Safety equipment for lead casting

knastera · Jun 17, 2013

I'm getting ready to start casting my own bullets. My plan for safety equipment is a standard particulate filtering mask, goggles, leather gloves for handling hot stuff, nitrile gloves for handling cold stuff, and a long sleeve shirt. Is that sufficient? My main concern is the mask. Should I get something a bit more robust?

44man · Jun 17, 2013

instead of a mask i prefer an exhaust fan over the pot to remove the smoke. i am sure that a mak would help but since i keep a big beard i dont use one.

i also keep a bucket of water available to wet my towel that i drop the bullets on and in case of fire. a fire extinguisher should also be kept handy.

you seem to have the rest covered.

Pinecone · Jun 17, 2013

Exhaust fan and wash your hands and face everytime you leave to do ANYTHING.

coopermania · Jun 17, 2013

Depending on what I am casting I wear safety glasses and light gloves and a leather shop apron. I have a Lyman 20.lb Mould Master Lead Pot that is bottom pour but I use a Bottom Pour Rowell lead ladle for large bullets over 400 grns and the bottom pour for smaller bullets. I have always used a thermometer and kept my metal as cold as possible and still get excellent bullets to keep smoking metal to a minimum. I generally cast outside under a roof in front of my shop.

Pinecone · Jun 17, 2013

Sorry, Safety Glasses and natural fiber clothing (including shoes) is a given.

Natural fibers because synthetics fibers will melt into the skin with high heat.

Pinecone · Jun 17, 2013

Sorry, Safety Glasses and natural fiber clothing (including shoes) is a given.

Natural fibers because synthetic fibers will melt into the skin with high heat.

SOMDSHOOT · Jun 18, 2013

knastera said:
I'm getting ready to start casting my own bullets. My plan for safety equipment is a standard particulate filtering mask, goggles, leather gloves for handling hot stuff, nitrile gloves for handling cold stuff, and a long sleeve shirt. Is that sufficient? My main concern is the mask. Should I get something a bit more robust?

How are you planning to cast bullets ? Pour Pot or dipping from pot ? I dip from the pot with a ladle. You sound like you're getting ready to work in a lab with Anthrax or something. I don't mind a little safty precuation, but, there's safety precaution and there's "things getting in the way". I would not be wearing goggles for dang sure. As far as handling lead, you are not going to contract lead poising that fast. It takes time. A lot of time.

The exhaust fan is a good idea. The long sleeve t-shirt is not going to do you any favors. Worse thing that could happen is the lead gets on the shirt and burns a hole through the shirt and then burns you anyway. I don't wear gloves, goggles, long sleeves near fire, gas mask, or a hazmat suit when I cast. Just not required to have all that stuff. An exhaust fan is the only thing worth concern.

It just depends on what method you plan to use in order to melt the lead.

K31 · Jun 18, 2013

Sissies. I don't wear goggles, gloves or even clothes when I cast. Clothes just get in the way. Spilling hot lead on your junk isn't the worse thing that can happen to you. If you're scared of getting lead in your eyes just close one when you pour lead, heck, you've got two.

A little lead exposure won't hurt you, hell, I was eating lead based paint chips until I was 10 years old and it hasn't hurt my reasoning abilities (I'd have continued but the nanny-state government stepped in, plus I was out of dip). Lead is kind of like Viagra really.

So throw out all that namby-pamby so called "safety" gear and man-up.

HarCo2ANewb · Jun 18, 2013

SOMDSHOOT said:
I would not be wearing goggles for dang sure.

Out of everything that lead could possibly, in the freakest of accidents, splash on, the eyes are the only thing today's medicine can't replace, I'd wear the goggles. But then again, maybe you also like getting an X-ray before you get an MRI to find the metal splinters in your eyes from the other times you don't protect them.

Caeb75 · Jun 18, 2013

SOMDSHOOT said:
How are you planning to cast bullets ? Pour Pot or dipping from pot ? I dip from the pot with a ladle. You sound like you're getting ready to work in a lab with Anthrax or something. I don't mind a little safty precuation, but, there's safety precaution and there's "things getting in the way". I would not be wearing goggles for dang sure. As far as handling lead, you are not going to contract lead poising that fast. It takes time. A lot of time.

The exhaust fan is a good idea. The long sleeve t-shirt is not going to do you any favors. Worse thing that could happen is the lead gets on the shirt and burns a hole through the shirt and then burns you anyway. I don't wear gloves, goggles, long sleeves near fire, gas mask, or a hazmat suit when I cast. Just not required to have all that stuff. An exhaust fan is the only thing worth concern.

It just depends on what method you plan to use in order to melt the lead.

Wow...discouraging the use of proper PPE when performing an inherently dangerous task.

I have been casting for almost 25 years. I started by casting D&D miniatures in my mother's kitchen when I was 12 or 13. I am sure if I dug, I could find the molds I used to use. I cast bullets, bucktails, umbrella rigs, decoy weights, sinkers, and bullets. Whether I am pouring, or dipping, or just sorting lead, I always use proper PPE. I guess I am a ***** fag for wearing a face shield over my prescription safety glasses and gloves when I get on the mill or lathe too.

I would suggest, sir, that you take a long look at the words at the top of your signature, and let them sink in real well.

Some mothers' children....I swear...

SOMDSHOOT · Jun 18, 2013

HarCo2ANewb said:
Out of everything that lead could possibly, in the freakest of accidents, splash on, the eyes are the only thing today's medicine can't replace, I'd wear the goggles. But then again, maybe you also like getting an X-ray before you get an MRI to find the metal splinters in your eyes from the other times you don't protect them.

Splashes mean one thing. You're moving too fast. That simple.

ohen cepel · Jun 18, 2013

Is it a bad idea to smelt outside?

I have a bunch of wheel weights that I need to work up and was thinking about doing it all outside if that made sense. Have the gear to do it and could do it in the barn if needed.

Caeb75- what is an umbrella rig, please?

SOMDSHOOT · Jun 18, 2013

Caeb75 said:
Wow...discouraging the use of proper PPE when performing an inherently dangerous task.

I have been casting for almost 25 years. I started by casting D&D miniatures in my mother's kitchen when I was 12 or 13. I am sure if I dug, I could find the molds I used to use. I cast bullets, bucktails, umbrella rigs, decoy weights, sinkers, and bullets. Whether I am pouring, or dipping, or just sorting lead, I always use proper PPE. I guess I am a ***** fag for wearing a face shield over my prescription safety glasses and gloves when I get on the mill or lathe too.

I would suggest, sir, that you take a long look at the words at the top of your signature, and let them sink in real well.

Some mothers' children....I swear...

That comment just made you.... 23 years old ?

Good Lawd man. Did your mother teach you to talk like that ?

Some mothers' children....I swear...

You work your PPE all you want. I use some safety precautions too when working with certain tools and materials in my wood shop. Now, if I feel the need not to do so, then I shall not. Slow your roll. I'm not a newbie caster nor am I am ignorant man, but, over the years you learn how to do things without spilling the milk 10-4 ?

Pinecone · Jun 18, 2013

Yes, and you are PERFECT and never make mistakes.

PPE is the LAST line of defense, not the first level of control. It is there to protect you if everything else goes wrong.

Of course, no one using a wet towel to drop bullets on, has EVER spalshed or dropped some water in the pot.

Unfortunately, we all have to the pay the price when you screw up and seriously injure ourselves. Because you will be using your health insurnace to cover it, raising costs for all of us.

I will stand by your not using any PPE when you pay for any medical or disability costs OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET.

Caeb75 · Jun 18, 2013

SOMDSHOOT said:
That comment just made you.... 23 years old ?

Good Lawd man. Did your mother teach you to talk like that ?

Some mothers' children....I swear...

You work your PPE all you want. I use some safety precautions too when working with certain tools and materials in my wood shop. Now, if I feel the need not to do so, then I shall not. Slow your roll. I'm not a newbie caster nor am I am ignorant man, but, over the years you learn how to do things without spilling the milk 10-4 ?

Nah...38...

Again, I refer you to your signature.

I was not blasting you for not using your PPE. If that is what strokes it for you, so be it. What upset me was you discouraging, and belittling a rookie from using the proper safety equipment when he doesn't know what to watch out for. As a veteran caster, you should know that all it takes is the wrong drop of sweat or moisture in the wrong place at the wrong time to really fvck your day up in a major way. I cast outside for the most part, so I usually do not wear a mask, but if I move into the shop, I do wear one. I also use a face shield, welding gloves, leather apron, jeans, and long sleeves with boots. I know how to do things without spilling the milk, but I have had lead explosions. I can see accidentally yanking my bottom pour off the bench, or knocking the pot off the fryer base. I have seen a split rim come apart and almost decapitate someone when a dumb ass tire guy was airing up a tire on the floor when he was told by no less than 3 people to take it to the lower shop and put it in the cage. My point is that accidents do happen. Believe me...I didn't start out wearing my PPE for various activities. I learned the hard way...several times.

I may not look cool while I am doing something, and I may be an ******* when I tell my wife to get the goddamn kids and the goddamn dog in the goddamn house while I am cutting the goddamn grass for the 8 millionth time, but everyone ends up the same way they started with all of their parts, and I don't have to make any emergency room visits.

Caeb75 · Jun 18, 2013

ohen cepel said:
Is it a bad idea to smelt outside?

I have a bunch of wheel weights that I need to work up and was thinking about doing it all outside if that made sense. Have the gear to do it and could do it in the barn if needed.

Caeb75- what is an umbrella rig, please?

I do ALL of my smelting outside. Wheel weights are some of thedirtiest nastiest things on the face of the earth. The crap that burns off of them will stink, and soot up the inside of a shop if you do it enough.

An umbrella rig is a way of attaching multiple lures from a rod to make it look like a school of fish. It is usually used in trolling applications, but I have successfully used them in fast moving water from shore or off a bridge. Here are a few pictures.

coopermania · Jun 18, 2013

Anyone that works with MOLTEN METALS and does not use safety equipment needs a Personal Advisor to start making ALL DECISIONS FOR THEM.

K31 · Jun 18, 2013

Pansies.

If you don't have third degree burns you're not doing it right. Simple as that.

Traveler · Jun 18, 2013

I guess I am not as tough as you guys. I wear my seat belt, safety glasses when reloading or shooting, and when using power tools. I had a minor eye injury once, that made the point to me. I don't need to impress anyone with how tough I am as I holler "watch this!"

I am putting the safety gear on.

K31 · Jun 18, 2013

Bottom line, scars from skin grafts look sexy, and everyone loves the pirate look (eye patch). Remember that while I'm banging your girlfriend, woosies. I don't need depth perception for that. I just stop when I hit bottom. Yee haa.

Safety equipment for lead casting

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