I bought a set of Lyman molds (4-banger, 358495) complete with handles, on eBay. Got them for a pretty good price, because I thought I could separate them and make a couple bucks. I've learned to check molds out before selling them, so I fired up the SAECO, loaded with my 'C' alloy, and started casting. I did maybe 20, and wasn't happy with any of them, so closed down for a mold-cleaning. Scrubbed with soap & H20, didn't do much good, so I boiled w/dish soap (couple drops) for a while. Poured the agua out, replacing w/cold agua, dried as best I could, and put them in the drying rack and turned a fan on. Got them dry, but still not to my liking, so I brought out the brake cleaner, gave a couple good sprays, scrubbed w/paper towels, scrubbed some more, and hooked up again.
The blasted handles are very stiff, but, WOW! That mold turned out some BEAUTIFUL BOOLITS! I have another 4-banger in that boolit, and I was starting to think, 'I'll keep this one and sell my old one'. They were that purdy!
But the handles were a pain - real stiff, not wanting to swing open, slowing down production. I looked around and finally found a set that would fit. Mounted, and went to town! Man! Increased my throughput by at least 50%! Hot Dang!
Took a break for breakfast, and some computer work, and then went back to casting 358495's. First pour, hit the sprue plate, and the handles broke!
First time that has happened. So. Dang. Gotta decide either keep this one & sell the old one, or not - decisions, decisions, decisions.