First pour pound ingots

  • 453 Views
  • Last Post 02 December 2019
makpeter posted this 23 November 2019

Linotype scrap to this BHN 22 load of work but lot of fun and learning

Attached Files

Order By: Standard | Newest | Votes
JeffinNZ posted this 23 November 2019

Very pretty.

 

Cheers from New Zealand

Attached Files

  • Liked by
  • makpeter
Dale53 posted this 23 November 2019

I have a number of ingot molds from Lee, Lyman, and RCBS, but also had a welder friend make up some VERY useful ingot molds from angle iron (up to 5 lb ingots).

However, I keep all of my linotype in their intial shapes. I can tell instantly what they are. They are small enough to use for most any amount without issue. The linotype is clean, so little is gained from so much effort.

I still have two five gallon buckets of lino...

NOTE: I am NOT slamming the O.P. but just stating how and why I do what I do.

Dale53

Attached Files

Ross Smith posted this 24 November 2019

If you need help with storing that lino ,I know a poor Polish guy in central Utah that can help you out. Heck, he probably won't even charge you anything except shipping.

Attached Files

max503 posted this 25 November 2019

I too leave my lino in its original form.  That way, heaven forbid, if I ever had to sell it I could prove what it is.

But I adore the look of a shiny ingot just as much as the next guy.applause

Attached Files

  • Liked by
  • makpeter
bushranger posted this 27 November 2019

I have not seen any linotype in years.  However, years ago (early eighties), a printer friend of mine was switching over from type metal printing to some kind of photo process and he gave me a couple buckets of type metal.  However, he told me that it was not "linotype", but some other type of printing alloy and it was so many years ago I cannot remember what he told me and he and his wife have since passed away.

For years after that, the only lead alloy that was available was clip on wheel weights...now that has dried-up and I watch the classifieds for lead for sale.  I have never seen any linotype offered for sale in South Central Lower Michigan, nor expect there to be.

Attached Files

sudden thunder posted this 30 November 2019

Bush ranger, That might have the "stereotype" alloy which I was fortunate enough to use a lot of as a kid. Lucky for me my father worked in a newspaper stereotype department, involved in casting and machining the cylindrical press plates for mounting onto high speed rotatary printing presses. As you could imagine in my youth I spent many an hour sent recycling stereotype scrap for sending downrange. Now unfortunately I have to resort to modified monotype and wheel weight alloys - adding lead and tin in my fforts to recreate the often unkown and underappreciated stereotype alloy. When casting with the Stereotype, it always flowed quicker than either linotype or monotype and fill out my molds perfectly. Unfortunately my supply of stereotype ended when they eventually went to the photo process with light cured plastic for making the printing plates.

Shoot for the moon! Getting older may be inevitable, but acting your age appears to be optional ....

Attached Files

makpeter posted this 30 November 2019

Hi,

Even here in Belgium it is hard to find, found a firm that buy's up old printing machines ans buy it from them 

But is a mix of linotype and mono type. But very happy with it can mix it with plain lead for a ideal alloyd 

 

Attached Files

  • Liked by
  • Bud Hyett
makpeter posted this 01 December 2019

The end result first ever, when i looked at  it on line it seems easy but found out the hard way

It is not easy to cast bullets all of these back in the pot

Attached Files

Bud Hyett posted this 01 December 2019

Used linotype is a gamble, you simply need to work with it to get the desired hardness you can use. I have bought type metal in all configurations. Having known old wheelweight alloy that is higher tin content, I mix a 100 pound batch to get the hardness I desire and shoot that lot for consistency of loading. Often, getting the batch fluxed clean is the biggest challenge.

I was told the following by the son of a retired linotype operator who had four decades of experience.

Theory: Linotype machine printers would send a sample of their used alloy to a smelter laboratory. This laboratory would analyze the content, mix a special alloy to bring the current usage alloy to specification and send the super-rich alloy back with instructions on how to mix. The printers would segregate lots of the alloy in usage and bring it back to specification. 

Practice: The printers using type metal often added enough of the super-rich alloy to get the appearance (eyeball engineering) of the molten alloy they wanted. They were too much under pressure for production deadlines to stop presses and mix by the instructions.

 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

Attached Files

  • Liked by
  • John F.
John Alexander posted this 02 December 2019

Try casting at a higher temperature.

John

Attached Files

Close