First HP casting.

[Greg B]

Hi again all.
I picked up one of the Mihec 462 Hammer molds. Played around with it a bit this weekend.
Actually wasn't near as difficult as I thought it would be. I pre-heated the mold on a hot plate before casting, and it was dropping nice (I thought,) bolts pretty quickly.

I was using COWWs for these, don't know if that's appropriate for HPs, but it will be a while before I even try loading them, so there is always time for me to go another route if necessary.
Came out a little frosty, and I did toss half what I made back into the pot. And I really need to finish my PID controller.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/GregB/Mobile%20Uploads/5C176984-B2A1-459D-B725-99D80B120DE0_zps1mszhywc.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/GregB/media/Mobile%20Uploads/5C176984-B2A1-459D-B725-99D80B120DE0_zps1mszhywc.jpg.html)

One thing, however, I am getting some lead sticking to the HP pins. Not the whole boolit, they were just dropping with nary a tap. But just some residual traces, and just some traces along the edge of the cavities. What causes this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/GregB/Mobile%20Uploads/AAE5B1D3-692D-4520-A36E-4DBE28B9945C_zpsqdnl3y5g.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/GregB/media/Mobile%20Uploads/AAE5B1D3-692D-4520-A36E-4DBE28B9945C_zpsqdnl3y5g.jpg.html)

[JWT]

Did you heat cycle the mold a few times before using it to build up a patina?

[Greg B]

Did you heat cycle the mold a few times before using it to build up a patina?

No, I didn't. Is that the recommended way?
I just cleaned the mold with acetone, and started casting.
I will go ahead and do the heat cycling. Any thoughts on cleaning the traces of lead
off without damage to the mold?

[Drew P]

I ran into that recently also. Get it hot and apply bees wax. Seems to pry the stuff right off easily. Then clean and repeat. I had sticking on mold too and I did heat cycle many times. I decided that while smoking the mold may not be a regular need or want, it is for me on a new mold until the patina takes over.

[JWFilips]

A little Bullshop lube applied with a q-tip on the HP pins then heat the mould up Should work well after that treatment

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

this is a good read
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?169575-Brass-Patina-Recipe

[Beagle333]

Get the pins hot, apply some beeswax to them and then wipe/scrub off the lead/tin smears with some denim or burlap cloth. When cool, remove the pins and the guide pins. Spin them in some 600-900 grit sandpaper (I just use my fingers to spin them, but you can chuck them up of you want) and get them mirror shiny. Then reassemble and before casting next time, put an ultra light film of the Mihec lube (the lube that came with the mold, or some full synthetic 2-cycle oil) on the pins. Not hardly enough to see, because it'll migrate to the cavities if it's heavy, but a thin film, and then cast away happily. Reapply that very thin film (with a very lightly oil-dampened Qtip) before every use. It works great for me!

[Greg B]

this is a good read
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?169575-Brass-Patina-Recipe

Thanks!
I'll try some vinegar and peroxide to clean the mold. And give it several heat cycles after.
I pre-heated the mold to about 400F before casting. How hot should I heat cycle it at?

[Beagle333]

Can't help you there. I probably have 40± MiHec molds and I've never heat cycled any of them.


You'll have to find your own way. Try it without cycling, then if that doesn't work, cycle it. You'll probably see the next guy come in here with his answer and say I'm an idiot, and then two posts later there will be somebody who agrees with me, and the next guy will have another completely different way. We'll just tell you what works for us and you'll have to decide which of those works for you. Every mold isn't created equal and every way of heating it doesn't do it as evenly or as reliably. Good luck on it and happy casting!

[Greg B]

Get the pins hot, apply some beeswax to them and then wipe/scrub off the lead/tin smears with some denim or burlap cloth. When cool, remove the pins and the guide pins. Spin them in some 600-900 grit sandpaper (I just use my fingers to spin them, but you can chuck them up of you want) and get them mirror shiny. Then reassemble and before casting next time, put an ultra light film of the Mihec lube (the lube that came with the mold, or some full synthetic 2-cycle oil) on the pins. Not hardly enough to see, because it'll migrate to the cavities if it's heavy, but a thin film, and then cast away happily. Reapply that very thin film (with a very lightly oil-dampened Qtip) before every use. It works great for me!

Ah, I thought about putting some of the lube on the pins, but was worried about contamination. Good to know it's something to do.
and I'll go ahead and polish the pins, too.

[Greg B]

Can't help you there. I probably have 40± MiHec molds and I've never heat cycled any of them.


You'll have to find your own way. Try it without cycling, then if that doesn't work, cycle it. You'll probably see the next guy come in here with his answer and say I'm an idiot, and then two posts later there will be somebody who agrees with me, and the next guy will have another completely different way. We'll just tell you what works for us and you'll have to decide which of those works for you. Every mold isn't created equal and every way of heating it doesn't do it as evenly or as reliably. Good luck on it and happy casting!

It is a plethora of information. Especially for a new caster like me.
I will note that the Mihec mold, while heavier that my LEE molds was very enjoyable to cast with. When I had a good rhythm going, it was fill, watch the sprue, cut the sprue, literally by just pushing the plate with my thumb. Then, turn the mold over about a quarter inch off the table, open the mold and just push the pins over and the bolts would just set themselves on the table. I swear it was just that easy.

[Drew P]

this is a good read
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?169575-Brass-Patina-Recipe

i wish I had seen this before casting with my new Mp mold.