How cold can it be when you cast?

[Elric]

I cast outside... Except in sub-zero temps.. But anyways, assuming I swept off the global warming off the table on the sidewalk, what kind of results would occur? Would the Pro-Melt keep up with the cold? Bet the sprue would set up REAL quick... Insulated moulds?

 

[Rick]

Tomorrow morning would be a good time to find out, let us know.

 

[Ian]

Depends on the wind. Make a wind break on three sides of the furnace to keep the spout from freezing, and cover the top of the melt with kitty litter.

 

[waco]

I'm glad I don't have this problem.

 

[Brad]

I think the pot could easily keep up. Keeping the mould hot wouldn't be too hard unless you play around between pours.
Biggest issue is keeping YOU warm. My desire to do anything outside right now is about zero. I cast in the garage and it gets into the 50s but I can handle it. Into the 30s and I would be inside.

 

[Chris]

It's chilly here now. I was thinking about smelting... not casting... and just dropped the idea. I have smelted in the cold before and it just takes a lot of heat and much more time.

I would not want to cast outside now at -20, I think it would be difficult to run the mold right. Maybe large caliber molds, multi-cavity, would be ok if casting fast. Not going to try it. I think common sense says "no".

 

[RicinYakima]

I cast for years in my little outdoor shop in the 30's and 40's, much better than when it is 100 out side. So, the thermostats don't work well or to the same temperature due to air flow, Ian is right in that I had to cast with the door open and window open. I only had iron moulds in those days and 4 cavity Lyman's worked just fine. Timing was critical as a few seconds too long and I needed the mallet to open the plate. Used a milking heater to blow on my pac's and stayed warm enough to cast for a couple of hours, after an hour heating time for the pot. My biggest issue was to keep condensation off the ingots to recharge the pot. Ric

 

[fiver]

the wind would be the biggest factor.
the rest is just the same old, same old, alloy and mold temperature.

 

[yodogsandman]

I've cast down to around 0*F wearing cold weather clothes on in my unheated barn. Before having a hot plate to pre-heat the mold, too. That was the toughest part, getting the mold hot enough and keeping it hot enough. The lead was no problem getting hot. Too retired to bother to do it now in the bitter cold.

 

[Eutectic]

I've cast at -25°F below zero....... Outside and sheltered some from wind. This if I really, really, really, really, really, need some of that particular bullet. Sub-zero lube testing for example. I do this ladle casting over a bricked in propane furnace to get hot enough. I have an open spot to heat mold if it cools too much. Not sure you could do this with a conventional electric pot???? One of you mid-westerners could try it this weekend and let us know............

Pete

 

[Mike W1]

Seems like there's some tough ol' birds on here but I ain't one of em'. Thinking about doing a bit of casting today but I'm lucky enough to have a 12x14 building for it. One side just for casting or smelting. Am getting lazy as now I usually light up the gas burner to get a head start on the wood stove. It'll be around 80° when I haul the mold out to cast. We'll be lucky to get UP to zero today around here.

 

[Rick]

Seems like there's some tough ol' birds on here but I ain't one of em'.

You & me both, I got nuthin to prove. If people want to think of me as a wimp I'm good with that.
.
.

 

[Brad]

Pete, that just isn't right.
Once it gets below 20 my desire to do much outside disappears.

 

[Eutectic]

Pete, that just isn't right.

It has to be in the DNA Brad. Now 100°F and 100% humidity rings a 'death bell' in my brain if I can't find air conditioning!!. The six years I spent in a polyethylene plant on the Texas gulf was pure torture to my Scandinavian blood. I'm fine out in subzero if dressed right. I actually like it. My hands are my Achilles Heel as I am plagued with split fingertips in the bitter cold. -25° below zero ( or more) loves bare hands! And somethings just aren't doable in warm gloves. It must be a Norwegian trait as I know several others that love the cold only their hands and fingers don't. Heck I buy cream for the split fingers which brags up it's "Special Norwegian Formula"!!

Pete

 

[USSR]

I cast in my unheated basement. That's all the "roughing" I'm gonna do.

Don

 

[Rally Hess]

I often cast in my shop with the garage door open and a fan blowing across me and my casting table. When it gets real cold, like now I just roll my table over to a window and put the fan in the window to draw fumes out the window. I just wear insulated overalls and go for it. Way better than casting in anything above 70. I don't know how you guys can stand the heat in Arkansas, with the humidity. Every time I get down there I just want to sit down and drink something cold! It's been a balmy -4 or lower since Christmas here. Was -27 (actual) yesterday morning, with wind chill advisories all over around -45. It's making good ice on the flowing water.

 

[gman]

Casting this morning with a couple of new Accurate Molds. 24 degrees with a 15 mph wind here in SW Louisiana.

 

[Winelover]

I too cast outdoors. My casting temperature tolerance is 50's to the low 70's. Not a issue here, half the year, anyways. Raining..... I can cast with the garage door open or under the upper back porch.

 

[Ian]

I built a climate-controlled casting room with forced ventilation so I can cast 24/7/365, regardless of weather. I highly recommend it.

 

[Winelover]

I should had the foresight to put dedicated exhaust in, for a casting area, when I built this shack. Not going to happen now, with the ICF construction, I choose. But how much casting do I really need to do, even being retired. I just monitor what I have on hand and plan accordingly.