Hooda Thunkit
Member
Some of you may remember that I was having troubles with this new mould; it wouldn't stop wrinkling the cast bullets.
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/308-311/312-208-rn-l4/312-208-rn-l4-4-cavity-gc-312299/
I cleaned it, played with it, adjusted the casting temp (up and up and up), heated the mould hotter and hotter, added tin to the alloy. Nothing seemed to work.
Finally, @AJC1 suggested the sprue holes may be too small.
That got me to thinking.... I own several of Al's moulds, and never have had a problem with any of them. They are as good as any semi-custom moulds, and better than some. The sprue plate holes look the same on this mould as on any other NOE moulds I have. Maybe it's something else.
I remembered thinking the lead stream coming from the Lee 20 pound pot did seem to look a bit anemic. Maybe it just wasn't coming out fast enough. It has been some time since I cleaned the pot out.
I emptied the pot completely, pulled the stopper out, and ran a drill bit through the spout. It's a 5/64 hole, or at least that's the bit I had that would fit. Buncha oogies came out, grit and whatnot.
Then I lapped the stopper rod in the hole with some valve lapping compound. Scraped the sides and bottom clean, fired that thing up.
Oh, what a difference - a full, steady stream coming from the spout. More like a college student after a 12-pack of Pabst, less like a 75 year old man with a prostate problem.
Ran a pot full down to about 2", refilled with the sprues and some more lead. Ran some more. It cast wonderfully.
Pot was at 750, preheated mould to 325. After 3 pours, it all came together. I cast about 18 pounds, which should be roughly 600 projectiles.
I need to find an extended length 5/64 drill bit. Then I can just pull the stopper rod out and clean the hole from the top.
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/308-311/312-208-rn-l4/312-208-rn-l4-4-cavity-gc-312299/
I cleaned it, played with it, adjusted the casting temp (up and up and up), heated the mould hotter and hotter, added tin to the alloy. Nothing seemed to work.
Finally, @AJC1 suggested the sprue holes may be too small.
That got me to thinking.... I own several of Al's moulds, and never have had a problem with any of them. They are as good as any semi-custom moulds, and better than some. The sprue plate holes look the same on this mould as on any other NOE moulds I have. Maybe it's something else.
I remembered thinking the lead stream coming from the Lee 20 pound pot did seem to look a bit anemic. Maybe it just wasn't coming out fast enough. It has been some time since I cleaned the pot out.
I emptied the pot completely, pulled the stopper out, and ran a drill bit through the spout. It's a 5/64 hole, or at least that's the bit I had that would fit. Buncha oogies came out, grit and whatnot.
Then I lapped the stopper rod in the hole with some valve lapping compound. Scraped the sides and bottom clean, fired that thing up.
Oh, what a difference - a full, steady stream coming from the spout. More like a college student after a 12-pack of Pabst, less like a 75 year old man with a prostate problem.
Ran a pot full down to about 2", refilled with the sprues and some more lead. Ran some more. It cast wonderfully.
Pot was at 750, preheated mould to 325. After 3 pours, it all came together. I cast about 18 pounds, which should be roughly 600 projectiles.
I need to find an extended length 5/64 drill bit. Then I can just pull the stopper rod out and clean the hole from the top.
