Doing some bullet mold maintance

[Cheyenne Ranger]

I was reading on the wires that the Lee molds need a bit of work to be top notch.  I've used them for years but am always ready to learn something new.
The author said to use an awl to open up the vent lines between the bullets and to put some pumice or similar material on a bullet, put a screw in the base of it and chuck it up in a drill.  As you slowing run the drill you close the two sides of the mold so you end up polishing the insides, giving you bullets that fall out of the mold.

I tried it and had good success with the polishing but decided to use my sandblaster to clean out the vent lines.  A couple of seconds and I got all the drop out spray cleaned out between the bullet molds.  I put bullets in the cavities to keep from sandblasting them.  Want them to stay polished.  Did two 6-gang molds and must say that the bullets I used weren't too much good after that--back in the pot.  But the molds are as clean as the day I got them.  

Tomorrow we'll see if all this work makes a difference.

ÇR

[Lazarus Longshot]

Well, CR, did you survive the bullet casting today without any untoward episodes? :-D

[Cheyenne Ranger]

Surprising as it seems I got through 20 lbs of casting with just a little sweat from the warm Houston weather.  Molds seem to do better but then that just may be me thinking it's better.  

I had cleaned up about 9 old ones that I got from my Dad.  They were in sorry shape.  That will be a future article in the Reg. Register.  Gotta plan ahead when your mind is as small as mine.

Bought a new part for the luber to speed up production there (another article).  Rather than having to work the pressure wrench each time it has a spring that compresses so you can do several at a time without having to work the wrench.  Every so often I get a long ribbon of lube follow the bullet out of the mold.  Still working on getting the technique down.  Seems to be getting better at that, too but not there yet.

ÇR