It was all fun and games until...

studman5578 · August 25, 2011, 06:30 PM

...the sprue handle on my mold broke! So frustrating. I am using a lee 124gr LRN in 9mm that I got about 2 months ago. Fortunately I had already cast about 4,000 so I think I'm good for awhile

. Anybody had this issue with a lee before? What can I hope for/expect when I call them tomorrow?

GP100man · August 25, 2011, 07:03 PM

What probably happened ya did`nt get it closed all the way or the plate wiggled off a bit .

Go to http://kal.castpics.net/ & look around Rick makes quality stuff for casters !!!

Enjoy !!

Lunicy · August 25, 2011, 08:02 PM

happens all the time. Call Lee, they'll make it better. The steel they use on sprue handle is brittle.

I have welded them back together too.

armoredman · August 25, 2011, 09:41 PM

The TL one? Good mold, use it a lot, just started using the 125 grain single lube groove, too. Lee will fix it.

snuffy · August 25, 2011, 10:40 PM

Yup, it wasn't me, I know better. The problem is NOT pre-heating the mold enough. You're shearing 6 sprues all at once, if the lead is too cold, it takes a lot of force to break them all.

Like this?

I sent lee an email with that picture, they replied they were sending me a replacement. 3 days late TWO new levers came in the mail.

TXGunNut · August 26, 2011, 07:27 PM

Thanks, guys. Duly noted, will RTFM. Planning on taking my new 6 cav TL452-200 mould for a test drive in the morning. Think I'll cast a few Gould boolits for my 45-90 project as well before it gets hot. Gonna be 109 tomorrow so I'll probably be loading the ingots into the pot with a flashlight in my mouth.

GP100man · August 26, 2011, 08:25 PM

TGN

The waters a little over the ankle & a good breeze blowing at my house , I`ll even furnish the bottom pour pot !!!

TXGunNut · August 26, 2011, 09:22 PM

My prayers are with you, my friend. You send pics of water, I'll send pics of shiny boolits and we'll both be happy.

If you get a chance tell Irene to head west, ease up crossing the Mississippi river, hang a left @ OKC and head south!

studman5578 · August 26, 2011, 09:44 PM

I called lee today and talked to them about the sprue lever. I don't think it could have been any more painless. The entire call lasted about 3 minutes and consisted of me explaining my problem, how new my mold was, where on the lever the break was (she wanted to know if she should send a new wooden handle as well) and what my address was. If the value for the money wasn't enough of a reason to go Lee, that customer service experience sold me the rest of the way.

TXGunNut · August 26, 2011, 10:51 PM

If the value for the money wasn't enough of a reason to go Lee, that customer service experience sold me the rest of the way. -Studman5578

Agreed, Lee would probably better regarded in some circles if his products weren't so reasonably priced, most customers don't get to experience their customer service. His tools are innovative and economical for the hobbyist and beginning reloader/caster and some folks like his "commercial" moulds as well.
As I've posted elsewhere the more I learn about Richard Lee's casting products, presses and other tools the more I'm impressed with his products and reloading philosophy.
If I ever meet Mr Lee for coffee or something harder the first round's on me.

studman5578 · August 26, 2011, 11:09 PM

Snuffy-

Thats exactly what mine looked like. My problem wasn't having a mold that was too cold (I was about 600 rounds deep and churning them out), the problem was that when I poured, the sprue wasn't closed all the way (insert Homer Simpson "DOH") and when I tried to open it (even while supplementing the leverage with a screwdriver), it snapped. Fortunately I still have that 45 200 gr. LSWC to keep me busy...

zippy13 · August 27, 2011, 02:25 PM

I've not had the metal portion fail, but I'm familiar with a split wood handle on a Lee. Thanks for the heads up, Snuffy and studman.

GP100man · August 28, 2011, 09:28 PM

Snuffy

I preheat all my molds ,but the aluminum ones I don`t let the burner get red hot & have to cast 2 for a while then 3 ,then 4 & etc until it`s warmed up completely !!

Thought I`d throw that in for good luck !!!

studman5578 · August 30, 2011, 05:01 PM

new sprue lever came in today (or yesterday, Im not sure). Thanks Lee! Now if I could just find the washer I lost when I took the old one off...

August 25, 2011, 06:30 PM	#1
studman5578 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2009 Location: Varying between 1 and 3 hours from Chicago Posts: 152	It was all fun and games until... ...the sprue handle on my mold broke! So frustrating. I am using a lee 124gr LRN in 9mm that I got about 2 months ago. Fortunately I had already cast about 4,000 so I think I'm good for awhile . Anybody had this issue with a lee before? What can I hope for/expect when I call them tomorrow? __________________ Rev 5:13 "To him who sits on the throne and the Lamb be praise honor and glory and power, for ever and ever"

August 25, 2011, 07:03 PM	#2
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	6 banger sprue handles What probably happened ya did`nt get it closed all the way or the plate wiggled off a bit . Go to http://kal.castpics.net/ & look around Rick makes quality stuff for casters !!! Enjoy !! __________________ GP100man

August 25, 2011, 10:40 PM	#5
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Yup, it wasn't me, I know better. The problem is NOT pre-heating the mold enough. You're shearing 6 sprues all at once, if the lead is too cold, it takes a lot of force to break them all. Like this? I sent lee an email with that picture, they replied they were sending me a replacement. 3 days late TWO new levers came in the mail. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

August 26, 2011, 07:27 PM	#6
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Thanks, guys. Duly noted, will RTFM. Planning on taking my new 6 cav TL452-200 mould for a test drive in the morning. Think I'll cast a few Gould boolits for my 45-90 project as well before it gets hot. Gonna be 109 tomorrow so I'll probably be loading the ingots into the pot with a flashlight in my mouth. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

August 26, 2011, 08:25 PM	#7
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	TGN The waters a little over the ankle & a good breeze blowing at my house , I`ll even furnish the bottom pour pot !!! __________________ GP100man

August 25, 2011, 08:02 PM	#3
Lunicy Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Behind enemy lines, jersey shore Posts: 118	happens all the time. Call Lee, they'll make it better. The steel they use on sprue handle is brittle. I have welded them back together too.

August 25, 2011, 09:41 PM	#4
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,297	The TL one? Good mold, use it a lot, just started using the 125 grain single lube groove, too. Lee will fix it.

August 26, 2011, 09:22 PM	#8
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	My prayers are with you, my friend. You send pics of water, I'll send pics of shiny boolits and we'll both be happy. If you get a chance tell Irene to head west, ease up crossing the Mississippi river, hang a left @ OKC and head south! __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

August 26, 2011, 09:44 PM	#9
studman5578 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2009 Location: Varying between 1 and 3 hours from Chicago Posts: 152	Update I called lee today and talked to them about the sprue lever. I don't think it could have been any more painless. The entire call lasted about 3 minutes and consisted of me explaining my problem, how new my mold was, where on the lever the break was (she wanted to know if she should send a new wooden handle as well) and what my address was. If the value for the money wasn't enough of a reason to go Lee, that customer service experience sold me the rest of the way. __________________ Rev 5:13 "To him who sits on the throne and the Lamb be praise honor and glory and power, for ever and ever"

August 26, 2011, 10:51 PM	#10
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	If the value for the money wasn't enough of a reason to go Lee, that customer service experience sold me the rest of the way. -Studman5578 Agreed, Lee would probably better regarded in some circles if his products weren't so reasonably priced, most customers don't get to experience their customer service. His tools are innovative and economical for the hobbyist and beginning reloader/caster and some folks like his "commercial" moulds as well. As I've posted elsewhere the more I learn about Richard Lee's casting products, presses and other tools the more I'm impressed with his products and reloading philosophy. If I ever meet Mr Lee for coffee or something harder the first round's on me. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

August 26, 2011, 11:09 PM	#11
studman5578 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2009 Location: Varying between 1 and 3 hours from Chicago Posts: 152	Snuffy- Thats exactly what mine looked like. My problem wasn't having a mold that was too cold (I was about 600 rounds deep and churning them out), the problem was that when I poured, the sprue wasn't closed all the way (insert Homer Simpson "DOH") and when I tried to open it (even while supplementing the leverage with a screwdriver), it snapped. Fortunately I still have that 45 200 gr. LSWC to keep me busy... __________________ Rev 5:13 "To him who sits on the throne and the Lamb be praise honor and glory and power, for ever and ever"

August 27, 2011, 02:25 PM	#12
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	I've not had the metal portion fail, but I'm familiar with a split wood handle on a Lee. Thanks for the heads up, Snuffy and studman.

August 28, 2011, 09:28 PM	#13
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Snuffy I preheat all my molds ,but the aluminum ones I don`t let the burner get red hot & have to cast 2 for a while then 3 ,then 4 & etc until it`s warmed up completely !! Thought I`d throw that in for good luck !!! __________________ GP100man

August 30, 2011, 05:01 PM	#14
studman5578 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2009 Location: Varying between 1 and 3 hours from Chicago Posts: 152	new sprue lever came in today (or yesterday, Im not sure). Thanks Lee! Now if I could just find the washer I lost when I took the old one off... __________________ Rev 5:13 "To him who sits on the throne and the Lamb be praise honor and glory and power, for ever and ever"

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