Any experience with lee molds?

[Ezekiel555]

Bought a lee slug mold a week ago, cast around 100 slugs. Now on the top of the mold there are some nice scuffs from the plate. Am i doing something wrong, Or is this normal wear?

 

[Rule3]

Aren't the Lee mold aluminum?

 

[Vulcan Bob]

The aluminum molds "and others" really need lubricated on the sprue cutter plate and the wedge slots and alignment pin. Check this out at Cast Boolits web site they have all the info there.

 

[cp1969]

Should have been a little sheet of instructions that came with the Lee mold telling you where lubrication is needed. Going from memory here, but it is basically the "V" portions and the alignment pin(s), i.e., the parts that align the two mold halves and the sprue plate bushing. No lube on the mold surface that touches the sprue plate. If you are getting excessive scuffing on this surface, check for burrs on the underneath side of the sprue plate. Be careful banging on the Lee mold sprue plate--they aren't nearly as beefy as, say, a Lyman or RCBS.

I have an old (1974) single cavity .45 cal 252 gr SWC mold that was my first bullet mold. I have no idea how many thousands of bullets I've cast with that mold but it still works great. I like the style of Lyman's bullets better, but not the molds. Lee's aluminum molds are a lot easier to cast with.

 

[Titegroups]

Shouldve followed the directions, absolutely they need lubed. There are lubes being sold as mold lubes, they need to be high temp, I use synthetic 2 stroke oil mix. The aluminum becomes soft at temp and will gall badly if you dont.

 

[Cyrano]

I don't really like Lee moulds: I feel there are better quality ones out there. Don't like aluminum either: prefer iron. To prevent wear, I lubricate with that same liquid graphite solution I put in the mould cavities to ease casting and make them release better. There's good advice in this string on where to put the lube. Don't use anything except something formulated for use at 800º, or it will turn to carbon and bind the mould; I ruined an old mould once before I knew this.

 

[Moonman]

Ezekiel555,

You should go over to CAST BOOLITS (that's spelled correctly) and Read some of their STICKIES on mold use, care, repairs.

Good Site, and GOOD LUCK.

 

[rockquarry]

Lee moulds make good bullets but the moulds are very delicate and should be treated accordingly. They are not durable like steel or brass moulds. However, they are cheap enough that they can be disposed of when damaged or worn out.

 

[ILLWIND]

I have several Lee molds and do like the bullets that they make. I have 2 . 44 cal SWC molds that are nearly 20 yrs old and have made 1000's of bullets. I prefer Iron, too as most of my molds are Lyman or RCBS. I used to use "Heat-riser Lube" to lubricate the pins. That stuff is hard to find now days.

 

[johnjohn]

All I own are Lee molds. They work good enough. But are a little delicate. Having said that the first one I bought is ~16 yrs. old and going strong.