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Thread: Cleaning rusty neglected molds?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Remmy4477's Avatar
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    Cleaning rusty neglected molds?

    Picked up a five gallon bucket full of some very old Ideal molds yesterday at the show from one of the others dealers.

    The bucket had been sitting in a storage shed for 40+ years.
    Needless to say theres some very interesting molds in the lot.
    Some are without sprue plates and screws here and there, most of those parts are in the bottom of the bucket. This box is just a small portion of the bucket.

    The majority of the molds are complete and covered in old oil and grease but several are rusty, as these two pictured here. Some have whats left of old rubberbands wrapped around them, sticking to the blocks with goop.

    Whats the procedure for trying to bring these back to life. These two seem to be the worst but the cavities look strong.
    Have quite a few handles in the same condition as these two molds.

    Going to sort out the keepers next week and try and save as many as I can with the others.

    So whats the best approach with the rust issue??
    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I probably would start with a tooth brush and some Kroil. Maybe even buy enough to put in a tub so you could soak them. Evaporust will remove the worst rust but will also remove the blueing. A few guys have recently posted about cleaning neglected molds. You might do a search and review what they did. Good Luck with these old molds.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Bent Ramrod's Avatar
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    For starters, I would get some distilled water and boil them until the rust starts turning black, wipe with fine steel wool to dislodge the loose stuff, and boil some more until no more loose particles come off.

    If there is only surface rust and no deep pitting, the moulds should be blue-black in color and ready for casting; no break-in necessary. Evaporust (with, perhaps, a little mild brass brushing) will clean the metal totally, and will get heavy rust out of deep pitting, but a break-in may be necessary before they cast well.

    A little frostiness on the surface of a mould cavity doesn’t seem to hurt the boolit’s performance, as long as it comes out of the mould easily. Heavy pits in cavities will likely require lapping or polishing, and a break-in afterwards.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Electrolysis. I just cleaned a couple of old cast iron frying pans. A large tub, wire, piece of wood to suspend them from, baking soda and a battery charger is all you need.
    I Am Descended From Men Who Would Not Be Ruled

    Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    Evaporust works very well.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    Ditto Evaporust. Environmental friendly and you can reuse it. 24 hours is all you need.
    Leadmelter
    MI

  7. #7
    Boolit Master


    cwlongshot's Avatar
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    Evaporust is incredible stuff...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF_lnJcf6Oc

    CW
    NRA Life member • REMEMBER, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE its being paid for in BLOOD.
    Come visit my RUMBLE & uTube page's !!

    https://www.RUMBLE.com/user/Cwlongshot
    https://youtube.com/channel/UCBOIIvlk30qD5a7xVLfmyfw

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
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    So whats the best approach with the rust issue??
    A 50:50 mix of ATF & Acetone scrubbed with a bronze brush
    Regards
    John

  9. #9
    Banned
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    I love the 50:50 mix of ATF & Acetone but I would start with the Evaporust first.
    I brought several old Lyman molds back to life earlier this year with Evaporust.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master Tatume's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cwlongshot View Post
    Evaporust is incredible stuff...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF_lnJcf6Oc

    CW
    That was fun!

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
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    What I got for cheap .
    Click image for larger version. 

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    After some 0000 steel wool and about 6 hr in evaporust.
    Attachment 223877
    A little cold blue wiped on and wiped down in Hoppes .
    Attachment 223878
    In the time of darkest defeat,our victory may be nearest. Wm. McKinley.

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  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy loiner1965's Avatar
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    in the past i have soaked molds in white vinegar and wiped clean

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Evaporust, no question.
    have done it many times, comes out wonderful.

  14. #14
    Banned

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    Another vote for evaporust. I got the big jug at Tractor Supply.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check