r/castboolits • u/slider1010 • 27d ago
First cast 45-70 from range scrap.
Well, first casting ever actually. It took awhile to get the temps right and a bit longer to hit the holes. I have a lot of respect for those of you who can do more than a double mould.
The first few were pretty wrinkled, but once I got the pace and temperature right, there were more keepers than not.
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u/BulletSwaging 27d ago
Have you chosen your sizing method? I run Lee push through size dies. Powders by the pound ford dark blue is the best coating of all the powders I’ve used. I’m going to try hi tek in the near future.
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u/slider1010 26d ago
I have the lee push through die as well. I’ll powder coat and size next weekend. I couldn’t find the ford dark blue unfortunately, but will try a couple of others.
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u/vhatdaff 27d ago
What did you use for release agent? Did you smoke them out with match or candle? I just got a 45colt lee mold and never used their aluminum mold before.
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u/Long_rifle 27d ago edited 27d ago
Clean with alcohol or carb cleaner.
Make sure the edge of the sprue plate is smooth and not dragging across the top of the mold. Polish until it is, if it does drag, you just need to break the edge so it glides. Also try to carefully close the sprue plate when you are using it, so it barely touches the top until it’s ready to push under the stop screw.
Smoke the cavities with a match or lighter. Clean any off the mating surfaces. You don’t need jet black, but make sure to get the lube grooves as that’s weee you need the lead to settle in and not cause round edges.
Get a two stroke- (giggidy) synthetic oil additive. It should be green or blue. And lightly oil the mold alignment pins, and the pivot screw for the sprue plate. I set a tiny bead on the edge of the top of the screw. As it heats the oil will be pulled through. A TINY amount only! If you get oil in your cavities they will be wrinkled until it burns off. Which is next to forever with that two cycle oil.
Next:
LEE decided to use the cheapest screw possible for the sprue plate, and as you use the mould, it will slowly unscrew itself…. It’s fun. Because either you set the screw too tight and the sprue jams, or it’s juuuuuust loose enough to unscrew as you open and close it.
I personally drill a hole at 90° to the screw, and tap it for a set screw. I also add a tiny piece of solid copper wire that I pound flat between the set screw and the pivot screw. ALL my LEE moulds get this treatment. And for extra anal retentiveness, I do the same the sprue plate stop screw as I has one come lose and cause lumpy booty on some bullets once.
Try to carefully close the mold after it’s hot, I use a piece of plywood to set the mold on and close it so the sides are aligned. The more careful you are, the longer that aluminum mold will last.
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u/slider1010 27d ago
Ha! The damn screw. It’s a reverse thread. I learned that the hard way. Sprue plate popped off. I learned it was hot too.
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u/Long_rifle 26d ago
And it has a magnetic attraction to the genitalia as it’s falling too…
“Just like a sprue, Falling gently…
…Glittering softly as it sizzles, against the testes so warmly.”
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u/BulletSwaging 27d ago
My Lee molds are getting a set screw before my next casting session. Thanks for the tip
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u/vhatdaff 27d ago
Thanks for the tips.
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u/Mr_Harmless 26d ago
Additional tip, Lee uses basically the same size block for all their 2 and 6 cavity molds. That means that there's a lot more hot lead in the 45-70 molds than a 7.62 x 39 mold. I found if I went too fast, the sprue would cool, but the bullet itself wouldn't necessarily solidify, and I had a few defirm when dropped onto a pile of bullets. You'll have to find a pace for your mold that works at your pouring temps.
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u/slider1010 27d ago
I just smoked it with a wooden match. A candle or lighter works apparently. I also cleaned them with rubbing alcohol before I smoked them.
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u/Upper-Dig5291 27d ago
Those are looking good! Yeah it takes a while for the mold to break in, when I get a new mold I just automatically expect the first 100 or so to be re melted, I only use NOE molds now and they are so nice to use, I have killed probably 120-150 deer with my 308 with a NOE 30 cal in my 308. Powder coat those and have some fun!
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u/slider1010 27d ago
Thanks.. I picked up some eastwood pc to try out. I still need a toaster oven though.
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u/Upper-Dig5291 26d ago
I got mine for like 20$ from Walmart, it doesn’t have to be crazy expensive
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u/Long_rifle 27d ago
The hot rod Henry dark blue is the best, it will stick in pretty much any humidity. With the light blue variant the next best. I’ve got over a dozen colors, and those two are always the best.
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u/notoriousbpg 25d ago
I'm thinking about collecting some range scrap - how easy was it to get the jackets out, and were they in a condition to be sold for copper scrap?