New Bullet Casting Mallet

[6pt-sika]

A younger friend that likes to do woodworking made me a mallet for when I cast bullets !



This bad boy is 14" long from the base of the handle to the top of the head !

The head itself is about 4x6x2 1/2" !

Should be plenty mallet for any mold I have !

[6pt-sika]

This thing is rather formidable !

Maybe a minnie oak version of "The Hammer of Thor"

[Griff]

And here I am, just using a framing hammer handle... cut off the "split" area that goes in the hammer head, wrap the "contact" area in about 10 layers of duct tape.... 30 years of smackin' molds... I probably need to replace the tape!

[Rusty]

I use a piece of sledge hammer handle with a screwdriver bit epoxied into the but end so I can make minor adjustments or move little bits of lead that get in the way. With the screwdriver bit in place I never have to stop to pick up a tool while casting. Mould in one hand and mallet in the other the only time I need to stop is to put in more lead once I get a rhythm going.

[6pt-sika]

And here I am, just using a framing hammer handle... cut off the "split" area that goes in the hammer head, wrap the "contact" area in about 10 layers of duct tape.... 30 years of smackin' molds... I probably need to replace the tape!

I had been using an ash hammer handle and a piece of pine 2x4 I'd fashioned to fit my hand . My friend was watching me use that piece of pine last week in his brothers shop and he walked in today and handed me Thor's baby hammer !

[pwl44m]

Aint it nice to have a Friend that sees a need and fills it whether perceived or real.
Perry

[AJMD429]

Might come in handy if you have unruly kids to deal with, too. . .

[ohio hunter]

Nice mallet! Be a shame to beat it up! I have been using a bar of solder as a mallet forever. I have been told that is stupid and that it will ruin the mold. I have poured thousands of boolits and molds are all fine. Well except in Ohio everything rusts if it is not continually treated.
J

[J35]

That is a pretty neat mallet, your friend has a good eye.

I have a raw hide mallet I use when casting, I would be lost without it, been using it for close to thirty years.

I rarely use it to crack a sprue anymore, I use it mostly to just tap the handle hinge if the bullets want to stick, I crack sprues with just a gloved hand and catch the sprue with the same hand and ease it back into the pot before I drop the bullets. I find I can keep the mold at a more optimum temp from the feed back I get from cracking the sprue by hand and keep the alloy at a more constant temp by adding the hot spues back before they cool.

---J

[Chuck 100 yd]

I use a length of old axe handle ( about 11") to whack em when they need it.
That mallet is a nice tool. I think it would get saved if it were mine. To nice to beat up.

[6pt-sika]

I have been contemplating the mallet a bit today !

I think I'm gonna ask my young friend if he can possibly make me another one half this size

[Sixgun]

6 Point,
THAT is a work of art. Looks too pretty to use but use it you will.

As you know, we both are long time casters, with me starting in '72 with about 400,000 bullets (within 15K) to my credit. I've used mostly wood thingys of one sort or another but with wood, well, they work and all, but eventually they break up and leave splinters all over.

Not only do we smack the sprue plate but also have to hit the hinge to knock out the bullets.....usually, but not always.

This is what I have been using for the last 25 years. Its hard plastic that I cut out of a big chunk of plastic that the plant used on the bottling lines. Its perfect for hitting the hinge. I cut a couple of lengthwise lines about 3" long for a vibrating effect. It weighs 6 ounces and is about 10" long.-------------6