Take your pick

Spindrift

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Some of my molds work best with «pressure casting», with a spouted ladle. The downside is, there are often spikes on the bullet, corresponding to the vent lines of the mold. Not a big deal, really, as the spikes can be scraped of with a fingernail. But then, you accumulate lead under your fingernail, which is probably not a good idea.
Besides bullet casting and shooting, another of my hobbies is guitar playing. I recently bought a couple of new thumb picks, when it struck me: these should be quite perfect tools for scraping spikes and flashing of bullets?
The edges of the picks are rounded, just square of the edges you would use for scraping. I wear the pick while sorting bullets, whenever I need a scraper, I have it «on hand», so to speak. 78D29649-1C33-4394-89ED-2B80EC1B7B4F.jpeg
 
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Well ain't that just clever as heck. I don't pressure cast or have to deal with whiskers, but one of my moulds leaves a trace of parting line on one side of the nose. Just so happens I have some banjo picks, thumb picks are made of nickel.
 
Funny how many bullet casters are also musicians. Seems a lot of people are either a machinist/mechanic type bullet caster or an artsy/creative type bullet caster. Some are both.
 
'chuckle'.. Keith.

I got no artistic talent [unless you count playing music on the stereo] no drawing ability, and can barely make a recognizable ashtray from clay.
 
fiver said:
'chuckle'.. Keith.

I got no artistic talent [unless you count playing music on the stereo] no drawing ability, and can barely make a recognizable ashtray from clay.
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I don't know about that, seems you are a bullet designer.
 
I couldn't carry a tune in a backpack, and I leave machining to folks that know what they are doing. I am a fair-to-middling bullet caster, but most of what I know came from standing on the shoulders of artists and mechanical wizards--many of whom reside herein. Maybe my best contribution or attribute is to know when to shut the (blank) up and pay attention.
 
My thumb pick is plastic but don't wear gloves when I use it. Can't read music or sing, banjo escapes me but guitar & bass are fun. Trying to get good at Mandolin style picking.
 
Well, we might not always play the same tune. But I think what us casters have in common, is that we’re makers. We enjoy the process of giving form and function, making things that work.
 
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Dirt and grunge under the nail goes a long way to keep the lead from sticking? I think KFC helps as well..... at least on it's removal.

But cool tip on the guitar,thumb pics Spin. Thanks for posting.
 
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