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Finger glandes
#16
Matthew<br>
I've been a fan of your websites for years!<br>
I've made both a scutum and a pair of caligae using your patterns! Thanks for your comments!<br>
How long would the wooden mold last? Doesn't the lead set it on fire?! Your glandes are great! My mouth is watering to put them in my sling pocket!!!!!<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>
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#17
Ave, Johnny!<br>
<br>
Thank YOU! I probably did about 10 or 12 pours with that mold, and you can see how much it charred. Not too bad, really, just surface charring. It would take a bit more to set it on fire, probably. Actually, the first couple pours are generally not as good or fail completely, because the mold is too cold and the lead hardens before filling all the spaces.<br>
<br>
I also learned not to open the mold and knock the bullets out TOO soon--some were still molten and went "splat"!<br>
<br>
Worse problem was that one of my blocks of wood was cut from an old shelf (book cart, actually) and was made of 3 narrower pieces. The heat made them warp differently and come apart at the seams. So that pretty much ended the casting session. I can still use the biggest part, with some care, or just make a new mold half to go with the one that's still good.<br>
<br>
Glad the site's been helpful! Vale,<br>
<br>
Matthew <p></p><i></i>
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
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#18
Thanks Matt!<br>
I may have to give this a try! Did you melt your lead with the type used by fisherman(lure, sinker makers)??<br>
Thanks again for your efforts!<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>
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#19
I used old lead printer's type--got 20 or 30 pounds from my uncle. Tried melting some to make a lead block for pounding various projects on, but it turned out to be very brittle and busted up after a few whacks. Must have lots of bismuth and antimony in the alloy. But still fine for sling bullets!<br>
<br>
Melted it in a tin can on an old electric hot plate. Low tech and cheap, that's me!<br>
<br>
Vale,<br>
<br>
Matthew/Quintus <p></p><i></i>
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
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#20
Wow!<br>
I didn't know you could do that with a tin can!<br>
I have a hot plate (I use it when I heat up my animal glues) and some lead.<br>
I thought it would take a heavier type metal pot to hold the heat. I guess not!<br>
Thanks Matt, I will be busy this week making lead glandes!<br>
If you hear an explosion around Nashville TN, you'll know it was I!<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>
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#21
Yup, go for it! Oh, one thing, I use a soup can or stew can (Dinty Moore!), because they are spun and don't have a soldered-on bottom. Won't come apart in the middle of a melt...<br>
<br>
Other thing, which you probably already know, is to do this OUTSIDE and try not to breath too much of the fumes!! Best to have a nice OSHA-approved heavy metal respirator, of course. I don't, and it hahahahahahasn't effffffffected me yeyeyet, just be careful.<br>
<br>
Have fun!<br>
<br>
Matthew/Quintus <p></p><i></i>
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
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#22
<br>
Off the top of my head (not promising accuracy ) the melting point of lead is about 620 degrees F - that's a pretty easy temperature to reach...<br>
<br>
<p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>
Adam MacDonald

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org">www.legio-ix-hispana.org
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