Supply Request

BJung · November 18, 2020, 05:08 PM

Does anyone have any valve grinding compound and lapping compound where they can sell me a dabs worth? I don't want to spend so much money buying two tubes of it where I won't be using it again afterwards.

My project is enlarging the my Lee .311" sizing die to .312" and my plan is to drive a jacketed bullet through it with the compound on the outside.

**Unclenick** · November 18, 2020, 05:23 PM

That's the proverbial "slow boat to China". I can tell you from firelapping experience that will take 20-50 bullets and the result may be inferior because the roundness of the bullets can't be guaranteed to be perfect when pushed through by a ram. What you want to do is take a 1/4 inch wood dowel and saw a slot into it and put some 240-grit wet/dry sandpaper into it and chuck it in a hand drill hone the hole out by moving that spinning paper back and forth in it. checking the diameter frequently. When you get close to final diameter, you want to progress through finer grades of sandpaper until you get to 1200 grit and, at that point, replace the sandpaper with a strip of rag that has some DICO stainless steel buffing compound or some Blue Magic Metal polish on it and go for a mirror finish with that.

BJung · November 18, 2020, 10:38 PM

That's a good idea. Thanks Uncle Nick

Geezerbiker · November 19, 2020, 03:07 AM

I bought some 320 and 600 grit lapping compound with the idea to open up a Lee .430 mold to .432 for use with an over sized barrel.

I put a lot of effort into the project and I don't think I made it more that .0001" larger. What I ended up with was a very shiny mold that drops bullets out very easy and also very smooth...

BTW, I ended up selling that rifle. Round nose bullets are not my first choice for my Super Blackhawk but the do shoot well..

noylj · November 19, 2020, 05:33 AM

Why not call Lee and ask if they can supply what you want? They are very reasonable with custom orders.
You don't have to DIY.

BJung · November 19, 2020, 12:45 PM

I contacted Lee over a month ago. First, they are back logged making molds so aren't servicing custom orders. Also, the person said that the sizing dies cannot be enlarge due to the hardness of the metal. I thought I should try it anyway.

Tony. Can you tell me more about your honing project on that mold? I'll open up another thread for it.

T. O'Heir · November 19, 2020, 02:29 PM

"...drive a jacketed bullet through it..." That won't make the mold(it a bullet mold or a sizing die?) bigger. A jacketed bullet is lead cored and will just compress. AND it's highly unlikely you'll end up with a round cavity.

BJung · November 19, 2020, 04:38 PM

Yeah. I'll give Uncle Nick's suggestion a try. What's your opinion on enlarging an aluminum mold? I posted a separate thread for the topic.

OneFreeTexan · November 19, 2020, 05:19 PM

So Lee said it can’t be done,,, but you are going to try it anyway.................??????

**Aguila Blanca** · November 19, 2020, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burbank jung

What's your opinion on enlarging an aluminum mold? I posted a separate thread for the topic.

Since that is a separate thread, we won't discuss that topic in this thread. This thread is about honing the sizing die.

**Unclenick** · November 19, 2020, 06:13 PM

If there is trouble with getting 220 or 240-grit silicone carbide wet/dry to open the die enough, diamond compound will certainly do it. But I think you'll succeed with the less expensive wet/dry paper. Put a little light oil on it to help keep the grit on the paper from clogging up. No steel is as hard as silicone carbide. It can be slow, but as long as you see the abrasive marking the surface of the steel, it is cutting it up.

November 18, 2020, 05:08 PM	#1
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	Supply Request Does anyone have any valve grinding compound and lapping compound where they can sell me a dabs worth? I don't want to spend so much money buying two tubes of it where I won't be using it again afterwards. My project is enlarging the my Lee .311" sizing die to .312" and my plan is to drive a jacketed bullet through it with the compound on the outside.

November 18, 2020, 05:23 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	That's the proverbial "slow boat to China". I can tell you from firelapping experience that will take 20-50 bullets and the result may be inferior because the roundness of the bullets can't be guaranteed to be perfect when pushed through by a ram. What you want to do is take a 1/4 inch wood dowel and saw a slot into it and put some 240-grit wet/dry sandpaper into it and chuck it in a hand drill hone the hole out by moving that spinning paper back and forth in it. checking the diameter frequently. When you get close to final diameter, you want to progress through finer grades of sandpaper until you get to 1200 grit and, at that point, replace the sandpaper with a strip of rag that has some DICO stainless steel buffing compound or some Blue Magic Metal polish on it and go for a mirror finish with that. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 19, 2020, 02:29 PM	#7
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...drive a jacketed bullet through it..." That won't make the mold(it a bullet mold or a sizing die?) bigger. A jacketed bullet is lead cored and will just compress. AND it's highly unlikely you'll end up with a round cavity. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 19, 2020, 06:13 PM	#11
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	If there is trouble with getting 220 or 240-grit silicone carbide wet/dry to open the die enough, diamond compound will certainly do it. But I think you'll succeed with the less expensive wet/dry paper. Put a little light oil on it to help keep the grit on the paper from clogging up. No steel is as hard as silicone carbide. It can be slow, but as long as you see the abrasive marking the surface of the steel, it is cutting it up. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 18, 2020, 10:38 PM	#3
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	That's a good idea. Thanks Uncle Nick

November 19, 2020, 03:07 AM	#4
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I bought some 320 and 600 grit lapping compound with the idea to open up a Lee .430 mold to .432 for use with an over sized barrel. I put a lot of effort into the project and I don't think I made it more that .0001" larger. What I ended up with was a very shiny mold that drops bullets out very easy and also very smooth... BTW, I ended up selling that rifle. Round nose bullets are not my first choice for my Super Blackhawk but the do shoot well..

November 19, 2020, 05:33 AM	#5
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 858	Why not call Lee and ask if they can supply what you want? They are very reasonable with custom orders. You don't have to DIY.

November 19, 2020, 12:45 PM	#6
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	I contacted Lee over a month ago. First, they are back logged making molds so aren't servicing custom orders. Also, the person said that the sizing dies cannot be enlarge due to the hardness of the metal. I thought I should try it anyway. Tony. Can you tell me more about your honing project on that mold? I'll open up another thread for it.

November 19, 2020, 04:38 PM	#8
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	Yeah. I'll give Uncle Nick's suggestion a try. What's your opinion on enlarging an aluminum mold? I posted a separate thread for the topic.

November 19, 2020, 05:19 PM	#9
OneFreeTexan Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2002 Location: West, Texas Posts: 280	So Lee said it can’t be done,,, but you are going to try it anyway.................??????