Take your pick

[Spindrift]

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.

 

[Brad]

Neat idea.

 

[Ian]

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.

 

[Ian]

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.

 

[KeithB]

Well, bullet casting IS both an Art and a Science. It figures it would attract people who use either or both sides of their brain. It's the people who use neither side that scare the snot out of me!

 

[fiver]

'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.

 

[S Mac]

'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.

I don't know about that, seems you are a bullet designer.

 

[CZ93X62]

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.

 

[popper]

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.

 

[Spindrift]

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.

 

[Spindrift]

And fiver; making steel plates sing qualifies as making music, at least in my book.

 

[Ian]

Like this?

 

[Spindrift]

Like that!

 

[Intheshop]

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.