The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting > Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 30, 2013, 01:30 PM   #1
steve4102
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 23, 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,949
Ring Around the Base

I having some issues with my New Lee 6 Cavity 40/10 mold.

One issue is this tag or ring or whatever you call it around the base of the bullet.

It's almost as if the sprue plate is loose. I have checked the bolt that secures the sprue plate and it is a tight as it goes.

Am I doing something wrong here or is it the mold itself. I do not get this my other Lee mold, but they are all 2 cavity.

steve4102 is offline  
Old June 30, 2013, 02:28 PM   #2
m&p45acp10+1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 3, 2009
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 3,930
Did you lube the bottom of the sprue plate?

If not then use some synthetic 2 cycle oil. A small bottle cost less than $3 and will last for many years. Also use it to lube the bolt in the handles, and the allignment pins.
__________________
No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.
m&p45acp10+1 is offline  
Old June 30, 2013, 03:29 PM   #3
Sure Shot Mc Gee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 2, 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 3,876
Without seeing to mold up close. There are few different things that could cause that type of problem. Warped top plate. Thick lead smear on the bottom side of your Top Plate. Top plate itself is not mounted or adjusted correctly for tightness. That's all I got to offer for a cure. Next time you cast. try smoking your Top plate with a candle or as the previous poster has mentioned.

S/S
Sure Shot Mc Gee is offline  
Old June 30, 2013, 05:10 PM   #4
Mike / Tx
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 8, 2000
Posts: 2,101
Quote:
It's almost as if the sprue plate is loose. I have checked the bolt that secures the sprue plate and it is a tight as it goes.
While the mold is cold, hold it up with a good light behind it. You should not be able to see any light between the plate and the top of the mold. If the plate is warped you can usually see it.

It isn't hard to remove a little bit using a decent flat bench stone, and it could be as simple as one side or corner is all that is needing attention.

If it's good cold, then warm it up and repeat.

It could be that the screw is actually too tight and might need to be loosened up a tiny bit. Sometimes they will pull the plate up just a hair when they heat up.

It was recommended to me to tighten the screws only to the point that the plate would just barley swing out on it's own weight. This is fine of course, if you have the added set screw to make sure it doesn't keep unscrewing while your pouring bullets. However, you can still back it out just a touch without the set screw and still have a nicely functional swinging plate.
__________________
LAter,
Mike / TX
Mike / Tx is offline  
Old July 1, 2013, 05:37 AM   #5
steve4102
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 23, 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,949
Thanks, I'll give that a try.
steve4102 is offline  
Old July 2, 2013, 11:18 AM   #6
steve4102
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 23, 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,949
OK, held the mold up to the light looking for any kind of a gap, nothing. Tried loosening the nut a tad, no help. Thought maybe the mold was out of whack. Took the sprue plate off and checked the mold out with a straight edge looking for any gaps or bumps, nothing.

Then I did the same with the spue plate. It was messed up. With a straight edge held up to the light I could see that the plate was concave, convex whatever ya call it, I call it cupped.

I set up a piece of emery paper on a flat surface and gave it a little rub down. The brown in the photo is original sprue plate color, the shiny is where it was high. It's still cupped a little but they cast good, so I might leave it as is. Or a may remove some more material from the outside edges.

steve4102 is offline  
Old July 2, 2013, 11:24 AM   #7
Miata Mike
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 22, 2010
Location: North East WI
Posts: 418
Good to hear things are better. At least you know if it happens again that you can touch it up again.
__________________
NRA Life benefactor Member.
Miata Mike is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06538 seconds with 10 queries