Mold Temp?

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  • Last Post 18 October 2018
Curtisb posted this 17 October 2018

I have cast probably thousand or more fishing jigs, so I am used to the casting process.

My question is . I have a new Lee six cavity 45cal 230 grn mold, I prepped it according to everything I could find. Started pouring this afternoon at around 75 bullets not 75 pours but 75 bullets the mold seemed to be real hot. Even started to smoke a little. I was at 600 degrees according to Lyman thermometer and was getting good pour and good bullets. Is it normal for a mold to get to hot that quick?

At what point di I need to stop? And If I wanted to keep pouring is the damp cloth a good way to cool a mold?

Using a bottom pour pot if that matters.

Thanks!

Curtis B

 

 

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TRKakaCatWhisperer posted this 17 October 2018

Watch the TIME between pouring.  Constant time yields even temperature.

Although a pain, if you weigh one bullet from the mold on each pour you will note the variation.  Constant weight means everything else including temperature is uniform.

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OU812 posted this 18 October 2018

Larger calibers create more heat,especially in the smaller Lee moulds. A dull frosted looking bullet is a sign mould temp is too hot. You can turn down the pot temp or cast at slower pace. Do bullets appear to be filled out well?

Use a good sprue plate lube to prevent galling. Synthetic two stroke oil works well. Apply with QTip (very thin coat)

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Brodie posted this 18 October 2018

A lot of people use a damp cloth to cool the mold so that the sprue cools faster.  Yes it is normal for a mold to get hot.  If you had 600 degree lead poured into you say three times a minute you would get hot too.  Seriously, the mold will get hot; NOE says they like their molds around 350 degrees F.  If you are casting from a mold that is a tad small getting it really hot is one way of making it larger, as it will expand with the heat.

If the mold is not up to temp. you will get wrinkled and bullets with voids and folds in them. 

It sounds like you are on the right track.  Keep at it .  Casting is an Art and sometimes it takes a while to get your groove on.  Experimentation is how we learn.

B.E.Brickey

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onondaga posted this 18 October 2018

Curtis,

You asked,  at what point do you need to stop? Thermodynamics is balanced by cadence and temperature in casting. You can get it just right and never have to cool molds. I get the rhythm with a 350 gr 6 cavity Ranchdog .461" mold. That is a story as it was my first 6 cavity and I am a retired casting analyst. It was a journey into the unknown for me, but I got it. I had to follow the rules I taught.

Gary

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Ross Smith posted this 18 October 2018

Experience. I cast many pounds of lead round balls before I ever tried this cb game. whole other cat than casting jig heads or round balls. Keep at it ,we'll help.

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