Home casting

[NBW]

I’m looking into casting my own lead balls and working out what kit I need etc.
Is a thermometer a must?
Is fluxing advisable, necessary or vital?
Bottom feed pot or ladle, pros and cons.
I would appreciate views and suggestions form experienced home casters.

[mag41uk]

I have never used a thermometer and rarely flux. Just mix it and scrape the pot sides and skim off the dross.
Prefer bottom pour as one less tool to mess around with.
You will probably end up with varying methods!

[andrew375]

Bottom pour, the lee pots are adequate. No thermometer, just adjust the temperature for the minimum at which good bullets drop.

Various substances can be used for flux, rosin and carnauba wax work great.

Visit the castboolits forum for more.

[1066]

I have never used a thermometer and rarely flux. Just mix it and scrape the pot sides and skim off the dross.
Prefer bottom pour as one less tool to mess around with.
You will probably end up with varying methods!

About the same as my routine - I have a 10lb Lee production pot that has served me well for many years. This is thermostatically controlled but I don't use a thermometer. I stir the lead with a wooden stick for all the flux I need. I usually cast pure soft lead but if I need something a bit harder I add a little pewter clipped from an old pewter plate.

[channel12]

I don't use an electric pot I'm using a 6 inch diameter iron karahi on a camping stove and a Lyman dipper. https://www.brownells.co.uk/Lyman-LEAD-DIPPER-100020143. The karahi is round bottomed and I find I can control heat better with gas. I did have Lee melt pot but sold it on.

You can buy a karahi on ebay for about £10

[Tommygunn]

I have both dip and bottom pour pots - the bottom pour is so much better if you can, (but do make sure you keep an eye on it when it's warming up full of lead to be certain the spout isn't ever-so-slightly open!). Ladle works, but it's a bit of a faff.
I have a lead thermometer, which is nice, but almost never use it.
Fluxing, absolutely. I use beeswax, and a little bit goes a long way - you will be surprised at the amount of crap it draws out of the melt. This said, a bottom pour pot has advantages here too in allowing the slag and rubbish to float on the surface and shield your melt from oxidisation etc. meaning much less need to flux.

Usual safety precautions apply, but I'm sure you have done your own research in that area