Do Mold Release Elixirs Work

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  • Last Post 03 April 2023
John Alexander posted this 21 March 2023

Life is sweet when the bullets drop out with little urging.  When they don't want to leave the cavities is there a mold release coating that works? Are they better than rubbing pencil lead in the cavities?

John

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beltfed posted this 21 March 2023

Yes, 

There is/was?  the NEI company's Mold Prep. Works very well.

I have used it for many years to good effect on molds that are "stubborn" in releasing the bullets.

I also coat the entire exterior of all my mold blocks. It is good since "stray lead" does not stick and

I believe it is a rust resistant coating.  (even though, all my molds have sustained up to 60 plus years

stored in GI ammo cans with some VPI paper in the can.)

 NEI is defunct.

I am almost down to my last bottle. 

 I believe Mold Prep is simply Alcohol based, plus fine graphite and probably a small amount of a binder.

I think my remaining full bottle of the NEI Mold Prep will see me out to "the end" of my casting days (now in

my 82nd year. BUT, just in case I am blessed with good health for some years to come, 

I need to check around to see if any similar mold coating products exist.  Perhaps NOE?

beltfed/arnie

 

 

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RicinYakima posted this 21 March 2023

Life is sweet when the bullets drop out with little urging.  When they don't want to leave the cavities is there a mold release coating that works? Are they better than rubbing pencil lead in the cavities?

John

There are several products that work OK if they are just graphite in a carrier. Avoid the spray can stuff as you have no control over thickness. I prefer the carpenters pencils to regular #2's as the wax seems a little softer. 

Plus I have an old toothbrush near by at the end of the casting session to brush the mould cavity down when it is cool. 

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longhunter posted this 21 March 2023

There is another product out there .  It is for freeing up locks.  Alcohol with graphite mix . i use a Qtip and it works well. You will find it at a lock smiths store.

Jon

Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.

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Waleone posted this 21 March 2023

Liquid DAG - graphite suspended in alcohol works for me when simple smoking with butane doesn't. Just make sure you turn the mold blocks cavity side down before the alcohol dries so it doesn't puddle in the cavities. Works on sprue plates and screws also. A little goes a long way! 

Wayne

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lotech posted this 22 March 2023

I seldom have such a problem, but I bought a Midway product years ago that made bullet release a  little easier. Don't recall the name, but Midway may still sell it. Seems like it took a long time for the coating to wear off of the mould cavities. 

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dbarron posted this 22 March 2023

John;  Midway Drop-Out worked pretty well on iron Moulds, but for some reason not all that well on the aluminum variety—for me at least.

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Rich/WIS posted this 22 March 2023

I've used the Midway "Drop-out" spray with mixed success in the mold cavities, a little too much affected the bullets. If you use it be careful not to spray too much and get high and low spots.  I still use it on the top of the mold blocks with the cavities plugged and on the bottom of the sprue plate to prevent lead from sticking. If the bullets don't drop it may an issue with the cavities, even a tiny burr is enough to lock a bullet into place.

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Aaron posted this 22 March 2023

In my experience, no.

Like deodorant on a Pittsburgh steel worker, it works briefly, then when things get going - no joy.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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delmarskid posted this 23 March 2023

I’ve gotten very good at giving the hinge pin a good quick crack with a plastic mallet as I spread the hinges.

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David Reiss posted this 25 March 2023

The Midway spray works for me really well, but you do have to keep it light on aluminum molds. I have been using it for more than 25 years. 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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358156hp posted this 26 March 2023

I believe that Walt was selling a colloidal graphite in isopropanol like Neolube #1 or #2. It's primarily used as a dry conductive anti-seize in specialty applications.

 

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Eutectic posted this 03 April 2023

Graphite mold treatments can improve fill-out. However, if you use enough to improve dropout, they cause smaller diameter bullets.

To improve dropout I find polishing the cavities with compound on a cast bullet works better.

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Bud Hyett posted this 03 April 2023

Having used various mold release compounds in the past, I'm not in favor of them. Mixed results for increasing ease of dropout and sometimes smaller bullet diameters have caused me to discontinue mold release compounds. In one extreme case, I lapped the mold to get concentricity between the halves and this also worked for the sticking bullets. Rubbing a graphite pencil on the underside of the sprue plate is as far as I go. 

The first step I now take with a new sticky mold is to deburr the edge of the mold with a rubber pencil eraser. Very lightly rub the edge back and forth with an even short stroke. 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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