Ladle casting for the first time!

Wasalmonslayer

Well-Known Member
Good evening guys.

I tried my hand at ladle casting for the first time today.
It was rainy and outside project were on hold.
So might as well cast up some bullets right :cool:

Well a small learning curve to get Rollin then just constant perfection.
I cast around 5# of 358429 Hp from an Mp mold then around 200 from an rcbs 30-150fn Mold.
Still working on small technique tweaks but wow is it easy to maintain heat and get great fill out!!
If I have a few more sessions that go this well or get better from my technique improving I might plug the hole in my bottom pour and only ladle cast.
I will post some pics in a few to hot to handle still ;)
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
What ladle?
Once I finally caved in and listened to Rick I tried a Rowell 2 and I haven't looked back.
It does let you control mould temp better.
 

Wasalmonslayer

Well-Known Member
One I got at the five and dime joint for skimming the pot it says Dixon on the bottom.
It’s not huge but I can pour the 4 Cavity Mold with lead to spare.
 

Wasalmonslayer

Well-Known Member
As soon as I get my kiddos to bed I’ll go to my shop and snap some photos for you guys.

I have only bottom poured and done very well with it.
But hp molds need tons of heat and this worked amazing.
If you lost some heat if you had to slow down or take and make an adjustment you can get Rollin within a couple pours again.

I am in utter amazement how easy it is and can not believe I waited this long to try it out:embarrassed:
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
If you get the Rowell #2 (depending on what pot your using) you can still bottom pour but do it from the top of the pot. :)
 

Wasalmonslayer

Well-Known Member
I have a Lee magnum melter and an rcbs pro melt.
I got the magnum melter very early in my casting venture just to smelt.
Since I went propane with a big pot I never used the magnum.
It has sat still for many years till today.

The ladle I have is not very big but worked out really well.

How big is the Rowell do you guys have any dimensions.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
The #2 ladle will work with the Pro Melt, tight but works. I don't know about the LEE, kinda doubt the #2 ladle will fit in it. I'm not near the shop to measure it but it holds 2 pounds of alloy. Maybe Brad could get that info for you.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Rowell 2 has a 2.5" bowl diameter. I used mine in my RCBS promelt for years before getting a different pot. It is a snug fit but I didn't have any real issues.
 

Ian

Notorious member
The sizes listed are internal bowl dimensions. I actually had my new one sitting next to my chair and just measured it.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Internal measurements are not real helpful, are they? Kinda shocked they produce a chart like this with measurements that don't tell the whole story.

Thanks Ian
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Yes, I have the #1, #2 and #5. That chart is incorrect on the #5. I can assure you it is not a 2 1/2 inch bowl and it is a 10 pound ladle.

#1 is a one pound ladle and works fine for small bullets like 22, 6mm etc or one and two cavity molds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ian

Wasalmonslayer

Well-Known Member
Waco don’t wait. I am sorry I waited so long.
Buy now once you have tried it there may be no return.
I am going to get a Rowell just need to figure out which one.

The bullet to bullet weight variance is very minimal too.
Here are a couple pics.

These are unsorted just as cast and piled.
 

Attachments

  • 4516EF56-C31D-4F30-9990-86BADDE1B969.png
    4516EF56-C31D-4F30-9990-86BADDE1B969.png
    1.3 MB · Views: 18
  • E33859CA-6FB0-49BD-A0BF-0EA7550E8722.png
    E33859CA-6FB0-49BD-A0BF-0EA7550E8722.png
    1.3 MB · Views: 19

Ian

Notorious member
You'll like the Rowell type a lot better, it bottom-pours so no dross gets wicked into the cavities.

My first one was a Lyman ladle. Then I got a #2 on recommendation of another caster for dipping from a Dutch oven full of lead. I loaned it and never got it back, so I bought another just like it, no reason for me to go smaller. Having a large furnace, at least 20 lbs, preferably 40 or more, makes a difference because the ladle pulls a lot of heat out of the melt and the smaller units have to work pretty hard to keep up.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
the lyman will fit in a 10 lb LEE pot no problem, but works great in their 20 lb pot.
it's just about perfect for 2 cavity molds.
if I was going to ladle pour from the Magma pot a 2 lb Lowell would be the way to go.