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  #1  
Old 02-12-2010, 03:11 PM
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michael thornton michael thornton is offline
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Default nrw bullet mold?

i just got a new bullet mold and tryed to cast a few last night and it never would fill out, i never had this trouble beforei even tryed to smoke up the mold, still didnt do rite! whats wrong, all my other molds were not new when i got them so im guessing thats the trouble?
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Old 02-12-2010, 03:31 PM
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Could be something as simple as trying to drop them out to soon? Which mold are you having the problem with?
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Old 02-12-2010, 03:36 PM
Dan Cash Dan Cash is offline
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You don't say what brand mould which might make a difference. Generally, moulds are shipped with a protective anti rust coating and require very thorough degreasing and cleaning. My drill is:
Soak in laquer thinner (in a well ventilated area).
Scrub with a dedicated tooth brush.
Rinse with laquer thinner.
Preheat on open flame approximately 1 minute per side.
Cast with success.
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Old 02-12-2010, 03:37 PM
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Did you clean it well first?

It is possible that the slots that allow the air to escape could be impeded.
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Old 02-12-2010, 03:53 PM
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its a lee 452252 swc double cavity, i think it needs cleaning ill try that, thanks guys!
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Old 02-13-2010, 10:59 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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Use any kind of automotive brake cleaner and an old tooth brush and that should do the trick.

You may have some problems with the Lee molds. Venting is a real problem with them. Make sure you clean the "cross hatching" as that is what allows the air to get out of the mold when hot metal is poured in.

I have even used a brass tooth brush on them, very lightly, and it has worked OK. You just can't put the "gorilla" on it! Use some finesse.
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Old 02-14-2010, 10:51 PM
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I'd be more inclined to use chemicals to clean the mold rather than bristles from a brass brush. It doesn't take much to put scratches in an aluminum mold. Lee uses some fairly soft aluminum in their molds.
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Old 02-14-2010, 11:07 PM
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As others have said, a good cleaning/degreasing will probably help a lot.

I don't know if you have other Lee molds or not, but it sometimes helps to preheat them on a hot plate to start and then get your rate going to maintain the right temperature. Aluminum will cool quicker than other materials.
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Old 02-19-2010, 01:32 AM
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OK. Try smoking the mold. The layer of soot seems to help it release
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Old 02-23-2010, 01:09 AM
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Whenever I gt a new mould I boil it for 5 minutes in a fairly strong solution of dishwasher detergent and water. Then rinse with lots more hot water before drying. Gets all the grease off, so no more gassing when the hot lead hits it. I think I read about this in The Americna Rifleman years ago, but I might be wrong.
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Old 02-26-2010, 04:51 AM
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You need to get 'er going so you can come to Barlow in April and let me size 'em, load 'em and shoot 'em too! Use some break cleaner on it then Qtip the hell out of it and then smoke it real good. Try to get it heated up first while your pot is heating, should be ok.

J.B.
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Old 02-28-2010, 10:08 PM
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got it working today! nice looking bullets, thanks for the mold nard! ill try to bring a few so we can tryem out
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