glaciers]

Two range hoods with fan and lights. Oven for PC, three pots, left to right 50/50, 30 to 1 then the RCBS with COWW. A duel PID for the two LEE pots and a single PID to the right of the range hoods for the RCBS pot. Hot plate just below the PID. Craftsman boxes hold molds with handles, Lyman’s sizers on the side but wall bench needs to have two better stiff legs added.
Reloading casting room is 10x12 which has 5 - 4’ LED lights. Lots of light.

Edit, no outdoor casting in this country, to cold in winter and in summer mesquites will steal your ladle when you set it down to open the mold.

 

[Jeff H]

I tend to wear out the fingers on those canvas gloves. I purchase them by the dozen.

I have bad luck wearing out the first two fingers and thumb of leather gloves handling firewood. Being a cheap-skate, I milk every pair for what they're worth and will continue to use them for other tasks, but keep them aside from "whole" gloves.

I found out really quickly one day that I failed in segregating good gloves from holey gloves when I wen to twist the sprue plate one one of my 2C moulds and the tail of the HOT sprue plate went right through the hole in the thumb of the glove.

NOW, I just keep a pair of "good" gloves by my pot.


You guys are embarrassing me with those clean, organized casting setups. Mine is in transition and I have work to do, but haven't had time to do it. I still cast with it in spite of it not being optimal, but will get it squared away some day.

 

[blackthorn]

Gloves:---I had a job where we used leather gloves while pulling Fir veneer off a green chain in a plywood plant. We had to buy our own gloves and they wore fast! We would cut the fingers off worn through gloves, turn them upside down and shove them into the fingers of another worn pair. Made the gloves last a lot longer.

 

[Winelover]

Gloves were provided by GM for all workers. Tool crib stocked them. Just need a signed requisition from your foreman, if you weren't a tradesman.

 

[Dimner]

For casting gloves I just use those ranching leather gloves used to work on fencing. Great mix of allowing enough movement but also heat protection.

For smelting or blending alloys, I pull out the full on welding gauntlets.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BY3SNGK

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I always wear eye protection but inly glove when working directly with the top of the open running pot. Like dumping in sprues or refilling. Not often when actually casting.

CW

 

[RicinYakima]

My favorite for casting were the Viet Nam chopper piolet gloves, Nomex with horsehide palms and finger pads. They used to be a buck a pair for years. Now I get the pigskin ranch gloves one size smaller and turn them inside out to use them.

 

[Ian]

 

[Jeff H]

@Ian , that's one cozy-looking little "happy place."

Love the lamps. Spent a little time last spring cleaning up an old brass Aladdin #12, with a mismatched nickeled burner I got for ten bucks.

The mantles and wicks set me back a small bundle though.

 

[Ian]

Thanks, Jeff. It's the corner of the "happy room".

I didn't have electricity until I went to college. The Aladdins are the best there is without using pressurized fuel but they run so hot we can't use them indoors most of the year here. I keep a half-dozen or so old kero lamps from my childhood for the memories and the time when I may need them again, like next snow storm. Another fun fact: I taught myself to reload at the age of 14 with an RCBS starter kit and did it after supper during the week by that taller lamp in the photo and a pocket Mini-Mag light.

I notice a lot of us have indoor casting setups with forced ventilation and hoods. Good to see others doing it too, it's great to be able to cast bullets in shirt sleeves in any weather, any time of day or night as time and the urge permit.