What Bullet Casting Did You Do Today?

[jdl447]

325 Lee 358-125 RFN. Practice bullets for the new New Blackhawk.

[Ohio3Wheels]

None.

But I corrected an issue I caused last month...

Turned on the pot without the PID to get it up to temp slowly to see if I could see bad alloy. Got distracted and like most 20-4 pots it leaked until it made a column up to the spout.

Took the mold rest off and got the giant drip art off.....decided to empty the pot and see if I can help its leakiness. It's empty. Not sure what to do next but I ain't gonna cast any bullets until it gets cold again in nine months anyway.

Not sure if that's progress. It's been a year since I cast in any bullets anyway.

I understand that lapping the valve does wonders.

Make smoke,

[larryw]

Lapping made a heck of a difference in mine...

[GasGuzzler]

Cool

Now explain it.

Drips are OK.

Coming back after a few minutes and finding a lead burrito is not.

[Ohio3Wheels]

Gas, as I understand it you use fine valve grinding compound and lap the valve in the seat to get a "tighter" fit. I have an old second hand Lee pot that needs this done unfortunately it's down about 10 or 11 on the list .

Make smoke,

[larryw]

Ohio is correct. Empty the pot, take the rod & apply some valve grind compound to the end of the rod that goes into the spout hole, rotate back & forth, lifting the rod up & down to turn the
Compound over, remove, clean & repeat as needed until you get a nice, pronounced ring
all the way around the rod & inside the spout seat. Clean extremely well, reassemble &
Give her a try. for rotating the rod, I chuck it up in a drill & go back & forth.
Good luck, let us know the outcome.

How's that Gas???

Forgot, so I'll edit... don't put a ton of pressure on the rod as your lapping, just a little,
& reapply compound as needed.

[Ranch Dog]

I'm a rod lapper. I once had a series of photos of the work. My newest pot, old now, was lapped as soon as I received it.

[GasGuzzler]

Nice.

I' used to be a hot rodder but working in the automotive business since 1991 and in dealers since 1993 means I've done ONE valve job. It's a replacement world now.

That being said I'm familiar with lapping. I just figured there was some voodoo process or convoluted disassembly.

It's empty, I'll proceed.

Gonna post a pic of my lead burrito.

[larryw]

Nice.

I' used to be a hot rodder but working in the automotive business since 1991 and in dealers since 1993 means I've done ONE valve job. It's a replacement world now.

I would like to forget the hundreds of valve jobs I've done. port & polish the intake & exhaust
3 angle radius valve job with swirl polish, mostly for some kid to go out & blow apart.
Then I switched to diesel truck & hated them even more, to big & heavy :)

[RBHarter]

Ever lap valves 10" down inside 4.125" bore ? Good times .