Casting round ball

[Tannehill]

How cold is too cold to cast round balls outside?

 

[Scota@4570]

When my beer freezes? Joking....don't eat or drink when handling lead.

 

[Timber Wolf]

It don’t get that cold here, so I don’t know.

 

[Flintlock]

If you can melt lead you can cast ball, just be sure to slowly warm your mold or other tools up to get rid of condensation first.

 

[Dibbuk]

If the balls are wrinkled, the lead or the mold is too cold. Toss them back in the pot and try again.

 

[tenngun]

With a campfire I’ve cast right at freezing with a Callahan mold and ladle
But two ball in five were wrinkled and tossed back.

 

[Tannehill]

Thanks, planning to run some tomorrow when it’s going to be about 20 with a 10-15 mph NWN wind.

 

[Daveboone]

just make darn tootin sure no water/sleet /snow is able to blow into you lead pot

 

[Flintlock]

When I cast in the barn I tacked a large sheet of cardboard to the rafters above the leadpot just in case condensation started there. Only takes a tiny drp to make things miserable.

 

[Griz44Mag]

How cold is too cold to cast round balls outside?

Any particular reason why you are casting outside? My garage has worked fine for casting for the last few decades. It gets cold in the garage but the wind is not a factor.
BTW - it has nothing to do with how cold the weather is, it's the temp of the lead and mold that makes or breaks a good cast,

 

[Flintlock]

Any particular reason why you are casting outside? My garage has worked fine for casting for the last few decades. It gets cold in the garage but the wind is not a factor.
BTW - it has nothing to do with how cold the weather is, it's the temp of the lead and mold that makes or breaks a good cast,

The old timers didn't have a garage to cast in.

 

[Griz44Mag]

The old timers didn't have a garage to cast in.

They didn't have the internet either......
They DID have barns, log cabins, dugouts, adobe huts, etc......

 

[J. Paul]

When I cast in the barn I tacked a large sheet of cardboard to the rafters above the leadpot just in case condensation started there. Only takes a tiny drp to make things miserable.

I had a drop of sweat almost empty a lead pot once. Never did get all the lead off my hat nor the ceiling. Safety goggles formed an almost perfect copy after peeled lead off them

 

[Flintlock]

They didn't have the internet either......
They DID have barns, log cabins, dugouts, adobe huts, etc......

Many did it in the great outdoors. We still can. I've cast hundreds to thousands of roundball sitting over a fire.

 

[mushka]

I casted about fifty .775 round balls and most of them came out two to three thousands smaller than they should have, only a couple had wrinkles. Only 12 came out right out of 53.
Am I running the pot too cool? Never had this big a problem before.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I had a drop of sweat almost empty a lead pot once. Never did get all the lead off my hat nor the ceiling. Safety goggles formed an almost perfect copy after peeled lead off them

I'm gonna have to call BS on that one............
I've been casting for decades - and it is only of water is trapped in lead when smelting do you have that kind of an issue....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XyoNQMnth3sNPqUm7

 

[Griz44Mag]

Many did it in the great outdoors. We still can. I've cast hundreds to thousands of roundball sitting over a fire.

I never said you COULDN'T - just don't see any reason to make it hard when it does not have to be.
Sitting and casting a few balls over a campfire - I've done it and enjoyed it as part of an outdoor adventure, but when I'm casting more than a few - for quantity - it won't be over a campfire.

 

[Flintlock]

I'm gonna have to call BS on that one............
I've been casting for decades - and it is only of water is trapped in lead when smelting do you have that kind of an issue....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XyoNQMnth3sNPqUm7

A drop of water from anywhere falling into the pot can be hazordous.

 

[Africa58double]

Casting by Fire at Hunting camp with picnic table got old when it got real cold. Like today.. 10Degree wind chill

Made a Set up in barn with the Planer sawdust air System…

No fumes, Just a flannel.

Plus- Get 5 x more done with ease

 

[Griz44Mag]

Casting by Fire at Hunting camp with picnic table got old when it got real cold. Like today.. 10Degree wind chillView attachment 113280

Made a Set up in barn with the Planer sawdust air System…

No fumes, Just a flannel.

Plus- Get 5 x more done with ease

A fire ring at hunting camp - and a nice hot energetic fire - super nice!!!!!!
Break out the Ezra Brooks and pour a round for all.......