Lee Mold Handles

Casting about for something to spend my Cabelas Bucks on since they dropped all their good clothing I settled on Lee Mold handles. I had 1 pair I was sharing with all my molds. I bought 4 pair to get free shipping. Total overkill but there was nothing else on the site I wanted and the Bucks had been sitting there since before they had that horrible case of bass.

So when did Lee start tapering their handles?

I look closely at the handles when they arrived and none of the tips lined up. The left fork tip was an average 1/8" inch higher than the right (as you use them), none of them exactly the same. I thought of running the center bolt loose ...... not. I tightened the center bolts, drug out the oxy/acetylene, heated across the fork where the chalk line is and straightened the offending fork. I installed the handles on the molds and checked the fit. Because the current Convid 19 orders are to make each project bigger than it really needs to be I am offering a write up and pictures.

Lots of handles reported a few months back that were messed up. Don't call Lee they say nothing is wrong with them. Call Cabela's and tell them they are defective and you want to return them for new ones. Hopefully they are from a different lot of handles

I bought a pair from Amazon a few months ago and they are fine.......just the luck of the draw I guess!

Lee Handles ... American Made ?

Don't know where they're made. I do like the Lee handles due to them being relatively thin when a mold is attached. One of my pains is holding a heavy 4 cavity MP Mold when it's full of lead. MP handles are thicker and my hand gets tired quicker.

As far as the handles not being exactly plumb, I find they'll come loose soon enough and you'll be gluing them (or 2 part epoxy) anyway. Just smack them on a hard surface a little harder on the long side. It's what I did until I got out the epoxy.

It is not the wood that is the problem it is the metal tongs themselves that are not machined right or they are twisted.

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Originally Posted by gwpercle

Lee Handles ... American Made ?

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I think so, no country of origin on the handles or box. I think they are sintered steel or MIM. The last ones were really hard so I put some heat to them before bending. Easier than sending them back.

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Originally Posted by tomme boy

It is not the wood that is the problem it is the metal tongs themselves that are not machined right or they are twisted.

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Ya, the handles line up perfectly. LOL They likely came out of the oven wrong. All the Lee handles I've had in the past were fine. New guy on the production line.

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Originally Posted by gwpercle

Lee Handles ... American Made ?

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http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ves-in-America

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Originally Posted by smithnframe

I bought a pair from Amazon a few months ago and they are fine.......just the luck of the draw I guess!

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Same here. Fit a set of molds that were not the usual either - not Lyman, or RCBS, or Lee.

I have Lee & MP handles. I prefer the design of the Lee & the execution of the MP. The Lee positions the mold closer to the hand whereas the MP puts the weight of the mold out (like a devining rod).

I had the same problem that you experienced. My problem with Lee:
1. The CS says to use it in the misaligned condition & it'd work OK (?).
2. They sent me a replacement (1 side) metal piece (a $6.00 item) free, but the shipping charge was $7.00.
3. The replacement part they sent me was not any better than the original.

I ended up aligning them myself using heat.

Question: assuming some machine didn't put the handles into the box, why didn't someone catch the misalignment to start with? Answer: management.

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Originally Posted by oldhenry

I have Lee & MP handles. I prefer the design of the Lee & the execution of the MP. The Lee positions the mold closer to the hand whereas the MP puts the weight of the mold out (like a devining rod).

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Lee also opens wider than MP. Looking at both side by side, if you cut 5/8" off the end of the MP wood handles they would be about the same. Maybe take more off to fit your hand. Might want to knock one of the handle off to see how deep the hole is.

Lee handles used to be a LOT better, sad to see the quality slip.

I have had to torch a few also. You can file them down to fit other molds-but cheap labor if you are bored. The older ones were better.

A month ago I almost bought a couple of pairs to make the minimum shipping charge more worth while. I’m glad I didn’t now. Never had any that didn’t come with the mold.

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Originally Posted by DHDeal

Don't know where they're made. I do like the Lee handles due to them being relatively thin when a mold is attached. One of my pains is holding a heavy 4 cavity MP Mold when it's full of lead. MP handles are thicker and my hand gets tired quicker.

As far as the handles not being exactly plumb, I find they'll come loose soon enough and you'll be gluing them (or 2 part epoxy) anyway. Just smack them on a hard surface a little harder on the long side. It's what I did until I got out the epoxy.

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They will loosen up for sure but here is my fix for that. I just drill and tap for 8-32 and screw the handles on.Attachment 260983

Here's MP and Lee side by side, MP on the left. I may just shorten the MPs to better fit my hand.

I had some Lee handles that were too thick to fit in slot of steel mold. Had to file, a lot.