Since I started casting in 1972 and as instructed by lyman when I purchased my first mold . . . a 358156 I have always used a thick dowel to rap on the sprue plate and the hinge pin. Every once in a while I have to replace one due to it turning to splinters. Made this one on my wood lathe the other night.
If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.
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Very nice. I'm kinda jealous. Mine is a piece of closet rod.
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Real nice Pat and could see it having a second job as an upper crust head knocker.
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...or a “priest” to use on a fish head. My problem is whenever I make a pretty tool like that I'm reluctant to use it and go back to the splintery old one.
For a while I switched to bumping the sprue plate with the heal of my gloved hand. But the pain and suffering therein lead me back to the stick.
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I've been using a rawhide mallet for 40 odd years. I'm on my second mallet now, and it probably will last 'til I'm too old to use it anymore.
Wes
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Is that ash?
No, it's red oak. I have some ash in the shop but didn't want to cut into it yet so I used the red oak scraps.
Pat
If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.
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Real nice Pat and could see it having a second job as an upper crust head knocker.
That thought crossed my mind. Sshhhhhhhh! LOL
If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.
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Glue a piece of leather on the wood sprue knocker and you get less splinters
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Hey Norm:
I carried one for 20+ yrs almost just like Pigslayer's only it was a different color and a little longer. I never got any splinters when it was used!
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I only use a gloved hand myself.
Same. The more casting I do the softer the alloy I use so I can 'hand' open.
Cheers from New Zealand
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I only use a gloved hand myself.
Is it still a sin? Glasses?
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I to am on my second rawhide mallet the first one had been used for many years by the caster who gave me his equipment. Right after I got the second one my dog tried to chew it up. I don't think I will ever have to buy another as they last for decades of hard use. argie1891
if you think you have it figured out then you just dont understand
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I'm like Anachroism and Jeff I do it by hand. I don't strike the sprue cutter just grasp it with my palm and twist the mold open. I have found this much quicker and more fluid than stopping to pick up a hammer or knocker, although I do use an OLD leather mallet to tap the hinge if a bullet should be so unwise as to dare to stick in the mold. I have not gone blind yet although at 68 I do need glasses now due to arm shortening disease (presbiopea). Brodie
B.E.Brickey
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I use my “stick” to open the flow valve, knock open the sprue plate, tap the die to release the bullets, and then to close the sprue back up. My hands don't touch anything but the handles and stick.
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I use my “stick” to open the flow valve, knock open the sprue plate, tap the die to release the bullets, and then to close the sprue back up. My hands don't touch anything but the handles and stick.
Same here. Don't like the potential of burns.
If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.
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Ditto. I keep the stick in my hand throughout the whole process, never laying it down. I do take care knock the sprue plate straight on so as not to damage anything.
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Please allow me to segue for a moment. Does anyone put Loctite or some sort of thread locking substance on their sprue pivot bolt? I noticed that when I rotate the sprue out of the way, the head of the bolt moves along with it. It appears to return back, and doesn't seem to be backing out, but in theory it could, and then the cut would not be flush with the base of the bullet. Also, the Lee .45 mold of mine has left handed threads for the sprue bolt. Why is it left handed threads?
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