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Thread: Round nose mold wrinkles.

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Round nose mold wrinkles.

    I have one mold that consistently drops wrinkled boolits. And it's my only round nose mold as well. Are these problematic in respect to wrinkles? Does that round nose cause turbulence during the pour? I have poured at 800 degrees and both rushed and trickled the lead in. I have had the plate close to the spout. I have leaned the mold while pouring to help let the air out. I have cleaned the mold twice.

    At least the boolits shoot well.

  2. #2
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    sundog's Avatar
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    Need more information; mould description, pour method, and alloy for starters.
    It ain't rocket science, it's boolit science.

  3. #3
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    Round nose molds I have do not seem to make any wrinkles , how is your mold temp ?

    Did you clean all the oils out and preheat it a few times , then heated it up before casting ?

    And your lead temp is plenty hot , preheat the mold and start casting and do not stop to check till you have been running the mold for awhile , then check how they are .

  4. #4
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    Seems like you are trying everything right. I would suspect the mold is still not hot enough. Is it aluminum or steel? Is there any oil, or other contamination in the cavities? At 800 degrees, the lead temp is certainly not the issue. For steel molds I like to preheat on a hotplate.

    FLINTNFIRE types faster than I do.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cosmic_Charlie View Post

    At least the boolits shoot well.
    So why worry about the cosmetic look of good-shooting boolits? Too many people on here worry about dropping perfect slugs. As long as there are not massive voids in them or severe deformities and they of the nominal weight desired, load 'em and shoot 'em! I sure do!

    banger

  6. #6
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    I'm with sundog, more information needed.

    Did you preheat the mold?
    1 or 2 cavities?
    aluminum or copper?
    You said the lead was 800° was this measured temperature?
    Alloy and where you got it is important
    did you pour a little lead into the catch container under the spout to clear the cooler lead from the spout?
    did you try pressure pouring -- bleed the spout, hold the mold up to the spout, fill the mold and lower the mold while still filing to create a puddle?

    pictures would really help .

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by GBertolet View Post
    Seems like you are trying everything right. I would suspect the mold is still not hot enough. Is it aluminum or steel? Is there any oil, or other contamination in the cavities? At 800 degrees, the lead temp is certainly not the issue. For steel molds I like to preheat on a hotplate.

    FLINTNFIRE types faster than I do.
    Sorry , On a boat cruising a long pool , nothing to do was bored .

  8. #8
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    I'm going to have a close look at the venting pattern cut into the mold faces. I'll bet they are too shallow. It's really the only thing that could be causing the problem.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by sundog View Post
    Need more information; mould description, pour method, and alloy for starters.
    LEE 309-180R 2 cavity. Bottom pour pot. 90/5/5 95/3/2. I have 8 other molds that drop perfect boolits.
    Last edited by Cosmic_Charlie; 05-06-2020 at 02:15 PM.

  10. #10
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    If it were me, I would smoke that mold, lightly, with a wood match or butane lighter. If that does not help, it can be cleaned again.

    From time time we run across a mold that, for whatever reason, defies working correctly when clean. Do not use a spray on graphite product on aluminum.

    Did you lube the alignment pins, and if so, did the nose portion of the cavities get contaminated (usually by lube migration from the pins)?

    I doubt that your problem is venting.
    It ain't rocket science, it's boolit science.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by sundog View Post
    If it were me, I would smoke that mold, lightly, with a wood match or butane lighter. If that does not help, it can be cleaned again.

    From time time we run across a mold that, for whatever reason, defies working correctly when clean. Do not use a spray on graphite product on aluminum.

    Did you lube the alignment pins, and if so, did the nose portion of the cavities get contaminated (usually by lube migration from the pins)?

    I doubt that your problem is venting.
    Well, the 6 cavity mold I got recently has deeper venting cuts and works like it should. The problem mold does drop useable boolits so I will keep working with it. My best boolits from it are frosty so it likes more heat. Will try getting the sprue plate hotter.

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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