Author Topic: RUSTY ! (Read 708 times)

Haywire Haywood · « **on:** August 21, 2005, 07:15:53 AM »

Not my mold blocks... the operator. I went to cast up some .358 180gr gas check boolits for hunting this season and culled 95% of what I cast. The other 5% should have gone back in the pot but I'm going to make do with them. I wish it would cool off some so I can stand to be out there in the barn longer. If you don't cast for 8 months and were never really good in the first place, them things don't come out right.

Ian

Tycer · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2005, 03:17:24 PM »

I can empathize! Just got an excellent .360 dia 205gr mould from Dan Lynch at mountainmold.com and am having a time learning how to cast it.

I did find a $7 grill thermometer at the kitchen store that floats on the alloy. I keep it at 700º and I'm doing better.

what gun are you casting for?

T

jhalcott · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2005, 03:24:33 PM »

I know what you mean haywire! It was 94 in the shade with 85% humidity. Felt like 105+. By the time I got the molds,pot and other gear assembled ,I was dripping sweat so bad I feared an explosion fromsweat falling into the pot! Put it all away and went to the range, took an electric fan for company!

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2005, 03:41:15 PM »

I was casting from the 180gr group buy mold that has run here a couple times for my NEF Handi in 357 Max. I also dropped a few from my Mountain Molds .458 325gr WFNGC for my NEF 45-70. Dan makes great molds.. Had better success this afternoon with both of them, only culled 70% of the 358s and 25% of the 458s. :-D

Ian

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2005, 10:05:41 PM »

Ian, more likely to be Lee than you. Lee uses some incredibly tenacious preservative on their moulds. With a new mould, that's my best guess at your reject rate. I boil new moulds in soapy water for half an hour and it can take two tries. Other cleaning methods don't work for me.

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2005, 11:11:22 AM »

Got'em in the soup now.. boiled them for 30 min, let'em soak for an hour (had to go to town) brushed them out with a soft toothbrush and they're on the boil again for 30. I'll brush'em again, rinse and hairdryer them when they're done.

Ian

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2005, 01:06:30 PM »

DJ, never was there a nail struck more squarely upon the head. Just got in from casting a bunch from those freshly scrubbed molds and the difference is amazing. They're still far from perfect, but the cull rate for my uses just dropped to 5 or 10 percent and they practically jump out of the mold compared to the whacking of the hinge I was doing to get them out. A few taps with a tablespoon and they are out.

much thanks,
Ian

Edit: After letting them cool and going thru them, they aren't quite as good as they initially looked. Culls were 25%.. still much much better tho.

DPRinks · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2005, 03:56:24 PM »

I have over 25 Lee molds, I just use an acid brush with acetone, carefully clean the cavities and vents, about 30 seconds, de burr with an exacto knife blade. give a quick shot of Frankfort mold release, use a q tip and acetone to clean the vents again, touch a bit of nickel neversieze on the guides and the handle and sprue plate pivots, put a tapered punch in the sprue holes, then use a fine slip on the bottom of the holes to smooth it off.
Have no problems after 2 or 3 bullets, sometimes the second bullet is good.

dodd3 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2005, 01:02:16 AM »

ian all my moulds are lee i do the heavy cleaning trick then give them a good clean with rubbing alcohol the this is the trick i smoke the moulds with candle smoke .they cast good bullets all the time that was advice given by track of the wolfe.hope this is some help.
bernie :-)