Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Water in the pot

I have read that getting water in the melt will cause an explosion, and I can now testify that this means any trace of water whatsoever. I picked up three more buckets of wheel weights last week, problem is he had them in open top buckets out behind his shop(for many years) Having been exposed to the elements all this time about half the clips are completely rusted off, apparently some(or at least one) are also rusted into the lead leaving a void to hold water as well. I thought no problem, I'll just lay them on a sheet of plywood for a couple days, then they will be good to go. WRONG. So all was going great I'd gotten about 40 ingots out of the first 8" of the first bucket. Thinking I did pretty good at $20 per bucket. I was using my pliers to slowly put the small ones in the pot and just lowering in the long ones in with my hand. It happened to be one of these big ones that said "POP" and emptied half my pot. Anyways I'm wondering if it would be ok to bake these in the oven and if so what temp, how long? And does anyone know how to get lead out of a bluetick hound's hair?

Glad you were not hurt.

Just start them in a cold pot.

I do not think my wife would let me put them in her oven,good luck with that.

Just a few blisters. Could have been bad.

Another good example of the need for safety glasses, gloves and long sleeves when casting. Glad you were protected well or you could have been severely burned. I think we all need a reminder every now and then. I know I do.......

Do not let moisture under the alloy surface and do not pour gas on a sweltering manifold....

I should nave said hurt badly.

I wear a scar on my left wrist from a small splash from that same thing,a constant reminder that no matter how fast you pull it off it still burns pretty deep.

Just fill your Cold pot put on the heat the water will be gone buy the time it melts skim the clips. Turn off heat let the lead harden but still hot refill turn the heat back on replete till pot is full or you can pore ingots. this way is slower but no Tinsel Fairy visit!!! Also warm your ingot molds before you pore in them. I get more POPs there when I forget too. I clean about a 2000-3000lbs a year and get more burns casting then cleaning!! Clint

If you are the man of the house, and it sounds like it since you will be using the wife's oven.....

put them in a tray, her good baking pan will work fine, turn on the oven to about 225 and let them get to that temp for about 5 min then let cool, should be good to go.

Be courteous and put the used pan in the dishwasher for her when you are done....

Have had similar experience with lead stored outside, even in Arizona where I hear it rained once back in the 1500's or so. Didn't 'splode, but when it started hissing I backed up about 20' and hissed back. This came from ingots of about 20# that had been cut in half for the melt pot.

Tried drying them in the oven. She is not impressed. (They smoke.) Guess they will have to air dry for a month or two.

Well, I can't add any more safety ideas to this than have already been stated. basic rule of thumb,NEVER any moisture in your lead pot.What the hell,as long as we are on the subject of safety ( + for those who forgot their chemistry)ALWAYS add acid to water + NEVER add water to acid. You will get the same lead/water result. None are fun but lead cools off quick + if your eyes are covered you're kinda O.K......not with acid. Acid displaces moisture + we are at least 80% moisture.Why the vitriol throwings in Victorian England where horendous,kinda like what the muslims are doing to their own women when they want to go to school.Sorry,got off the subject line.