Spring loaded bullet mold handles

Doc Hoy · May 12, 2009, 08:40 AM

Fellas,

I couple days ago I spoke about a spring loaded handle set up I made for my Lyman molds.

I tried to describe them but then decided to put some photos on the board.

I had to go away for a bit but now I am back and here are the photos.

Tnx,

Doc

http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/t...t=P5120268.jpg

http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/t...t=P5120267.jpg

madcratebuilder · May 12, 2009, 09:18 AM

That looks good Doc, you should have a very consistent closed pressure on your mold.

Dingoboyx · May 12, 2009, 09:34 AM

Like the clothes peg from hell

I find helpful to have a small brass/bronze brush (a bit bigger than a toothbrush) and after about every 10 openings of the mold, I brush the mating surfaces, so no crud is in there to hold them apart....

Well done tho..... where did you get the springs? out of something else? or did you just buy the spring as a part on its own?

Raider2000 · May 12, 2009, 10:09 AM

Very interesting idea, I like it although for some reason I was thinking of the opesite idea of having it spring open..

Dingoboyx · May 12, 2009, 11:50 AM

The idea is to have uniform clamping pressure (squeeze) rather than tired hands having to fight the spring pressure as well

The good Doc has thunk it out well, IMO

Doc Hoy · May 12, 2009, 01:45 PM

To DBX and Raider,

Think DBX has this one. My initial concern was inconsistent pressure holding the mold closed. The spring makes it consistent in its present configuration.

Tnx,

To DBX,

The spring came from a clamp that you can get anywhere...Well anywhere like Home Creepo, Lowes, and such. I just drilled out the rivets and then crawled around on the floor until I found the spring which vaulted across the shop when the clamp let go. (Boooing). I like to buy stuff like this at Harbor Freight because if it doesn't have to be of real high quality you can save a couple bucks at HF. I think I gave 99 cents or 1.99 for the clamps. I have about a dozen of then (well...eleven now) because you simply can not have too many clamps.

Also...Good idea on the brass brush. They have those at H.F. too.

Tnx,

To MCB,

I believe that I am....I included the results of casting with the Ideal mold and these handles in the previous post. I got better consistency from that set up than I measured in Hornady store bought bullets. I have found that weight is not a useful comparison for me. I don't have a scale that is precise enough to pick up the minute variations in weight between bullets that are only one thousandths different in diameter (at least not at .454 and there abouts) They consistently come in at about 137 regardless of whether they are .454 or .455. The .451 balls weigh about 133 even though the diameter is plus or minus five ten thouandths. I started weighing them three times to get a good average. Doesn't matter. The average of three times 137 is still 137.

Tnx,

May 12, 2009, 08:40 AM	#1
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Spring loaded bullet mold handles Fellas, I couple days ago I spoke about a spring loaded handle set up I made for my Lyman molds. I tried to describe them but then decided to put some photos on the board. I had to go away for a bit but now I am back and here are the photos. Tnx, Doc http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/t...t=P5120268.jpg http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/t...t=P5120267.jpg __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

May 12, 2009, 09:34 AM	#3
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Very good Doc Like the clothes peg from hell I find helpful to have a small brass/bronze brush (a bit bigger than a toothbrush) and after about every 10 openings of the mold, I brush the mating surfaces, so no crud is in there to hold them apart.... Well done tho..... where did you get the springs? out of something else? or did you just buy the spring as a part on its own? __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

May 12, 2009, 11:50 AM	#5
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Defeats the purpose, Raider The idea is to have uniform clamping pressure (squeeze) rather than tired hands having to fight the spring pressure as well The good Doc has thunk it out well, IMO __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

May 12, 2009, 01:45 PM	#6
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Covering several responses.... To DBX and Raider, Think DBX has this one. My initial concern was inconsistent pressure holding the mold closed. The spring makes it consistent in its present configuration. Tnx, To DBX, The spring came from a clamp that you can get anywhere...Well anywhere like Home Creepo, Lowes, and such. I just drilled out the rivets and then crawled around on the floor until I found the spring which vaulted across the shop when the clamp let go. (Boooing). I like to buy stuff like this at Harbor Freight because if it doesn't have to be of real high quality you can save a couple bucks at HF. I think I gave 99 cents or 1.99 for the clamps. I have about a dozen of then (well...eleven now) because you simply can not have too many clamps. Also...Good idea on the brass brush. They have those at H.F. too. Tnx, To MCB, I believe that I am....I included the results of casting with the Ideal mold and these handles in the previous post. I got better consistency from that set up than I measured in Hornady store bought bullets. I have found that weight is not a useful comparison for me. I don't have a scale that is precise enough to pick up the minute variations in weight between bullets that are only one thousandths different in diameter (at least not at .454 and there abouts) They consistently come in at about 137 regardless of whether they are .454 or .455. The .451 balls weigh about 133 even though the diameter is plus or minus five ten thouandths. I started weighing them three times to get a good average. Doesn't matter. The average of three times 137 is still 137. Tnx, __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

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May 12, 2009, 09:18 AM	#2
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	That looks good Doc, you should have a very consistent closed pressure on your mold.

May 12, 2009, 10:09 AM	#4
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	Very interesting idea, I like it although for some reason I was thinking of the opesite idea of having it spring open..