SAFETY - PLAN for the WORST when you cast bullets!

[Cat Whisperer]

I KNEW it would happen someday. SO, I keep an empty 4 cell ingot mould under the pot AND an empty 20mm ammo box on the floor in front under the counter.

I pluged in the pot and went to another task while it warmed up.

IT HAPPENED! Could have been an OUCH, but wasn't.

Note the full 20 lbs of alloy in the ingot mould:

[dubber123]

My Lyman pot leaks also, unless I remember to tap down on the pour handle, 2 quick taps always stops the drips.  It's the remembering part I have to work on.  I'm glad no real harm was done.

[Cat Whisperer]

To Lyman's credit, it was not a leak.  I'd accidently pushed the boxes on the right to where they JUST lifted the leaver.  It was MY fault.

[dubber123]

Well that explains alot, I really felt better about mine, which just drips, I thought yours sprung a major leak!  Any idea on how to get that big chunk of alloy back in the pot?

[Chuck White]

Been there, done that!

But not with 20 pounds.  Luckily (if you want to call it that) only had about 8 pounds!

[Dusty Miller]

Ah, the adventures of a bullet caster!!

[Graybeard]

Wait until you have the "pleasure" of a pot exploding on you due to moisture you put in it. I did it ONCE when using that Marvelux junk. It pulls water to it like a sponge. I guess some was left on my stirring spoon and when I used the spoon to drop in some warm dry ingots it just plain exploded in my face and all over me. Yeah I got a bunch of burns in spite of being fairly well prepared. Still have the scars from it.

[Awf Hand]

I was recovering some used indoor range lead and was working outside with a turkey cooker and a c-i dutch oven.  There was about 150# and it was pretty dirty.

Somebody, at some point, must have had an "alibi" with the .22 and threw the misfire downrange (and into the bullet catcher).  As the mix was melting, the round went off.  I'm lucky it was winter and that I was dressed for the cold in addition to my full face shield.  No harm to me, but there was some patio furniture that has some splash pattern on it.

[Cat Whisperer]

Well that explains alot, I really felt better about mine, which just drips, I thought yours sprung a major leak!  Any idea on how to get that big chunk of alloy back in the pot?

No problem disecting - I've got a small band saw.  It is however wrapped around the mould.

[dubber123]

If you have a bigger pot for smelting down alloy, I guess you could chuck the whole thing in, and fish the ingot mold out when it's melted.  I have an 11 qt. cast iron pot for doing large quantities of wheelweights.  That reminds me, I used the last of my ingots.  I think I have Fri. off, I hope it doesn't snow.  (outdoor project for sure).

[Cat Whisperer]

I usually don't let things like storms and blizzards slow me down, but for smelting lead I'll make an exception.