First MP mold. Now I'm a believer!

[TheDoctor]

Never had a brass mold, or a HP mold that I could cast worth a darned with. Bought a new to me, and almost new 358429 brass hp. Spent most of the day conditioning it. Had to fight serious temptation to jump right to casting with it. And WOW. I like to think I'm a hard one to impress, but this has to be the best mold I've ever had. Absolutely flawless machining, and casts like a dream. Going to have to start a MP collection now. Something else to spend money on

[EMR]

I’m in the same boat. 8 MP molds later here I am...

And my assortment is pitiful compared to many!

[RogerDat]

Nothing like seeing bullets "rain" from a mold to make for a good feeling about the mold, the melt, casting, and the world in general.

[Smoke4320]

congrats on seeing the benefits of a good quality mold
I have several MP hp molds and they all cast great

[hermans]

I totally agree, a mold made by Mihec is a true work of art!
I only have normal molds, brass and aluminum, but want to get my first HP boolit mold, and it will certainly be one of his!

[Forrest r]

Never had a brass mold, or a HP mold that I could cast worth a darned with. Bought a new to me, and almost new 358429 brass hp. Spent most of the day conditioning it. Had to fight serious temptation to jump right to casting with it. And WOW. I like to think I'm a hard one to impress, but this has to be the best mold I've ever had. Absolutely flawless machining, and casts like a dream. Going to have to start a MP collection now. Something else to spend money on

How do you condition a brass mold?

[Gamsek]

How do you condition a brass mold?

New MiHec Mould, how do I condition it to get it ready?
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sha...5&share_type=t

There was a discussion about it, but as Beagle333 said; I did precondition brass moulds and sometimes not. Some run from the first pour, no matter preconditioning, but mostly my brass HP moulds start to really work after 3rd casting-don’t know why.
I also agree with Dragonheart as he said that proper preheating of brass mould (20minutes on a hot plate so pins can reach their temp) is probably more important then prepping the mould. I have no experience with tining and my max alloy temp is 415Celzius.

[RKJ]

I've got 3 of his molds and they are all works of art. His molds make me look like I know what I'm doing with this bullet casting stuff.

[Smoke4320]

Would agree on the 3rd session they just seem to hit their groove.
Fought with one of my first brass molds. got frustrated on first casting session as you had to beat bullets out.
2nd session was only slightly better. 3rd session finally got some good bullets
4th session it was a totally different result after 10 or so rejects it just poured perfect bullets till i got tired
Here is how "I" condition my new brass molds
Clean very well. Lube mold pins ect.
Preheat on hot plate. Cast 20 or so bullets. No concern if try are good or bad just getting lead in the cavities.
shut it all down
After mold totally cools do the same again
3rd cast usually goes 100 or bullets
By the 4th casting session bullets just drop out
This may be unnecessary but it works very well for me

[TheDoctor]

I put the mold on a hotplate and let it get hot, and kept it there for about 30 min. Turn off the heat, and let it cool down on its own, which takes quite a while. Repeated that cycle 5 or 6 times. Mold started to develop a nice patina. Then got everything ready and started casting with a preheated mold. The first dozen or so drops were rejects due to not being hot enough and sprue plate lube smoke wrinkles, but after that ran like a champ. Never once did a bullet try to stick in the mold, and only on the first two drops did a bullet try to stick on a pin, which was very easily removed.

[gwpercle]

Never had a brass mold, or a HP mold that I could cast worth a darned with. Bought a new to me, and almost new 358429 brass hp. Spent most of the day conditioning it. Had to fight serious temptation to jump right to casting with it. And WOW. I like to think I'm a hard one to impress, but this has to be the best mold I've ever had. Absolutely flawless machining, and casts like a dream. Going to have to start a MP collection now. Something else to spend money on

He's addicted...

[OS OK]

Never had a brass mold, or a HP mold that I could cast worth a darned with. Bought a new to me, and almost new 358429 brass hp. Spent most of the day conditioning it. Had to fight serious temptation to jump right to casting with it. And WOW. I like to think I'm a hard one to impress, but this has to be the best mold I've ever had. Absolutely flawless machining, and casts like a dream. Going to have to start a MP collection now. Something else to spend money on

Ain't that the gospel?

Just wait until you can get a MP brass mould that will powder coat at the same time...they're in the experimental stages at the moment...

[Forrest r]

Ain't that the gospel?

Just wait until you can get a MP brass mould that will powder coat at the same time...they're in the experimental stages at the moment...

Now what kind of break-in do you have to do with a mold like that, easter egg died graphite?

[OS OK]

I boiled it twice and heat cycled it three times...I wanted to just take her straight to the pot...it was a grueling break in.

(there's a secret compartment to put the PC in) . . .

[Forrest r]

Was just wondering, keep reading about breaking in brass molds. I've never had to do anything to a brass mold other than wash them with soap when I 1st got them. Doesn't matter if it's a al/iron/brass mold, they all get pre-heated.

[Gunslinger1911]

My name is Gunslinger1911 and I'm addicted to MiHec moulds

Now repeat after me "My name is xxxxx and I'm addicted to MiHec moulds"

You'll feel better, trust me.

[fatnhappy]

My first brass mould was the 432640 from mihec. There was a learning curve which consisted of “cast faster.” Once I realized it liked to run hot I was off to the races.

My mihec moulds are without a doubt if the highest quality I own. The only real rival in my ammo can we’re cut by Walt Melander.

[dragon813gt]

How do you condition a brass mold?

Heat cycling is all that’s required. This starts the patina which helps bullet release and more importantly helps prevent tinning if you’re using an alloy w/ tin in it. I heat cycle mine three times in a toaster oven. Turn it on high and stick it for an hour. Let it cool to room temp and repeat.

There’s no need to ever put soap and water near molds. Mihec’s molds have minimal oil left on them which cooks off in short order. NOE’s molds come out completely clean of all oils. Maybe it’s because I live in the rust belt but I’m not putting water on anything metal. I will use solvents but they aren’t necessary to clean a new mold.

You want to install the hollow point pins when heat cycling. This allows them to set in. You also want to leave the face of the blocks exposed. You can always just cast w/ them but the first few sessions will be frustrating. Even w/ heat cycling the molds work better after each session.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I love my miha molds for their versatility, but I have a non-hollowpoint mold from NOE, and that thing just rains bullets. NOE 314 315 119gn rnfp.

[dragon813gt]

I love my miha molds for their versatility, but I have a non-hollowpoint mold from NOE, and that thing just rains bullets. NOE 314 315 119gn rnfp.

I own more NOE molds because he offers a lot more. And all of them are solids. I tried one RG mold and sold it in short order. They don’t function nearly as easily as the Cramer molds do. Mihec has spoiled us in this regard. And even though the molds come w/ hollow point pins I have the plug pins installed if they came w/ them. I grew out of a hollowpoint phase rather quickly.