How can I Fix this... or can I?

gnmontey

gnmontey

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Picked up two BNIB Lee molds, one in 45, the other in 44. Appear to be old stock as the alignment mechanism is two horizontal round steel pins.
My newer Lee 38 mold has a different alignment mechanism, two bullet like perpendicular steel pins.

The 44 started giving me grief after casting about 30 boolits. First clue was lead seeping out the bottom of the mold. I contained that and dumped the contents. Inspecting the mold revealed lead had hung up at the end of one of the alignment pins. Thinking that was the root cause I picked it out with a dental pick and tried again. Same thing happened again, so I put it aside for latter consideration.

It would appear that the mold will not close properly without assistance.

Closing it naturally... it looks like this

MOLD1.JPG

MOLD2.jpg

Once closed properly it works great.

The 45 mold does not behave this way?

Anyone run into this before? Any solution? Not looking for "Buy better molds" advice, thanks.

M
 

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I cleaned the mold, smoked it, and lubed it with bees wax per the instructions.

The right mold block seems a little loose and droopy compared to my other molds?

Is there any way to eliminate the slop? The hinge pins appear to be press fit, so no real way to slip a shim washer in there.

I did discover that it aligns ok if I close the sprew plate before closing it. Not a good solution as it's kind of hit and miss and the sprew plate tends to clip the top of the right mold block.

Something of interest is that the steel alignment pins do not fill their slots. See circled area in image below.

MOLD3.jpg

That's where lead got stuck and I had to pick it out with a dental pick. The 45 mold does not have that gap.

M
 

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zuke said:
I've tightened mold block's with a center punch hit near the mold block mount pins
Click to expand...

Near or the mounting pin it self?

That thought had crossed my mind as well. Perhaps a gentle squeeze of the pin edge in the vice? On the other hand with my luck it would distort the mating surface and trash the mold all together.

M
 
Close the block's and use an elastic band on the handle's to hold them close. Try near and see what happen's. If that doesn't work try it on the pin.
What mold is it?
 
zuke said:
Close the block's and use an elastic band on the handle's to hold them close. Try near and see what happen's. If that doesn't work try it on the pin.
What mold is it?
Click to expand...

Lee 429-214-SWC Double Cavity

It's kind of strange that the alignment pins don't fill their slots. The mold blocks are the exact same size as the 45 mold.

M
 
zuke said:
The pin's should fit the slot's properly. Call LEE and ask their advice.
Click to expand...

Check out post #5. I posted a pic of the pin situation.

Not sure mailing the mold to Lee for exchange would be worth the cost of shipping?

M
 
Let'em know about it, you might get a freebee
Tap the pin out a little bit, it might tighten it up. I'd also use more bees wax on both the pin's and sprue plate
 
zuke said:
Tap the pin out a little bit, it might tighten it up.
Click to expand...

Which pin? The hinge pin or the alignment pins? Both alignment pins have the same gap.

Looks like the shipping to Lee would amount to $12. So not too bad.

Still think there must be as simple cure for this situation. That or live with it. It does cast OK when it's closed properly.

Leaning towards giving it smack with the center punch. How hard did you hit it?

All part of the learning experience right?

UPDATE:

After inspecting the 30 or so boolits I managed to cast, 85% appear to be out of round? And I mean big time out of round!

Anything frosted looks ok. Ya... I ran the pot too hot for a bit. The shiny stuff in that 650-700 F range is a toss up. Mostly bad?

Bad mold?


M
 
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i would email or call lee and send them the picture with the messed up pin, hopefully they will send you a new mold with their new design which is much much better then the old design that you have.
 
gnmontey said:
Which pin? The hinge pin or the alignment pins? Both alignment pins have the same gap.

Looks like the shipping to Lee would amount to $12. So not too bad.

Still think there must be as simple cure for this situation. That or live with it. It does cast OK when it's closed properly.

Leaning towards giving it smack with the center punch. How hard did you hit it?

All part of the learning experience right?

UPDATE:

After inspecting the 30 or so boolits I managed to cast, 85% appear to be out of round? And I mean big time out of round!

Anything frosted looks ok. Ya... I ran the pot too hot for a bit. The shiny stuff in that 650-700 F range is a toss up. Mostly bad?

Bad mold?


M
Click to expand...

Call LEE and see what they say.
 
It looks like there is lead stuck all over the other pin too. My fix is remove all the lead from the mold face and spray it with liquid graphite. I can then pour about 300 bullets before needing another little shot of liquid graphite, bought from Canadian tire. You need to remove all the stuck lead off the face first! Liquid graphite makes the mold last longer too because it is a lubricate around hinges. Whats the other side look like?
I have Lee 6 cavity that I can pour 1000 bullets between shots of liquid graphite.
 
Get the mold clean and then set it in the work bench before you close your t. I still have a few of those original styl Lee molds and that's what I do to make sure they're cleaning and properly. I do it with the new style Lee molds as well just out of habit and to help prevent penning the aluminum mold around the alignment pin holes.
 
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