[Doug Bowser]

There is a danger in casting bullets. I only cast bullets outside. The danger of lead contamination is high, when bullets are cast indoors. Once lead is introduced into the body, it never leaves. It just keeps building up. I have had two friends that cast a lot of bullets that died of leukemia. I don't know if the lead casting had anything to do with it but it is a possibility.

Cast outdoors and keep healthy.

The only downside is, keep a large coffee can ready to cover the hot pot in case of rain. One drop of water will violently empty a 20 pound pot of lead.

Doug

 

[msredneck]

As far as I know about the only way you can get lead poisoning is by eating or smoking while casting....If you wash your hands properly I don't see any problem...I cast on my open back porch...plenty ventlation without the danger of any water dropping in the pot... At the temperature lead melts...it is not even in the fumes that are burned off while fluxing

Doug is very corrrect on the water issue.....just a drop of water in a pot of 700 degree lead will give you a thrill you can live without.

As far as the lead poisioning issue, if you are concerned about it...Get a lead test added to your bloodwork at your annual physical

Reloading and Casting is pretty simple and safe...but not for those who don't have an eye for detail or are easily distracted

 

[PC]

There is a danger in casting bullets. I only cast bullets outside. The danger of lead contamination is high, when bullets are cast indoors. Once lead is introduced into the body, it never leaves. It just keeps building up. I have had two friends that cast a lot of bullets that died of leukemia. I don't know if the lead casting had anything to do with it but it is a possibility.

Cast outdoors and keep healthy.

The only downside is, keep a large coffee can ready to cover the hot pot in case of rain. One drop of water will violently empty a 20 pound pot of lead.

Doug

Yep...moisture and lead don't mix.
I was casting some .50 cal round balls one day on a table on my patio.
I noticed someone had spilled some sort of liquid on the table but it seemed pretty much dried.
I had dipped the flux out of the lead and was going to pour it in a coffee can when I bumped the side of my Coleman stove.
A bit of hot lead spilled and hit the wet table and it splattered about three feet in all directions.
Thankfully I was wearing welding gloves,an apron and a face shield.Be careful.

 

[Beladran]

when i was little dad demonstrated what molten lead does when in contact with water... from then on i knew water plus liquid lead is bad

 

[msredneck]

Yeah the "Tinsel fairy" kinda sucks...Big Time!

Back during the summer I was pouring some into a corn stick pan...

I was sweating pretty good...one small drop of sweat dropped into the corn stick pan before I had noticed...it popped about 4 seconds after I poured it...luckily I was quick and got out of the way

Lots of ways to get hurt casting bullets...Gotta pay attention

I wear sweat bands and try to wait till winter to do my casting now

 

[Xd357]

It'll also make ya sterile.

 

[Mrs. Hammer]

Hammer does his casting in a shop set up for casting and loading over at his grandfathers house. So not much chance of water getting in their and when he does cast the windows are opened for ventilation.

 

[Reloader]

Wonder what bird poop would do casting outside?

 

[Doug Bowser]

I believe there are lead vapors that are released when lead is heated above 850 degrees. I also believe the lead vapors can be ingested by breathing them. I had a friend in Alaska that died of Leukemia and he always said the casting of bullets might have contributed to his illness. He always casted his bullets in a badly ventilated area.

Doug

 

[btr568]

Doug is correct,you can get lead poisioning from the vapors.When I work on old chemical plants we suit like airport firemen including breathing gear if we demo old lead lines,we never use cutting porches either it's all cut with sawalls.
Sometimes OSHA does know what they preach to use

 

[captain-03]

Doug is correct,you can get lead poisioning from the vapors.When I work on old chemical plants we suit like airport firemen including breathing gear if we demo old lead lines,we never use cutting porches either it's all cut with sawalls.
Sometimes OSHA does know what they preach to use

It is not the heat that is the problem with saws ... it is the fine particules produced .... they can be inhaled and that is bad .... IIRC lead does not start to vaporize until around 1000 degrees and higher ... most of use never get to that temp when casting ... washing your hands and not eating or smoking when handling lead it a good practice.

 

[Will_M]

The only downside is, keep a large coffee can ready to cover the hot pot in case of rain. One drop of water will violently empty a 20 pound pot of lead.
Doug

I seriously doubt a single drop of water will "violently" empty a 20 lb pot of lead. I've seen this mentioned numerous times and I have to throw the BS flag.

I know this because I've seen physics demonstrations done wherein the demonstrator will dip his hand in water and then rapidly dip and remove his hand into a pot of molten lead. The object is to show that the water vapor created will make a barrier between the lead and the person's hand.

So, in conclusion, I believe there is little to no possibility of a single drop of water (or sweat, or whatever) causing a vat to violently erupt.

 

[sidroski]

Will M, I'd like to see that on youtube or whereever. That lead retains a tremendous amount of heat. Not saying it ain't so, just saying I'd like to see it.

 

[captain-03]

With nowhere for the steam to vent, it can be pretty violent!! I have seen the same demonstration. The hand in the lead provided an escape for the steam ... get a molten pot of lead, wet a piece of metal and drop it in with no escape route for the steam ..... I do not want to be around. Been there and done that!!

Ask Sid, shoeshooter, msredneck .... we were casting at Magnolia one day and it had rained. Someone dropped a casted boolit on the floor and it got wet ... msredneck proceeded to drop it back into the pot .... they all scattered!!

I do agree, it is probably not as bad as many make it out to be; however, just a little bit of water TRAPPED BELOW the surface of molten lead will cause lead to leave the pot - the more water involved, the more lead leaves the pot. Once it leaves it can go anywhere -- it would not take but a real small amount to ruin your eyesight ....

Better to be SAFE!!

 

[sidroski]

Yeah, that episode was what got me wanting to see a wet hand get in that lead. (don't want to see someone hurt, just see the that done).

 

[Will_M]

Ask and you shall receive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN5aMjTCfo4

I absolutely agree that water trapped BELOW THE SURFACE will cause a small eruption of lead, because once the water flashes to steam, it will become many hundreds of times its current volume.

That wasn't the original post, though. The original post said a drop of rain on the surface of the molten lead would "violently empty a 20lb pot of lead."

The problem arises when getting that lead below the surface. I'm assuming if that wet bullet landed in the pot in a certain way, it would prevent the water vapor from escaping. I don't mean to argue, I just tend to question things when I hear these tales a hundred times with never any proof.

 

[Beladran]

Ask and you shall receive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN5aMjTCfo4 .

this person should not reproduce.....

 

[captain-03]

Ask and you shall receive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN5aMjTCfo4

I absolutely agree that water trapped BELOW THE SURFACE will cause a small eruption of lead, because once the water flashes to steam, it will become many hundreds of times its current volume.

That wasn't the original post, though. The original post said a drop of rain on the surface of the molten lead would "violently empty a 20lb pot of lead."

The problem arises when getting that lead below the surface. I'm assuming if that wet bullet landed in the pot in a certain way, it would prevent the water vapor from escaping. I don't mean to argue, I just tend to question things when I hear these tales a hundred times with never any proof.

We are on the same sheet of music .... the day we were casting at Magnolia I brought up that same point. SGF actually put a few drops on top of the molten lead .... It will dance around on the surface unitl it all turns to steam. Just do not put something WET under the surface with no place for the steam to go ....