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Old July 5, 2020, 12:09 AM   #1
BJung
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Do I really have to clean my new Lee mold?

I received my Lee 6 cavity bullet mold today and read the label, "clean before using.." Do I really have to clean this? Why can the life of the mold be less if I don't? I smoked and started casting my Lee 6 cavity 38-148wc mold without cleaning and the bullets dropped out great! I confess, I didn't read the label the first time around. And, I haven't contacted Lee yet.
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Old July 5, 2020, 12:23 AM   #2
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They're covered in a preservative that can lead to wrinkled bullets for quite some time. Some molds 'clean up' quickly by just casting and culling. Others take quite some time.

It's best to clean every mold.
But if you don't want to, it's just a matter of hand and wrist exercise until the drops improve...
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Old July 5, 2020, 05:48 AM   #3
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Most all new bullet molds with only one exception that I have bought require a good cleaning before use but I do it anyway. During the machining process lubricants are used to keep friction at a minimum between the cutting tool and workpiece and as FrankenMauser stated some are coated with a preservative.

although you may not see any residue its still there. Giving your molds a good scrubbing with dawn dishwashing liquid and hot water will help make your first casting go much easier. I also run all my molds before use through a couple heat and cool down cycles to set the alignment pins.

Some molds require a couple casting recessions before they start casting consistent bullets some don't, Lee molds tend to like having a couple casting secession under there belt to get broken in good.

As to smoking molds some do some don't I haven't smoked a bullet mold in probably ten years and none of my new molds ever get smoked before casting. I just preheat on a hot plate and I'm casting nice bullets usually within a couple throws.
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Old July 5, 2020, 11:08 AM   #4
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Mold cleaning is what ultrasonic cleaners are for.
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Old July 15, 2020, 04:38 PM   #5
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Cutting oils get down in the pores of the aluminum ... the new moulds are CNC machined and it gets oil deep ... I soak Lee blocks in acetone for a few hours ( I don't like water in my moulds) then heat cycle and clean the oil off the cavities and blocks with acetone at least three times .
This seaons the aluminum surfaces and the heating drives all the oils out .
As the oils come out they cause flaws in you bullets and you can't figure out where it's coming from.
So ...clean and heat cycle or you will be an unhappy caster !
Gary
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Old July 15, 2020, 05:31 PM   #6
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I have found that spraying with brake cleaner is all I have ever needed to have Lee moulds producing good bullets after letting the brake cleaner evaporate and pre-heating on a hot place.
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Old July 15, 2020, 11:50 PM   #7
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I would have thought that the high heat would burn the oils out from the pores.
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Old July 16, 2020, 02:12 AM   #8
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That "high heat" is not high enough.
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Old July 16, 2020, 08:08 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burbank_jung View Post
I would have thought that the high heat would burn the oils out from the pores.
Burning the oil, or burning anything off always leaves a residue, even if you cannot see it. It is better to remove all the oil you can, before burning.
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Old July 17, 2020, 04:28 AM   #10
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I forgot I bought a new Lee round ball mold...No brake cleaner in the house, guess it's dish soap and long drying.
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Old July 17, 2020, 12:05 PM   #11
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Rinse with boiling water.
Shake off.
Blow out the holes and crevices.
It'll be dry in 2 minutes.
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Old July 24, 2020, 05:55 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burbank_jung View Post
I would have thought that the high heat would burn the oils out from the pores.
It does but it takes a while , old school was don't clean just keep casting until the all the oil was burned off and the bullets started casting unwrinkled and blemish free but that was a slow and a wasteful way to get the cavities clean .
Once I started cleaning with acetone or brake cleaner , then heating and casting...much more productive , much less time wasted .
It's a free country so do it whatever way makes you happy ... I'm a cleaner, Acetone and a old toothbrush are my friends .
Gary
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