Yesterday I headed down to the woods to try my luck at ball molding. I have an old cast iron ladle that I was melting the lead in. After the lead melted I would take the ladle, fill the mold and put the ladle back on the coals. It seemed that after about making 5 or 6 balls that I would have to stop and reheat the lead. Is that normal or should I have let the lead heat longer after it had reached melting temperature. I also wondered if I didn't have too much lead in the ladle to begin with, there was probably enough to make 20-25 balls. Any tips or tricks that you would share with a greenhorn would be appreciated.


No matter what though, I learned quite a bit and had a good time.

Mr Hillbilly, it sounds to me that your fire was not hot enough, Once you get the lead melted you need to keep it hot enough so as not to cool or solidify in your ladle, so next time throw another log or two on the fire.From a ornery arkansaw hillbilly yours arkansawwind

To hillbilly, your cast iron ladle will hold the heat well once you get the lead hot enough, it needs to be hot enough , so when you pull it off the fire it is hot enough that it wont kool down before you can get it back on the fire. I looked at my ist post and saw that I wasnt probably clear enough, So as they say here in arkansas ,I had to re lick my calf. yours Arkansaw

Running balls in an open fire is not a high production process in the first place.

I've tried it with an old iron mixing spoon which holds about a quarter of a cup. I tweaked a pouring spout into one side to make it easier. It takes me around about an hour to cast fifteen or twenty useable balls with my Dixie bag mold and my spoon period correct ladle over an open fire. I messed around trying to figure out the best way and found that if I keep the fire going pretty hot I can keep my lead hot. Doing it in the coals only doesn't work for crap is a non starter.

As always, your mileage may vary.

Three Hawks

quote:

Running balls in an open fire is not a high production process in the first place.

Three Hawks comment.."Running balls in an open fire is not a high production process in the first place." ....is a real understatement.
You were trying the old, and hard, way for the experience. It was done 'back then' out of necessity. Personally, I haven't tried it and have left camps, in the evening, where folks wer trying. Because at night dew often sets in and moisture droplets of any kind in molten lead is a real hazard. The rule is: do yer thing. But be safe.

Not to change the subject but has anyone tried it on a period correct propane grill.
Reason for asking because I live in the city and you can’t burn in your back yard.......B Staley

B Staley, reguardless what you hear on this forun.I willwager most of us (definately me) use a modern heat source when runnin ball. I have used the kitchen stove(not the bewst ldea), a coleman stove and a turkey cooker , any legal heat source that gets hot enough will work, and I use a cast pot and ladle too. Kinda like ole Paladin, Have balls will shoot ha. yours arkansaw

Propane, with the proper burner, will melt lead (I don't know about your average home barbecue grill - not many recipes require heating the entree to 621 degrees F). However, if you're running ball at your city homestead, it might be just as easy, and about as period (in)correct to invest in a Lee electric melting pot - no open flame and cooler to work around in the summer. SCL

Hey Hillbilly, For what it's worth, I cast all my round ball over an open fire. That's simply the way I like to do it, just like shootin' sidehammer muzzleloaders these days instead of smokepoles that are more modern. And, by using a rather small ladle, I melt enough lead for perhaps only 10 balls each time. After 10 making balls it is time to melt more lead and let the steel mold handles cool at the same time. No, this is on high production but it does keep my pouch supplied. And I've just sent in a story for Shooting The Bull about casting so that might interest you. You'll have to wait a few months before that story "sees ink" but I hope you'll still be interested by then. You might find a smaller ladle easier to control, it heats up faster and likewise it is easier to maintain that heat once you start to cast from it. Besides that, it's lighter and easier to carry. At a primitive doin's you might find a blacksmith who will make one for you. Shoot sharp's the word, Mike

B,
I've never melted lead over a fire, but I have used my backpacking stove. Be sure it's stable and will bear the weight of the lead and the pot. Don't ask me how I know that! But it certainly heats it up fast enough, and you can do it outside and not fill the house with nasty fumes.

Dick

Gents, I sure dont have a problem with people who run ball over a fire, I have several ladles and some of them would work for molding over fires. The only reason I dont run ball at rondys, is because none of my moulds are period correct. so I mold mine at home. For those of you that the period correct stuff, running up a few to show the spectators is a good teaching tool and helps others understand how things were done back then. yours arkansaw

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For those of you that the period correct stuff, running up a few to show the spectators is a good teaching tool and helps others understand

Hey Wind, That's true but sometimes you'd better have those spectators fenced off! They see those "cute little shiny balls" and want to grab them right out of the mould. Safety, safety... Shoot sharp, Mike

hey Mike, I have to agree with you on the fence for safety. Myself I dont usually put out a trade blanket, I just set up a educational display. Unfortunately in the past I have had some stuff lifted a la the 5 finger discount method. I hate to but I think I will be putting up a fence also. Does anybody out there have a good deal on razor wire? Just kidding ( I think) I really hate a thief. yours Arkansaw

Wind, Just to be clear, I wasn't meaning to fence off the spectators because of theft. My meaning was to keep them from getting burned. Those cute little brand new shiny round balls fresh from the mould are still very hot. Now, about the theft, we get that from the admiring public and usually not from our own 'skinners. At all open-to-the-public events, double your guard. Shoot sharp, Mike

quote:

Originally posted by B Staley:
Not to change the subject but has anyone tried it on a period correct propane grill.
Reason for asking because I live in the city and you can’t burn in your back yard.......B Staley

You really should check with your local Fire Chief about burning regulations. I'm in Sno. county. Outdoor cooking fires and BBQ's are specifically exempted from burn bans here.

Using a propane grill will be difficult if not impossible. A camp stove would be much better.

I can't recommend strongly enough that you invest in a Lee lead melting pot. Look on their site www.leeprecision.com for models. Their RB and Muzzleloading projectiles are there too. Buy from MidwayUSA or Midsouth Shooters Supply for excellent prices. I've used my Lee Production Pot IV for over 12 years.

Three Hawks

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Three Hawks,

B. Staley: Years ago I picked up a one burner Burnz O Matic stove (?). A regular propane bottle fits in it. This and a Lee lead pot work for me.

Three Hawks is right. A Lee pot is worth hard consideration. I started using mine back over 35 years ago, wore it out & had it rebuilt then bought a second. Can't begin to count the bullets, balls & mine's I've cast. Peace.

quote:

Originally posted by Bud in PA:
B. Staley: Years ago I picked up a one burner Burnz O Matic stove (?). A regular propane bottle fits in it. This and a Lee lead pot work for me.

That single burner Bernz-O-Matic stove is now a collectible. Heh!

And yes a propane camp stove and Lee stamped lead pot is a good combination. A Lee ladle is a good accessory as well.

Three Hawks

i use a coleman 2 burner camp stove w/a little propane bottle for melting lead,pewter,deer and bear fat,and making breakfast w/the power goes out,and also making char and small batches of walnut dye

Gents, I have used most of the types of heat sources mentioned, including a Lee pot. If any of you guys have a turkey or fish cooker the type with the big round burner. Give them a try, they will get hot and stay hot in a hurry. yours Arkansaw