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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Mold Problem (Read 17738 times)
digitall423
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Mold Problem
Aug 19th, 2016 at 2:38pm
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I have an old Ideal mold number 285228 that I can't get to mold a decent bullet. The mold has no vent lines. I have cleaned it with every thing I can think of and the bullets will not fill out correctly. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Bill
  
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Premod70
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #1 - Aug 19th, 2016 at 3:08pm
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When all the non-evasive thoughts are used up a scratch awl and a file come to mine, good luck
  
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calledflyer
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #2 - Aug 19th, 2016 at 3:58pm
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My two favorite molds haven't any vent lines. My molds never see any of the goop so many put on over and over while trying to fix problems that are caused by other reasons. I do, however, occasionally use a very soft pencil to get a light smear of graphite on the flat surfaces inside the mold and on the underside of the sprue plate. Works for me.
One came with a bevel similar to the one Joe illustrated, the other seems happy without that. I cast hotter than some.
  
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bnice
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #3 - Aug 19th, 2016 at 5:02pm
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Joe I noticed the mould shown has vents. Do you think your bevel helps stop flow into those small line vents (finning) when the mould gets hot?
  
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Jeff Houck
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #4 - Aug 19th, 2016 at 6:53pm
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Are you casting with a bottom pour pot or a ladle?
  
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digitall423
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #5 - Aug 19th, 2016 at 7:40pm
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I will certainly try Joe's suggestion. The base of the bullet comes out pretty good but not perfect, it is the driving bands that are rounded rather than square. I usually cast around 750 degrees. I may try hotter after filing a vent groove per Joe.
Bill
  
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Schuetzenmiester
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #6 - Aug 19th, 2016 at 8:10pm
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try up to 825, see if that helps.
  
"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
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John Boy
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #7 - Aug 19th, 2016 at 9:18pm
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Quote:
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hotter is not always the answer ...
* Heat the melt & mold up to a temperature so that with a 5 seconds pour - the sprue puddle frosts is 8-10 seconds.  When the puddle frosts -cut the sprue
Question:  What is the the 285288 Ideal mold?  Don't see it in the table I have of Ideal molds

And PS:  Have many Ideal handle molds with no vent lines.  All cast nice bullets
  
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JackHughs
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #8 - Aug 19th, 2016 at 9:32pm
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digitall423 wrote on Aug 19th, 2016 at 2:38pm:
I have an old Ideal mold number 285228 that I can't get to mold a decent bullet. The mold has no vent lines. I have cleaned it with every thing I can think of and the bullets will not fill out correctly. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Bill


If you haven't already tried this, buy a product called "Zud." It is a cleanser similar to BonAmi except that it contains a wee bit of oxalic acid.

Zud is, hands-down the best product for cleaning moulds.  However, you must re-condition the mould immediately after cleaning or the mould will rust.

I clean the mould with Zud and a toothbrush.  Rinse with hot water until all residue is removed and then place the mould in a bath of denatured alcohol for about 10 minutes.  The mould then goes onto a hot plate for about thirty minutes.  After that, the mould is good to go.

JackHughs   
  
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Are full of passionate intensity.  W.B. Yeats
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Schuetzenmiester
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #9 - Aug 20th, 2016 at 2:27am
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Mold temp is critical to fill out.  You can smoke the cavity with a match or candle.  That cure a lot of issues with poorly formed bullets.
  
"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
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KAF
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #10 - Aug 20th, 2016 at 9:20am
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The layers in the bullet show cold alloy, and slow pour.

Use a themometer increase temp.
















  
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nuclearcricket
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #11 - Aug 20th, 2016 at 11:02am
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I also think that smoking the inside of your mold might help. Usually I find that aluminum molds need smoked but more and more I am running to iron molds that benefit from it. I would suggest not using a candle as it may impart an oily film along with the carbon. What I prefer to use is a bic disposable lighter or even better one of the grill lighters. A lot less chance of a burnt finger with one of the long reach grill lighters and you can get a nice even coat of carbon a bit easier. 
What the carbon does is to provide an insulating layer and lets the melt cool slightly slower and allow things to fill out better.  Its also surprising just how well the carbon stays in the mold. 
Sam
  
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Schuetzenmiester
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #12 - Aug 20th, 2016 at 11:54am
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Good point about the candle smoke.  I have never had a problem yet  but Murphy hangs out with me a lot  Cry
  
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bpjack
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #13 - Aug 20th, 2016 at 3:15pm
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I have a butter tub of old birthday candles for smoking molds.  If there is some leftover cake on the bottom, even better Smiley
  
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John Boy
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Re: Mold Problem
Reply #14 - Aug 20th, 2016 at 5:25pm
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Believe it is time to see a picture of these bullets!
  
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