look what i scored today

[colbyjack]

well folks i went to grandpas today and look what i scored. he said just take it and make him some boolits when he needs them. and after hes gone their mine, he said ill get more use out of them then him. :drinks:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/hawgz/firstboolits005.jpg

i better start saving for guns so i can use them all. i also got some sizer dies for my star.

some of the molds have a lil surface rust, not bad or deep. just did colored and such. was thinking maybe steel wool and CLP or scotch bright pap and CLP. do i need to stay out of the cavitys?

also for storage of molds can i just coat in CLP and store then gun scrubber spray off before i use. i also poured lead in them to see what the bullets make. can i leave the boolits in the molds? -chris

[IcerUSA]

Looks like your grandfather loves you .

If it where me storing them I would use something with a long shelf life or maybe one of them plastic jars that peanut butter comes in and fill it with oil and label it.

Cleaning the rust off the outside is OK as as the rust isn't deep on the tops of the moulds , ether way you suggested should work . Cavities unless real bad can be cleaned with a good bore cleaner and a nylon brush as even if there is still some discoloration it should hurt the cavity it's self and may aid in boolit drop out .

YMMV and it's my $.02 worth and I'm sure you will get more info from others as we all lub our mould . :)

Keith

[MtGun44]

Looks like a wonderful gift from one generation to the next. If you store them
in a 50 cal ammo can (the new SAW boxes are the same but wider) with a
mil surplus silica gel pack (I have found them at gun shows - the look like
a small bag of shot, sort of) that you have rejuvenated by drying in the oven
at 150F overnight, you will never get rust and they will be ready for YOUR
grandchildren to use. Redry the silica gel every year or two - depending on
your local humidity and how often you open the can and you'll be set for
life, the silica gel doesn't wear out, can be dried out and reused forever.

Congratulations!

Bill

[longbow]

You will get lots of different opinions but what I do is:

- leave the last boolit cast in the mould and cut the sprue
- obviously let the mould cool
- wipe off any lead spatters or other casting debris
- open the mould and loosen the boolit if necessary
- use a light oil like 3 in 1 or automatic transmission fluid or gun oil, etc. and get oil into the cavities and wipe a good film on the mould faces
- then close the mould and make sure there is a good film of oil all over the outside surfaces and under the sprue plate
- then the mould goes into a box or container for protection
- I always leave a boolit in place in each cavity so the oil remains trapped on the cavity surfaces

I was told to do this by a gunsmith about 40 years ago and I have never had a mould rust. Also, I just bought 3 new Lyman moulds and they were all covered with a gummy coating. If Lyman coats moulds to protect them that is good enough reason for me.

Before using I wipe down with Varsol or brake cleaner or whatever solvent I have - doesn't take much especially with a light oil.

You might want to inspect the mould cavities and faces for rust or other damage or crud build up and clean it off gently. Stuck on lead can be gently scraped off with a tool softer than the mould - plastic or wood with aluminum moulds or brass or aluminum with iron moulds. Vent lines should be cleaned out the same way or with a soft brush and solvent. I try not to do any scraping, rubbing or anything aggressive unless I have to as it is easy to round off sharp edges. Even iron moulds are "delicate".

If they are in good shape they may not need any TLC other than preserving them.

Congratulations!

Longbow

[PatMarlin]

You dog you.. :mrgreen:

WHat a great score.. :drinks:

[coalgeo]

I like your Grandfather already! :-D

[sundog]

Good on you! He must like you.

Not to contradict any one,... but, I would not leave a boolit in a cavities, and would I not store them with oil. I know that some here on the board do that and have no problems, but I would not.

Ask your grandpa how they were stored if you don't know, and adjust from that to reduce the rusting. Dessicant bags, chips and paper work real good. Storage containers, some already mentioned above, can also include zip lock freezer bags which are good for those with handles mounted.

[Razor]

COOL ![smilie=w:
Great score..
So.. what are they ?? numbers ??
I see a LEE and mostly Lyman...

Razor

[DeanoBeanCounter]

:mrgreen: I'm just green with envy :twisted:
Deano

[Ricochet]

That is awesome!

[LeadThrower]

If your grandfather has any more of that lying around, please remind him that I'm up for adoption. : )

Congrats!

[fatnhappy]

Good for you Chris. I'm sure he'd like to see them used by kin that appreciates them. Lord knows I would.

[colbyjack]

not sure if i read these numbers right.

seems to be 5-6 numbers than 3 other numbers and that 3 is marked on both molds.

heres what i think i came up with:

lyman 35891
ideal 311359
lyman 323993
ideal 225415
ideal 225438
lee 90488
RCBS 357-180-SIL
homemade mold .32 cal ball
idel 368495
no name on this mold # is M-311-910
lyman 870454
lyman 440621
ideal 457193
ideal 412446

thats what i got whats the 3 lil numbers for like the first one was lyman 35891 but also 773 was on the mold?

-chris

[HollandNut]

You lucky dawg , man thats nice .. Grandpa sure save you some money ..

The 773 on each mold is to show that the halves are matching halves ..

[jawjaboy]

Made my day Chris! Made my day. Treasure them.

[HollandNut]

I'll be corrected by this bunch if I'm off an inch on this .. [smilie=1:

225415 (55GC) and 438 (45GC) are both Guy Loverin designs for the Hornet

311359 is a 109 grain GC design for the M1 carbine or 32-20 ??

457193 is a 405 grain for the 45/70

368495 shud be 358495 a 141 grain WC

35891 is a 150 WC

If I still had my lists , I cud tell the rest ..

[colbyjack]

I'll be corrected by this bunch if I'm off an inch on this .. [smilie=1:

225415 (55GC) and 438 (45GC) are both Guy Loverin designs for the Hornet

311359 is a 109 grain GC design for the M1 carbine or 32-20 ??

457193 is a 405 grain for the 45/70

368495 shud be 358495 a 141 grain WC

35891 is a 150 WC

If I still had my lists , I cud tell the rest ..

thanks for the info, the hornet makes sense he was a big hornet and .220 swift shooter.

i just rubbed them down with CLP and a scrotch brite pad. -chris

[HollandNut]

Lee 90488 I think is the .50 REAL /RB mould

[colbyjack]

and the star sizers i got with punches are .452, .457,.429,.357,.224 the .357 i dont have a top punch unless one of the others will work. -chris

[kodiak1]

colbyjack that is one of the nicest scores\presents a grandpappy could give a young fella that cast bullets.
I am envious Ken.

[GLL]

And Star sizers too ! :) :)

Jerry

[joatmon]

Just make sure he NEVER has to want for one of those boolits!

[mtgrs737]

You done good! I'll bet you look at him a little differently from now on.

[Dross]

Excellent Score!
Hope you cherish them!:drinks:

[floodgate]

colbyjack:

To answer your last question first, the three (sometimes one or two) small numbers on both blocks of a Lyman / Ideal set are "match numbers" to keep the blocks together during machining, finishing and packing. Lyman made all the two-part moulds, but iused the old "Ideal" name until about 1964.

The first three digits in a Lyman / Ideal mould number are (approximately) the "as-cast" or "size-to" diameter, and some of these changed overthe years with fashions in sizing vs. groove diameter, etc. the remaining numbers are a code for the cutter used to mill the mould cavities; we call it the "cherry number", and letters following thenumber indicate the source of the cherry or other special features. The number "870454" does not look right; there was a #257454 .25 caliber Loverin design - re-check this one. if you will.

The "M-311-910" mould is by the Modern-Bond company, which made moulds and loading tools from around 1920 up into the 1950's; this one is their 15th design (A, B, .....M) in .30 caliber, to cast at 0.311" diameter, and casts a slightly "pointy" 154-grain round-nose gas-check bullet 0.910" long (a truly weird numbering system!); it should have two cavities, and these are good moulds. The company name is usually stamped on the blocks and in raised letters on the handles, if you have them. EDIT: OOPPPPSS!! - just rechecked your photo, and you don't; they are hard to find, and I don't have a spare set. PM me if you'd like to sell the blocks. Also, the two moulds at the upper right look like old ones from the mid-to-late 1800's amd might be valuable; one has what looks like a ring spanner (wrench) for removing a barrel (?).

floodgate

I don't have data on the Lee or RCBS moulds.

[Bad Water Bill]

When I had to put ALL of my stuff away for what ended up being nearly 30 years I coated everything with R I G . No rust on any guns moulds etc. A couple years ago a friend of mine who worked at the steel mills said that the mills buy R I G in the 55 gal drum to coat any of their steel. I guess I made a good choice. Brake cleaner takes it right off. Hope this helps BWB:castmine:

[PatMarlin]

When I had to put ALL of my stuff away for what ended up being nearly 30 years I coated everything with R I G . No rust on any guns moulds etc. A couple years ago a friend of mine who worked at the steel mills said that the mills buy R I G in the 55 gal drum to coat any of their steel. I guess I made a good choice. Brake cleaner takes it right off. Hope this helps BWB:castmine:


30 years! Wuz ya locked up or sumpthin'? Jus kiddin'.. :mrgreen:

[colbyjack]

thanks for all the info guys, this is going to be a fun sport. -chris

floodgate again thanks for the info and ill look at the one number again. -chris

[Prowler]

I am available for adoption. :drinks:

[Adam10mm]

RCBS 357-180-SIL

Have some boolit samples from a range buddy. Never shot them yet.

ideal 457193

Lyman has listed this in two weights, a 405gr and 420gr. The heavier one might be using 20-1 or 30-1 alloy. It is currently listed as a 405gr. Great boolit from what I read.

ideal 368495

Have two Lyman's of the 358495. 141gr WC. I casted a few with one and just got another today in a trade.