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Post by spence on Dec 15, 2021 9:10:53 GMT -7
The lead blocks act as a 'heat sink', distribute the heat so quickly it never reaches melting temperature.
Physics is weird, not always intuitive.
I posted this to that other forum 10 years ago and it resulted in a long, involved and contentious discussion. As usual, they eventually formed a circular firing squad and reached no consensus on the possibility. Happily, member Matt Denison of North Star West made a crude mold of lead and tried it, reported that it worked just fine, no melted mold.
Spence
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Post by brokennock on Dec 15, 2021 15:37:25 GMT -7
Oh come on now,,,, I can't imagine that happening on that forum.🙄
Lol. 😉
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Post by artificer on Dec 18, 2021 4:46:40 GMT -7
The lead blocks act as a 'heat sink', distribute the heat so quickly it never reaches melting temperature. Physics is weird, not always intuitive. I posted this to that other forum 10 years ago and it resulted in a long, involved and contentious discussion. As usual, they eventually formed a circular firing squad and reached no consensus on the possibility. Happily, member Matt Denison of North Star West made a crude mold of lead and tried it, reported that it worked just fine, no melted mold. Spence There you go! Once again, experimental archeology proves whether or not it could (and did) work. Gus
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Post by spence on Dec 18, 2021 8:17:51 GMT -7
Gus said, "Once again, experimental archeology proves whether or not it could (and did) work."
A good point. That aspect of the hobby, trying things described in period documents, has always been a very pleasant one for me. There have been hundreds of moments when some small thing worked out as they said, and it's ridiculous how much pleasure I get from that. It happens in all facets of the hobby, dress, guns, foods, just little things of no real importance except that it gives me a tiny window into their world...the first time making ash cakes or bread on a stick, using a coil gun worm, starting a fire using the lock of my flintlock, cleaning a gun with tow...
Spence
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990
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Post by Keith on Dec 18, 2021 16:27:00 GMT -7
Agreed Spence, I absolutely love experimental archaeology. Keith.
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Post by Black Hand on Dec 19, 2021 5:43:09 GMT -7
Agreed - Reading gets you quite a long ways, but doing helps truly fix it in your mind. You also get a perspective that a reader may never understand. Sometimes this chasm is vast...
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Post by artificer on Dec 20, 2021 10:46:40 GMT -7
Gus said, "Once again, experimental archeology proves whether or not it could (and did) work." A good point. That aspect of the hobby, trying things described in period documents, has always been a very pleasant one for me. There have been hundreds of moments when some small thing worked out as they said, and it's ridiculous how much pleasure I get from that. It happens in all facets of the hobby, dress, guns, foods, just little things of no real importance except that it gives me a tiny window into their world...the first time making ash cakes or bread on a stick, using a coil gun worm, starting a fire using the lock of my flintlock, cleaning a gun with tow... Spence Spence, This is part of the reason I enjoy reading your posts so much, because you often have an answer to the question of "Has anyone ever tried this before?" (Another part is your almost Encyclopedia Brittanica library of quotes, of course.) I truly appreciate what you wrote above and is something I also enjoy so much. At other times when I did not have documentation; I have tried things from using period tools and knowledge of what I inadequately call "the flavor of the period." I may be a little disappointed when documentation comes along that shows my thinking to have been wrong, but that's OK. However, when I have later found documentation, that just tickles me pink. Gus
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Post by Black Hand on Dec 20, 2021 11:26:55 GMT -7
It's difficult to keep the modern mentality out of our period endeavors...
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Post by hawkeyes on Dec 22, 2021 7:11:28 GMT -7
It's difficult to keep the modern mentality out of our period endeavors... Unfortunate side ride of being apart of the modern world. No matter how hard we try we still must be apart of it... All the more reasons for us to cherish that which we do concerning the hobby and woods time aloft!
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Joe
City-dweller
Posts: 170
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Post by Joe on Jan 3, 2022 12:35:27 GMT -7
Not sure what this topic is about exactly but if memory serves me, The early Baker rifle used a leather patched ball. I also have a picture of a civil war soldier with a bullet board hanging from his neck. Ball molds are a lot easier to make than people think, we're just accustomed to Saeco quality with our modern mentality and all. I have no doubt I could make a ball mold out of hardtack. Maybe if I get bored I'll give it a try just to prove the point.
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Post by Black Hand on Jan 4, 2022 15:05:58 GMT -7
Soapstone molds are not unknown. The Civil War period is a bit late for us but appears consistent with the period when bullet boards became common. Prior to ACW is a little more difficult to document...
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Joe
City-dweller
Posts: 170
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Post by Joe on Jan 5, 2022 14:12:10 GMT -7
Soapstone molds are not unknown. The Civil War period is a bit late for us but appears consistent with the period when bullet boards became common. Prior to ACW is a little more difficult to document... americanindian.si.edu/collections-search/objects/NMAI_75733"Lead Shot: In the 17th century, Wampanoag Natives of Rhode Island, as well other Natives of New England, made use of lead shot and European shot molds (Blanchette 1980). Native Americans were also quite adept at making their own molds and casting in lead. In William Bradford's narrative of early historic New England, he refers to the mastery of the Native Americans in casting lead shot and other weapon related items: "They have also their moulds to make shot of all sorts, as musket bullets, pistol bullets, swan and goose shot, and of smaller sorts. Yea some have seen them have their screw-plates to make screw-pins themselves when the want them, with sundry other implements, wherewith they are ordinarily better fitted and furnished than the English themselves" (Bradford 1981)."
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Joe
City-dweller
Posts: 170
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Post by Joe on Jan 5, 2022 21:00:12 GMT -7
I have an item from the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1748, describing a way to make bullet molds of much better quality than those imported. In determining the proper size to make the mold, it seems to rely on simply eyeballing it, says nothing about measurements. "....then get some Marbles (such as Boys play with) from the smallest to the Size that fits your Gun." So, try marbles of increasing sizes until you find one with the windage which you think most proper. You could even try the marble with a patch to make certain it fits the way you want. Make your mold cavity of that size. Spence You got me thinking about marbles. It's difficult to find an exact fitting marble to make a mold today because marbles today are made by machine (since 1902 ish).Even after 1846 when the marble scissors was invented by Elias Greiner it would have become increasingly more difficult. But, Prior to that all marbles were hand made in every size imaginable. So finding a marble to fit the bore circa 1748 should have been relatively easy. Here is a picture of a marble scissors for those interested. Should I happen upon a marble fitting one of my bores, I will certainly give the lead mold a try.
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Post by spence on Jan 5, 2022 21:36:54 GMT -7
Joe Said, "Should I happen upon a marble fitting one of my bores, I will certainly give the lead mold a try." You could save yourself some trouble by just shooting the marble. THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE September 22, 1774 LONDON, July 13. We hear from Haltwistle, that on Thursday last, a Collection of wild Beasts being in a Barn, a large Russian Bear broke loose, and instantly devoured two of the other Animals of the Collection; then made an Attempt upon one of the Keepers, who narrowly escaped with his Life. Upon this Alarm, the whole Town assembled together around the Barn, and fired several Times at the Beast, but to little Purpose, as they could not readily procure Balls, but at last a young Gentleman shot it dead with a small Marble. Spence
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Post by paranger on Jan 6, 2022 4:34:45 GMT -7
As savvy as the old boys could be, sometimes I can't help seeing some prime candidates for the Darwin Award in their antics..
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