Struggling w Lyman mold

[mattd]

Just got an unused, new/old stock 358429. It’s consistent......358 on one side of the seem .3557 on the other, both cavities do the same.

Using WW, started w 2% tin, but upped it a bit trying to get the bullets just a bit fatter.

It acts like the alignment pins are too big. If I squeeze hard the mold closes just a bit more, and it’s a little hard to open cause the pins catch. If I squeeze the handles normally I’ll more then often get fins at the vent lines. Lubing them w syn 2 stroke.

I’m sure it’s capable of make 357+ bullets, just need to figure out what it needs to do it.

[s mac]

Sounds like you need to tap the pins in a fuzz to me.

[Guesser]

That's what I was thinking. The pins extend a little too far into the holes. They need to be minority adjusted. Happens from time to time, some more, some less. Trial and error will get you a long ways.

[Gtek]

^^^^That was my first thought. I would, I have removed sprue plate first and find a really nice flat piece of hard dense wood (broken walnut stock cut to a small block I use). Lay side with pins down and tap with something that will not harm block half. Drill holes where the two marks are just a little deeper and larger than needed to clearance pins laying block face down. Pick up a half in each hand and place together, try rocking like doing a Rubiks cube, no play? Lay block with pins on its back and tap each one with a nice flat punch and hammer, he said tap, maybe tap tap tap! Keep tapping in until you just feel female block free up on pins,stop. Flip over and start tapping back one at a time until the Rubiks rock in each corner is gone, then just a little more and get her hot. Sometimes they will loosen after a some use, just seems after extended use they need a little tap. Sometimes right out of the box they need a little attention one way or another with me. A touch of oil just on pin will help slick up before casting.

[mattd]

Thanks guys. One measured .005 longer then the other. So I used my vice w brass inserts to slowly squeeze the long one in deeper. It went in deeper then I intended, and ended up .005 shorter then the other. Couple test casts and the stickyness was gone and they jumped out of the mold, but still weren’t that round and still too small on the one side of the seam.

Lots of trial and error, moving both pins in and out and it looks like I’m getting .3575 and .3590. Still getting some minor fins but I can deal with these dimensions.

[RU shooter]

You might try to slightly break the edges of the opposing holes with a counter sink bit just go lightly