Noobie to Noobie: Stupid stuff we do that we don't want the others to know about

[nanuk]

muffin tins with fresh melt in them pass heat quite well through the gloves..... and carpet doesn't seem to hold up well under the tins either... 6 nice little "Hard Round Melted Circles" in the office....

[Texantothecore]

Mine was when I dropped a chunk of paraffin wax into the pot and was stirring it with my face over the pot. My girlfriend was watching and I thought she was gonna die laughing at me when it went poof...Instant mustache & eyebrow trim.

Not to worry. Walgreens has a sale on eyebrow pencil. Enjoy.

[Texantothecore]

I found out how much the guys on this site like to tell on themselves when I asked if anybody else had shot their chronograph? Evidently we love to tell how stoopid we can be. That's one reason I trust this site way more than the gun rags or a lot of other sites.

Yep, I have to agree. Good solid info on what works and what is simply stupid stuff.

[jandbn]

I thought I would be smart and take a chisel and hammer and split a smelted pewtermini-muffin. I thoughtfully laid the muffin on a towel on the cement step and proceeded to precisely cleeve the little muffin to add 2% to my WW. About half-way through the muffin, instead of a sharp whack, there was a dull thud. I picked up the towel and there lies a large 6x8 inch diamond shaped wedge of cement step! The wife still doesn't know as it was the back steps which she does not use in the winter. To quote Pa Kettle: "gonna hav'ta fix that one of these days."

I gave up trying to cleeve the muffin. Instead, I grabbed the pliars and dipped the pewter muffin into the pot alloy to melt off just the right amount.

[Texantothecore]

I thought I would be smart and take a chisel and hammer and split a smelted pewtermini-muffin. I thoughtfully laid the muffin on a towel on the cement step and proceeded to precisely cleeve the little muffin to add 2% to my WW. About half-way through the muffin, instead of a sharp whack, there was a dull thud. I picked up the towel and there lies a large 6x8 inch diamond shaped wedge of cement step! The wife still doesn't know as it was the back steps which she does not use in the winter. To quote Pa Kettle: "gonna hav'ta fix that one of these days."

I gave up trying to cleeve the muffin. Instead, I grabbed the pliars and dipped the pewter muffin into the pot alloy to melt off just the right amount.

Ice damage Ma, 'seen it a thousand times.....

[Longwood]

Ice damage Ma, 'seen it a thousand times.....

It is a simple fix.

[Sonnypie]

Don't throw loaded rounds in the trash and then dump it in your wood stove with a glass door. DAMHIK

How to clear the house in a hurry!
LMAO!

[Sonnypie]

and I'm part Russian. Guess I got Russian fingers....and Roman hands.

Roaming... roaming hands.

How about a nice Italian Pinch?

[jandbn]

Ice damage Ma, 'seen it a thousand times.....

I can hear (and see) Pa Kettle saying that to Ma! LMAO

[jandbn]

It is a simple fix.

I don't know about your better half, but mine would have hissy fits if I did that much damage to the steps! Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how I look at it, it is just a chunk out of the topside of the step; no hole as in the pic.

[mpmarty]

Define a Hissy Fit please.

[357maximum]

Define a Hissy Fit please.

If you know any teenage females tell them that they cannot use the car and that they can earn their own money you ain't given em any. You will never ask what a hissey fit is again.



You can also look up 6.5 or RPM theory here to see a slightly mundane version of a hissey fit.

[Norbrat]

If you know any teenage females tell them that they cannot use the car and that they can earn their own money you ain't given em any. You will never ask what a hissey fit is again.

Which is why it should be called a "Hersey" fit!!

[Inkman]

the lee will leak till it's empty unless you get lucky and it just drips fast and builds up a stalagmite to the spout.
usually it will just hit the drip pile and shoot all over the front of you changing direction at random.
causing magic dance moves with arms raised and feet moving better than jose guervo can make them go, it's even better when you have a hot sprue in one hand and a hot heavy mold in the other.
you are goin nowhere trying to duck and dodge the lead stream, and get it stopped somehow, with both hands full of stuff that needs to go on the bench which is directly below the stream of directionally challenged hot lead, the real cool part is the hot sprue is right on the hole in your glove which gives the arm motions a groovy wave action and one jazz hand which off sets the footwork and juking motions.
i still haven't found that sprue,and no dance america has not called back.

anyways the handle is on the right side of the pot.

Highlighted for emphasis. Also when you're in the heat of a great casting session and the groove is on. Funny how it takes a bit to realize that warm feeling on your pants leg and you glance down to see tiny little lead specks here and there. Man those little guys sure can stay hot.

Al

[SlippShodd]

Last night I had a little time, so I decided to run a pot and get a little ahead on some boolit stock. Needed a bunch of .45s, but decided to pace myself with 2 moulds and had the RCBS 38-150 along for the ride. Had worked the pot down and stopped to reintroduce the sprues and maybe take a moment to empty the drop bucket. Set both moulds on the rim of the Pro-Melt to keep them warm. Had about 1/3 of a pot of molten metal when I reached across the pot for something and knocked the 38 mould into the melt, blocks first.
D'yaknow how long it takes to remove a 2 pound sprue from a totally encased mould?
30 years of casting and that's the first and hopefully last time I do that.

mike

[Rangefinder]

I've been casting for a total of 4 days now, and I've already learned something.

WEAR GLOVES!!!

I don't know if you guys are aware of this or not, but molten lead is pretty hot.

On the other hand, I've done metal work most of my life--hot forges, etc. I've done kitchen work most of my civilian life--hot sautee pans, broilers, etc. My son often shakes his head at the lack of heat-sensitive nerve endings in my hands when I grab something in the 160-170 degree range and don't notice until someone else lets out a yelp. On occasion I shake my own head at the lack of thought-sensitive nerve endings between my ears, usually about the time I notice something swelling, gushing, or otherwise just not right by appearance after working on something and remarking to myself "Hmmm, that's gonna leave a mark--again"...

[Edubya]

I was making a batch of lube and set it aside for a few minutes while I was taking care of something else. Meanwhile the lube hardened up and I had not poured it into my molds yet. I decided to melt it fast... I put it into the microwave and started preparing my molds. Just as I got them ready I turned my attention back to the micro to see the lube explode. The lube had not cooled all of the way through and when the the top had solidified, it made a perfect fitting seal. It took ma a couple of hours to clean the mess.

EW

[Texantothecore]

I will certainly remember the lube explosion. I would not have thought of that, but it could be castrophic at my house.

I will also be purchasing an apron this week. I have no intention of bronzing or leading some of my body parts.

[MT Gianni]

Last night I had a little time, so I decided to run a pot and get a little ahead on some boolit stock. Needed a bunch of .45s, but decided to pace myself with 2 moulds and had the RCBS 38-150 along for the ride. Had worked the pot down and stopped to reintroduce the sprues and maybe take a moment to empty the drop bucket. Set both moulds on the rim of the Pro-Melt to keep them warm. Had about 1/3 of a pot of molten metal when I reached across the pot for something and knocked the 38 mould into the melt, blocks first.
D'yaknow how long it takes to remove a 2 pound sprue from a totally encased mould?
30 years of casting and that's the first and hopefully last time I do that.

mike

A similar experience with a 4 cavity sent me to buy a hot plate to preheat with.