New Blood..............

[MLV]

By his scores, Jim couldn't be accused of shooting not to mention casting!
MLV

[Jim Kidwell]

Wayne,
Kidwell didn't clean it up, he hasn't used it yet.
Ted

Don't you have some peat moss to package or something??????????????

[Jim Kidwell]

By his scores, Jim couldn't be accused of shooting not to mention casting!
MLV

And don't you have some shooting advertisements to write about???????????????

[Steve Rhoades]

Something I want to add; when you have bullets that won't fall out of the mold on one side check the bullet when you get it out and look for a scuff mark on the sticky side parting line.
I've had a couple of custom molds that were not bored on the center of the block leaving one side going over center and capturing the bullet.
All the casting tricks in the book will never get bullets to drop out, if that's the situation, and returning it to the maker is the only recourse.
I have a lot of molds but the all time best one for speedy casting is a Saeco 740 that I use for silhouette in my 40-65.
The bullet is on the towel before I can open the mold all the way and I can produce 100 per hour with the weights under 1-grain.
S Rhoades
AZ.
PS Kidwell. What exactly are you retaining anally?

[Woody]

I don't even know how to enter this thread after the last couple of posts. I think I'll sit this one out.

Woody

[Clarence]

Jim,

I'm really surprised at how you cobbled up a casting station just for that picture. Obviously not used, because even the most anal caster gets a little bit of lead spread around... It looks like mine before I upgraded.

I have a stovetop hood that vents nicely through a real vent hole (not an open window). I adopted Mike's fan idea with an old bathroom exhaust fan, and I really like how it cools the sprue. I also have a clock with a second hand on the wall, and use it to cast at a consistent speed.

Clarence

[Coltsmoke]

He is anal, I loaned him my seater tool and this is what I got back.

[baldhead9]

Thanks for the help. I slowed down my casting speed and the bullets just dropped out. Now have to find more time for casting. Again thanks for the tips

Smitty

[Lumpy Grits]

One thing I have found that can help. To get'em to drop out, is to 'smack' the closed mould(after you cut the sprue)with a wood hammer handle. That bit of vibration seems to aid the bullet's release from the mould half's -
Gary

[RonJ]

Ok I have a casting question. New BACO 545gr money paper patch mold, the bullet will stick to the right mold half 9 out of 10 times, 16-1 at 700 deg. I wait about four seconds after the puddle frosts before cutting the spruce, cleaned the mold with brake cleaner and a tooth brush and also preheated the mold on a hot plate before casting. The bullets look good when they do drop.

thanks

Smitty

********************************
Try this. When the mold is cooled to room temp and clean of lead, kroil, and all else:
apply a coat of 'cold blue' to the entire mold inside and out. You will find that this lays a protective
coat overall and helps resist the stickiness and tendency of the lead to plate out on the interior flat surfaces of the mold. Release of the bullet is much improved.

[Lumpy Grits]

Ok I have a casting question. New BACO 545gr money paper patch mold, the bullet will stick to the right mold half 9 out of 10 times, 16-1 at 700 deg. I wait about four seconds after the puddle frosts before cutting the spruce, cleaned the mold with brake cleaner and a tooth brush and also preheated the mold on a hot plate before casting. The bullets look good when they do drop.

thanks

Smitty

********************************
Try this. When the mold is cooled to room temp and clean of lead, kroil, and all else:
apply a coat of 'cold blue' to the entire mold inside and out. You will find that this lays a protective
coat overall and helps resist the stickiness and tendency of the lead to plate out on the interior flat surfaces of the mold. Release of the bullet is much improved.

You had better oil that mould for sure after the blue'n.
Gary