Safety Precautions:
1) No casting should be done without basic safety garb. This would include long pants and long sleeves, sturdy
gloves, eye protection and closed top shoes.
2) Keep all flammable items away from casting area. Do not operate unit on flammable materials such as paper,
wood or carpeting.
3) Casting should be done in a well ventilated area. Avoid breathing fumes and dust from furnace.
4) Never allow moisture near molten lead. When moisture is introduced to molten lead, a terrific steam explosion
occurs and molten metal is sprayed not only over the immediate area but also over the bullet caster. This moisture
could be introduced by a wet ladle or dipper.
5) Keep children away from casting and reloading areas.
6) Never pick up unit when heated.
7. Do not continue to cast if distracted.
8. Do not smoke or eat while handling lead.
9. Do not run dry without lead. (Except initial warm-up period.)
10) Keep plug dry.
11) Wash hands after handling lead.
12) Use caution when adding bullet metal to furnace or pot containing molten metal to avoid splashing.
Operating your Furnace
Be certain that the thermostat control knob is turned fully counterclockwise to the stop.
This means your furnace is “off”. Next, plug in the electrical cord to an appropriate wall
socket and, once your pot is loaded with up to 20 lbs. of cold bullet metal, you are ready to
apply heat and begin casting.
Note: Before using your new furnace for the first time, we suggest you turn it on, empty,
for 10 or 15 minutes in a well ventilated area (better yet, outdoors) to burn off preservatives.
The unit usually smokes a bit at first which can be a problem inside your house.
The temperature of your furnace is controlled by a positive action thermostat that senses
the lead alloy temperature of the furnace. The thermostat will cycle power to the furnace to
maintain the desired casting temperature. This furnace is equipped with a pilot light located
adjacent to the thermostat control knob. When this pilot light comes on, it means the furnace
is heating the bullet metal. When the light goes off, the furnace is not heating the bullet metal
as it has reached the set temperature.
When you have determined the casting temperature best for you, mark the control dial
plate for future reference. The Lyman casting thermometer is particularly useful here.
Melting Cold Bullet Metal
After loading the furnace pot with up to 20 pounds of bullet metal, turn the thermostat control
knob to the desired temperature setting. The thermostat will deliver maximum power to the heating
coil until the pot contents reach the designated temperature - usually about 15 minutes.
At that time, the heating system will begin cycling as the thermostat maintains a consistent tem-
perature. The blinking pilot light tells you the furnace is cycling at the dialed temperature level.
The numbers on the thermostat control knob are for reference only and do not relate to the tem-
perature of the bullet metal. You will need to experiment with different thermostat settings in order
to find the temperature that works best with your bullet metal and mould combination. If you have a
casting thermometer, 700 degrees F is a good starting point. Once you find your best temperature,
mark the dial so you can return to it in subsequent casting sessions.
Mag 20 (continued)
