casting question

[nick_1]

do any of you folks wear a vapor respirator/black filter OV when casting? I am heating up lead now and it ust occured to me that the last time I wore that rig was about two months ago when I had covid... its probobly safe to wear but No way i want to get that sick again! also don't want lead poisoning....

 

[garypl]

I cast with the breeze at my back, rarely get any fumes back at me.

 

[pat i.]

I cast in the garage with the door open and a fan blowing to move the fumes away. Been casting for years and still above the grass so it must be working. As to your question no I don't wear a mask of any kind.

 

[Buckskinquin]

No, you’re only melting the lead, not vaporizing it. Be more concerned about any moisture in the area your casting in. A drop of water in molten lead is no joke. I use a fan to create a negative pressure on the far side of my melting pot, mostly to clear the air while fluxing a new melt.

 

[tenngun]

Never have in near forty years

 

[Colonial Boy]

Been casting since I was fourteen and never any trouble and have used everything from electric pots to an iron ladle at the campfire.
Ventilation is a good idea as is not getting things too hot.

 

[nick_1]

never did worry about it when i was a kid but my mom always blamed my many faults on casting in my bedroom... starting to do this game again now coming from the construction buisness I am a bit more carefull with toxic stuff..

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I've been casting for well over 50 years in unventilated rooms and I'm still here. A lot of the lead poisoning things we hear about is BS. Lead poisoning is bad news for sure but you're not going to get it from bullet casting.

 

[The Appalachian]

I don't like the smell of melted lead so I don't go out of my way to get a big lung full when I'm casting. I do as several others above have said. For decades done it under a carport, on the front porch, or in the garage doorway with a fan blowing at my back and pushing the "fumes" out in front and away from me. Washing your hands when your done will do more than worrying about the "fumes".

 

[oldwood]

I like to cast with the garage door open. Been casting 60+ years , never had a health problem I could identify as due to casting lead bullets.

 

[Sean E Bug]

I cast with a breeze at my back. as for your mask you are fine to wear it. viruses have a limited time frame where they are active. Covid 19 is listed as lasting up to 3 days on a hard surface.

 

[dave951]

No respirator or mask when casting. I keep the garage door open and a fan running to blow the fluxxing fumes away. We are not getting to the vaporization temp of lead. Most of the lead poisoning you read about is from ingestion, ie eating. Just wash your hands thoroughly after casting and you'll be fine.

FWIW, I know of several folks, one is my neighbor, who have documented high lead levels in their blood. None shoots muzzleloaders or cast anything. They have, however, been avid shooters at indoor ranges with modern arms. One of the main ingredients in modern centerfire primers is lead styphnate and that gets into the air, on the floor, and coats most everything at an indoor range.

 

[Mikekj]

I don't like the smell of melted lead so I don't go out of my way to get a big lung full when I'm casting. I do as several others above have said. For decades done it under a carport, on the front porch, or in the garage doorway with a fan blowing at my back and pushing the "fumes" out in front and away from me. Washing your hands when your done will do more than worrying about the "fumes".

Melted lead doesn’t have an odor, any more than solid lead.
If you have odor, it’s from contaminates or fluxing.

 

[Mikekj]

do any of you folks wear a vapor respirator/black filter OV when casting? I am heating up lead now and it ust occured to me that the last time I wore that rig was about two months ago when I had covid... its probobly safe to wear but No way i want to get that sick again! also don't want lead poisoning....

You’ll never get lead hot enough for “fumes” or “vapor” casting bullets.

 

[maillemaker]

I have been casting bullets for about 15 years. I get my lead level checked every year as part of my annual physical blood work. I have never had an issue.

You pretty much have to ingest lead to get lead poisoning. So while you are working with lead, don't eat or drink without washing your hands first.

I cast in my garage in front of a window with a box fan in it.

Lead boils at 3182F, well outside of casting temperatures. Of course, some lead vapor is produced at any molten temperature, but not much at casting temperatures.

 

[smo]

Good post mm

I might ad too that for those who smoke…
Always wash up first! And keep the water far away from the molten lead!

I’m getting ready too go cast some .530’s shortly.

 

[French Colonial]

I have an old range hood from an old kitchen that has a light and an exhaust fan in it that I hooked up over my work bench in the garage and it sucks up the air and blows it outside. The only time it is really helpful is when fluxing with bees wax or whatever and it blows the smoke outside.

I have cast thousands of bullets during the winter and never had a problem, wearing some good welding gloves or similar and safety glasses is more important than a mask.

Listen to a book on a CD or similar and cast for hours.

 

[The Appalachian]

Melted lead doesn’t have an odor, any more than solid lead.
If you have odor, it’s from contaminates or fluxing.

********........

While contamination and fluxing certainly have their own odors (actually like the smell of my Beeswax flux), some of us have a hyper sense of smell. Although I'll admit covid knocked it back considerably.

Does it even matter though if I can smell a pot of melted lead? Doesn't change a thing at all does it, on your end or on mine. I'll still have a fan blowing behind me when I cast regardless what you think or say.

 

[Mikekj]

********........

While contamination and fluxing certainly have their own odors (actually like the smell of my Beeswax flux), some of us have a hyper sense of smell. Although I'll admit covid knocked it back considerably.

Does it even matter though if I can smell a pot of melted lead? Doesn't change a thing at all does it, on your end or on mine. I'll still have a fan blowing behind me when I cast regardless what you think or say.

Lead fumes and lead dust do not have an odor, so you may not know you are being exposed.
cdc.gov
OSHA
To each their own.

 

[The Appalachian]

Quotes the CDC and OSHA.......

Two of the least reliable, least honest, alphabet soups our govt has.

Have a happy day, you're now on ignore.......