Casting gone wrong

[seth30]

I recently purchased all the equipment to cast 357 bullets and 50 lbs of lead.  This morning I went out and gave it a shot.  After the 20 minute wait for my lead to melt I then fluxed the lead, smoked my mold, waxed it, and then put it on the pot to warm the mold.  I let it sit for 2 minutes then began to pour lead into the cavity.  After all six cavities were filled I went to knock the spruce plate and it wouldn't budge, so I gave it a harder hit and the spruce plate handle snapped   The bullets turned out fine expect one on the end, but I cant figure out why this happened.  What step did I miss or mess up?

[headshot5]

Yeah lee molds are aluminum.  It could very well be a weak spot in the handle (aluminum casting defect).  Also, the first time I use a new mold I test to make sure the sprue plate isn't binding, and that it is not tightened down too tight.  It sounds like you did everything correctly.  Sometimes you get a lemon. 

Another thing to note, if you wait too long especially on the 6 cavity molds, by the time you hit the sprue handle the first few (poured bullets) have hardened up  a lot making the sprue have to cut through cool lead.   

On molds with cavities of 4 or more, I start out using two cavities until the mold and lead get to the temperature I want.  It makes it a little easier, and allows the mold to heat up good.  Plus I can get a system down.  Even with preheating the mold, the first few runs generally cool fast.

Don't let this experience ruin casting for you it is a lot of fun.     

[seth30]

Headshot5,

thanks for the info.  I will be buying a new spruce plate   After I broke the spruce plate I  turned all my 10lb ingots down into 1lb ingots for better melting times.  I am looking forward to round two. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Please show me a photo of the sprue plate swung open...
 
-Steve

[jasnt]

Was it pure lead? I'd recomend a casting thermometer. And as said start with 2 cavity's and work up to all six to make sure your mold is heated. Could have just been a lemon.  I cast at 700*f   it seems to be the best temp for me. I use clip on wheel weights and 2% tin for my bullets. Or 50/50 lead/WW and 2% tin.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Lots of wheel weights are made of Zinc now. BAD for bullet casting. Drop your weights on the floor to tell the difference. Ting.. is not a good sound.
 
The photo above baffles me. It looks like the sprue plate has two bolts holding it to the right mold half. If it doesn't open, that would explain why the handle broke. I have several multi cavity aluminum and iron molds. Your's looks odd to me.
 
The sprue should slide/pivot open while the mold is still closed.
 
-Steve

[jasnt]

A better way to tell zink WW from lead is pliers. just squeeze them on the cutting part of the pliers. Lead cuts in zink will take ALOT of pressure to mar

[seth30]

The only thing that would have any possible zinc is those old fishing weights and I had very few of them.  The rest is almost all lead with a small amount of tin.  There is a guy up in bellingham that is selling lead for a buck a pound.   Here are the requested pics of my spruce.  Thanks again for all the input

[TheSkyBuster]

Seth,  were you beating on that Spue Handle like some big guerilla?

looks like you need More Heat, Less Power.   

[seth30]

Seth,  were you beating on that Spue Handle like some big guerilla?

looks like you need More Heat, Less Power.   

Its all that forearm strength I have from the 8 Month cruise

[JackOfAllTrades]

OK, it was the sprue handle nut/stud that was providing my visual difficulty.  I didn't catch.. Will LEE send you a new handle piece?
 
I'll admit there is a level of experience.. Almost an art to opening a mold after you've got lead poured. I get my molds pretty warm. They'll uniformly warm as you get into a pouring session. And yes, don't expect good bullets in the first five or six pours. Just recycle those bullets back into your molten lead. I say to pour all cavities. Otherwise you're not going to warm the whole mold. The outer metal will work against you to cool/disipate the heat. Without a thermostat/thermometer it is difficult to get at the right temp to pour. I use a Lee bottom pour pot set at 8 and it works great. Right about 710*. I set my mold on top across the pot for about 45 minutes before I even start pouring. Pour, then wait about ten seconds or so, break the sprue but don't open the mold halves for another minute or so. You want to catch the sprue in solid form, but still warm and pliable so the plate cuts cleanly. You don't want to wait until it cools completely and hardens. Then you end up working too hard to cut, and instead end up 'breaking or tearing'.
 
I invite any of you interested in bullet casting to:  http://castboolits.gunloads.com  I've been pouring for some 25 years. There are guys on that forum that will help the beginner that have been doing this successfully for probably twice that time.
 
-Steve

[jasnt]

I invite any of you interested in bullet casting to:  http://castboolits.gunloads.com  I've been pouring for some 25 years. There are guys on that forum that will help the beginner that have been doing this successfully for probably twice that time.
 
-Steve

+1. Great forum and info.  Very helpful group there!

[argie1891]

ok my 2 cents worth zinc is not your problem i dont even know why it came up as it is very unlikley it would cause your problem. i would recomend spending 20 bucks and joining the cast bullet assoc. another thing you might post on their web site and find someone close who could help you in person. there are a lot of bullet casters on the wet side of our state. i have a lot of lee products but wont buy their bullet moulds they just dont hold up for me. others love lee moulds but for me they are a waste of money. lyman, rcbs saeco cost more to buy but they will last for several lifetimes if you are careful. you would be surprised how many bullets you coud cast in an hour with a 2 cavity mould. purchase a copy of the lyman cast bullet hand book or if you cant find one just buy any lyman reloading book. if you lived closer to the yakima valley i would be happy to help you. if you need more feel free to pm me and i will try to answer any questions. argie1891

[seth30]

Since I broke my spruce plate, I decided to make some weights for my decoys.  Some how a chip of wood broke out on one of the molds and now I get a little excess piece on my weights.  What filler can I use that will withstand the heat of the lead as I pour it into the mold?

[argie1891]

what a waste of lead make bullets instead of decoy weights. from the look of your casting i am pretty sure zinc is not present in your melt. argie1891