Mould prep

Sardaukar

Sardaukar

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I just got myself a Rapine mould, and they recommend using their 'micro-graphite mould prep'. Being new to bullet casting I have no idea what they're talking about. Is mould prep actually necessary?

A buddy of mine provided me with some mould release stuff. It is made of 'the highest quality refined Carnauba wax'. AFAIK carnauba wax is nowhere near the same as micro-graphite...would it do the job anyway? If not, where do you get your mould prep?

Thanks
 
If you have never cast before ! Do yourself a favour and go over to the Cast Boolits site there are literaly hundreds of years of combined experience there and all members are more than willing to share , Even with the ( new guy ) As far as the mould prep goes I personaly , with the experience that I have casting with my 18 different moulds would try to cast without it first ! Make sure that your mould is clean , Brake kleener , boil it in dish soap ( be sure that it is dry after ) then pre heat your mould blocks and have at it . There is a product that a member sells over at cast boolits that I will not cast without ! Bullshop sprue plate lube . You heat up your mould to the proper temp so you are getting good fill out and apply it to the top of the mould block and the bottom of the sprue plate . This ELIMINATES lead smear and allows you to cast a little faster and alot more consistantly ! Ps welcome to the insanity of the silver sream !
 
I'd forget the graphite or carnauba, just a little bullplate on the bottom of the sprue plate esp. at the sprue plate screw, don't let it or anything else get in the cavities once you have done the initial cleaning, except maybe "smoking" the cavities although I don't do it.
Rapine is out of business as far as i know, but they make a quality mold, well worth the extra effort to protect it. Make sure that part of your casting routine is to carefully close the mold with the locating pins lined up, and not just slam it shut.
 
ben hunchak said:
I'd forget the graphite or carnauba, just a little bullplate on the bottom of the sprue plate esp. at the sprue plate screw, don't let it or anything else get in the cavities once you have done the initial cleaning, except maybe "smoking" the cavities although I don't do it.
Rapine is out of business as far as i know, but they make a quality mold, well worth the extra effort to protect it. Make sure that part of your casting routine is to carefully close the mold with the locating pins lined up, and not just slam it shut.
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Ok, now you're raising more questions!

Where does one get bullplate? Quebec City may have a very beautiful Chateau Frontenac, it's awfully poor in reloading/casting supplies.

What do you mean by 'locating pins lined up'?
 
If your bullets are sticking, grab a butane lighter and smoke it. Hold the flame just touching the mould cavity so that you don't get complete combustion. I find wiggling the lighter around slightly while doing this works best. The soot (carbon) from the unburnt fuel will line the mould cavity. Lead won't stick to the carbon.

Lube the sprue plate screw, and just a little on the top of the mould blocks where the sprue plate slides. Put a little on the locating dowels where the mould blocks come together. Do all that, and you'll be golden.
 
The locating pins are on the face of the mold and cause the mold to line up properly when closed, if the pins don't hit their mating recesses you can damage the recesses and if damaged enough, the mold won't line up properly. I'd lightly(with a cue tip) put some bullplate on those pins, but again, very little as you don't want anything getting in the cavities. Search around for Bullplate lube on Castboolits website or google, he is in Alaska.
Maybe you could convince Phishroy on this site to carry this, he seems to want to cater to us casters, and he is good to deal with......Ben
 
Send me a PM with your mailing address and I will send you a sample of bull plate ! There is a email Adress on it to order more . The dealer is in Alaska ! Good folks to deal with . You can also mix it with bees wax and make an excelent Boolit loob ! Speed green .
 
can we get bullplate shipped here from alaska? I just got my molds and thought I was ready for casting but now I read that bullplate mold prep lube is a must on other forums.

can I use standard NRA formula beeswax for now until I can get some bullplate?
 
Just a FYI, if you are planning on applying bullplate to the top of the mold, make sure you have the the mould blocks full of hot lead, cut the sprue and don't open the blocks. Apply the bullplate to the underside of the sprue cutter and the top of the filled blocks and the pins. You don't want any bullplate in the mould cavities. good stuff.
 
luke s said:
can we get bullplate shipped here from alaska? I just got my molds and thought I was ready for casting but now I read that bullplate mold prep lube is a must on other forums.

can I use standard NRA formula beeswax for now until I can get some bullplate?
Click to expand...

I havent had a problem getting Bullplate shipped ! And no do not use beeswax as a replacement !
 
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