Again I'm amazed at all the interesting and neat stuff I learn here. Thanks guys for your informative posts, keep them flowing they are great fodder for my feeble 70 year old mind. Another few weeks and my 50 cal. Hawken Kit will be done and I will post some pics. Its been great fun doing it. I'm seriously thinking about a pistol kit next, maybe an old Navy model. Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.
Thank you Mrs. Beagle333 and all, for the input on Pewter. Although I don't pour it, gives me some more options on my M/L stuff. I've done a little homework and turns out that Pewter melting point is, 437 to 464 degrees F. Does that sound right as it's below the melting point of lead. ...
Years ago, I worked with an old Blacksmith and he poured a nose cap, into the stock. ...
Yes. That is why one must be careful to not get their pot too hot when casting with tin/pewter, or it will oxidize to the surface faster than the lead and the caster will skim it off as scum/dross and lose his precious metal. It must be fluxed back into the melt occasionally, rather than skimmed off. So if you are casting bullets with tin/pewter in the mix, try not to get the alloy over 700° for any length of time and you will cast it faster than you are losing any appreciable amount to oxidation.
I guess you were right after all Hawg._ Pewter is poured over the stock. Who'd ever think it was done that way without cooking the wood. Again I learned something new_
Considerate hubbies do things with their wives......
Oh Dear! The wife awoke this morning and announced that she would like to tour the 3 Thrift stores in the area, looking for a new picture for the wall in her office, and she would like me to accompany her. I reluctantly agreed to this torture, ("*whine* Honey, do I gotta? ") provided that her concession would be that I get tomorrow afternoon to go shooting and can put off chores until later. She agreed. So, I must go do this arduous task of strolling around Thrift stores (oh, the horror!), but in return for my suffering, I do get rewarded later.
Bought some screwdrivers for a little over 50 cents apiece. I'm going to forge and hammer them into inletting tools. Cheaper than buying tool steel too.
I scored about 3 pounds worth of picture frames and a mug, for a total of $6.91, so it was worth going. They did have quite a bit of pewter between the 4 stores we stopped at, but it would have averaged out to $8-9 per pound as priced. It would have been worth it if I had been out of tin and needed some, but I was just shopping ahead for deals.
Pewter is poured over the stock. Who'd ever think it was done that way without cooking the wood. Again I learned something new_
so it was worth going. They did have quite a bit of pewter between the 4 stores we stopped at, but it would have averaged out to $8-9 per pound as priced. It would have been worth it if I had been out of tin and needed some, but I was just shopping ahead for deals.