lead mould

[Loenja]

right straigt in.
i need to drill a few round bottomed holes in some mild steel to make a lead mold, (you guessed it, for catty ammo),
which would be the best way to achieve this?? (the holes should be ???hemisphreical??? (half a sphere)

 

[mountainm]

right straigt in.
i need to drill a few round bottomed holes in some mild steel to make a lead mold, (you guessed it, for catty ammo),
which would be the best way to achieve this?? (the holes should be ???hemisphreical??? (half a sphere)

Can't help you with the specifics in this case - but they used to make lead shot by dripping it down a large tower - by the time it hit the floor it was solid

 

[Loenja]

Can't help you with the specifics in this case - but they used to make lead shot by dripping it down a large tower - by the time it hit the floor it was solid

im sorry but that doesn't really help i live in a small house without a handy tower...

 

[mountainm]

im sorry but that doesn't really help i live in a small house without a handy tower...

OK then - can't you make a negative mold with wax, then cast some plaster of paris around that (with a channel to get rid of the wax), then pour the molten lead into the plaster of paris? It may not stand up to the heat, but possibly worth a try?

 

[Loenja]

OK then - can't you make a negative mold with wax, then cast some plaster of paris around that (with a channel to get rid of the wax), then pour the molten lead into the plaster of paris? It may not stand up to the heat, but possibly worth a try?

i have tried this but it means making a wax model for each ball

 

[mountainm]

i have tried this but it means making a wax model for each ball

hmmm -

Wonder if a decent hardwood would be up to the task? Then you could use one of these dremel bits

 

[Adze]

Don't use mild - use aluminium. Better heat conductivity than mild and it's a helluva lot easier to work

 

[alan whelan]

Use one of these or regrind a drill bit with a round end this is easy with a bench grinder just maintain the rake angle all round and keep the flues the same length

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/1957008.html

 

[Chatteris]

What size do you need? Might be worth looking at lee moulds for muskets/black powder pistols. They make a round ball mould for .36 and also .44. They could easily be used for your catapult ammo if they are the right size.

I believe they are around £20 new

 

[dancan]

http://www.gunaccessories.com/lee/molds&melters/BlackPowder.asp


Hope this gives a few ideas .

 

[JAG009]

Ball fishing weight moulds on E-bay

Jason

 

[NathanG]

ball end milling cutter, if you have a drill press with a large enough chuck you can get away with holding it in the chuck, no need for collets etc., just go easy and dont try and mill with it

 

[spiritwalker]

yep buy a fishing mould for bullet leads safe and simples i have a few for proper sea bombs think they are around £12-20

 

[peaks]

Hi,
Seen these?

http://www.bellsofhythe.com/products.asp?catid=134

No affiliation etc

 

[Stoker37]

Hi
As a kid I used to cast catty ammo in the round part of a pair of combination pliers. Not perfectly round but it used to do the job.

 

[rancid badger]

£90!:yikes lovely piece of work mind you)

okay, here's a cheaper, though slower alternative:
http://www.traffordangling.co.uk/acatalog/info_207.html


just scroll down the list;
http://www.traffordangling.co.uk/acatalog/Coarse_Fishing_Moulds.html

h.t.h.

R.B.

 

[Everything Mac]

Ball fishing weight moulds on E-bay

Jason

exactly my train of thought. - not quite the right mould but I have seen plain ball moulds

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Round-Jig-mou...ingAcces_RL&hash=item20a86e6922#ht_1953wt_905

best of luck!

 

[Stew]

When my Dad made a mould for us to make some balls for Bolo when I was younger, he reground a flat bit to a curved end rather than flat. Left the spike in place so there was a bit to remove when cast but no issue.

 

[peaks]

Theres also these from Fish (member on here)
http://www.huntercatapults.co.uk/accessories.html

 

[Home Guard]

Use a synthetic clay like substance called "milliput" to make each half of you moulds by putting an existing ball in them. When it sets you have the perfect mould which can also be sanded/shaped aswell.