Smoking Moulds
- Thread starter Tazzy
- Start date
leebuilder
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Nope. Havent smoked a mold in years.
Probably depends upon what make they are and what material they are made of.
Lee recommends an initial smoking or two.
I just cast up a bunch of Maxi-BAll using a steel TC mold. Smoking it didn't even cross my mind. It cast like a charm.
M
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
If a mould really seems to need to have soot or graphite applied all the time a bit of deburring or polish is usually the more permanent solution.
Spin a bullet in the cavity by driving a screw into it and applying a little toothpaste or abrasive household cleaner. Works wonders on some moulds. Some need a magnifier and needle file.
I've got a couple that aren't too bad and get a shot of graphite maybe every other casting session.
Spin a bullet in the cavity by driving a screw into it and applying a little toothpaste or abrasive household cleaner. Works wonders on some moulds. Some need a magnifier and needle file.
I've got a couple that aren't too bad and get a shot of graphite maybe every other casting session.
Smoked all my molds for the first few casting sessions , now not so much but cannot say if smoking/ not smoking helps as the mold gets older . Cannot hurt in the long run and just a few more mins to set up. Besides I am in no rush when I cast, its relaxing .
Spin, as in by hand or with a drill? I'm running a Lee 38 mold that gets real sticky at times. Been doing a lot of handle hinge beating lately.
There seems to be a sweet spot temperature wise where they just drop out. Anything cooler or anything hotter and I have to shake them out.
M
I use to smoke them then started using a release agent. Some of my molds ( LBT custom molds from years back ) were excellent+++ quality and didn't require anything. Others have been somewhat stubborn and do release the slugs better if I use the release agent. I've done some "spinning" on a few molds and it certainly does improve the dropping. I just used then mildest abrasive I had (JB Bore Paste) and it worked wonders.
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
Usually with a drill but it can be tricky to get perfectly centered. Don't want to get too fast or damage the mould.
There's a whole bunch of things that can be done to improve Lee moulds in particular. Leementing is one term. Looking around on the cast boolits site and similar will give you some ideas.
leebuilder
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Lol. I am not that old. Smoked my molds when if first started casting. Never noticed any better results. I figured it was done with the old iron molds and just carried on from there. Lee molds have issues when new I just take the "burrs" off with an xacto knife, a little lap with tooth paste will work too.
Be well
I use NOE moulds. They're too nice to mess up with smoke.
Great minds think alike. I was going to ask if smoking molds in Canada was even legal yet.
I used to smoke my blocks, now I use kano kroil. I don't know what the active ingredient is, but it works very well, it even helps protect the blocks from rust. after your session is over, go outside and spritz the blocks. I say do it outside because the heat of the mold converts fluid into smoke. next time you fire up the pot and you are waiting for the lead to get to the pour point, take a couple of Q tips and wipe up the excess kroil.
