Cleaning a mould

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1899

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I came into an RCBS mould (.358" 148gr SWC) that has a little corrosion (or maybe bunk of some sort). What is the correct way to clean the mould without damaging it?
 
Brake cleaner and a toothbush, then hot water, soap and a toothbrush----( brake cleaner out side) have you read the label ??

you can also try a pencil eraser

for small areas (corners) try a wooden tooth pick then hot water, soap and a toothbrush
 
There is no label - it is just an old mould attached to old handles. How do I store it after cleaning - does it need to be lubed/oiled to keep in good shape?
 
When I'm done casting I rub a candle on the warm mold , the wax solidifies as the mold cools then I put it away till next time.
Then next time as I heat up the mold the wax drips off and it acts as a lube anyways
 
I asked Ed Harris or C. E. Harris as some know him who wrote the NRA Cast Bullet Manual and supplements way back when the same question about cleaning a couple old Lyman molds I purchased at a sale. He recommended that I use Bon Ami powdered cleaner and a tooth brush to clean the molds. As for storage here is his exact quote to me in a PM. It's what I've used ever since and had no issues since I started doing that back in 2010.

Use NOTHING BUT pure mineral oil USP from the drug store on moulds.

This will protect from rusting, but vaporize off completely, generating some white smoke, but leaving no residue when the blocks are pre-heated on a hot plate.
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Navel jelly will remove the crud also just don't leave it on there to long. Also a old electic tooth brush and coarse tooth paste or Comet will do it also. I bought a old bullet mould from a auction once that as really crudded up. They sold it as a wire stripper.
 
"...without damaging it?..." If the rust is on the inside, the mold(mould is something you find on old bread) is already damaged. It may not be worth bothering with. If it's just some old lead, heat will fix that. Then oil it for storage.
 
Raton57 said:
Navel jelly will remove the crud also just don't leave it on there to long. Also a old electic tooth brush and coarse tooth paste or Comet will do it also. I bought a old bullet mould from a auction once that as really crudded up. They sold it as a wire stripper.
Click to expand...

Good info thanks
 
Lots of good info on here! I'll take a closer look at them and let you know how it turns out.
 
sunray said:
"...without damaging it?..." If the rust is on the inside, the mold(mould is something you find on old bread) is already damaged. It may not be worth bothering with. If it's just some old lead, heat will fix that. Then oil it for storage.
Click to expand...

Regarding "mould" vs. "mold" - I never was sure which one to use, but apparently they are interchangeable. A fungus can be either a mold or mould, and similirly a hollowed out block that is filled with liquid can be either a mold or mould.

Interestingly according to RCBS and Lyman's web sites they manufacture and sell bullet moulds, whereas Lee and Accurate Molds make and sell....molds!
 
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