Ingot Mold Life Span

[warf73]

I bought me a nice new Lyman ingot mold last summer thought it would be a nice up date to the old muffin pan.

I broke it in on some lead just shortly after I bought it poured little over 110lbs. worth of ingots in about 5-6 hours.

Well today I was doing another melt and in the 7th hour of pouring the mold handle bit the bullet. The little arm that comes off for the wooden handle broke off. Only good thing is I was all but done (poured 2 more rounds and a parshale and I was done)

My question is did I get the full life out of this Ingot Mold?
Is this little Ingot mold good for only 350-400lbs of lead poured over it?

First pour little over 110lbs in 5-6hours
Second pour little over 230lbs in 7 hours

What do you guys think did I get my moneys worth out of the mold or not?

Is there a better Ingot mold?

I want the 1lb ingots they feed real nice into my 20lb pot.

Thanks Warf

[flintman]

I have 2 of the older handless Lyman ingot moulds,I alternate them and also let the lead set up some,then dump them out on a metal table or on DRY ground.I think you got the money's worth from the ingot mould,but you should realize that there's still plenty of life left in it,unless the mould itself is busted.We all should probably keep an allen wrench and screwdivers close to our casting setup to tighten bullet mould blocks back on the handles,and pliers to pick up that "cool" lead that wasn't so cool after all! I've caught myself getting warmed up on these ideals from time to time.

[calvon]

I bought a cast iron muffin pan forty years ago. It makes ingots of 1.75 pounds. It's a bit rusty here and there but it still works. I have dropped it on a concrete floor and otherwise abused it and so far it hasn't broken.