Filling Multi Cavity Molds

[dale2242]

Do you fill a multi cavity mold from the front [cavity nearest you] or from the back [cavity farthest from you] first?
I fill mine from the front first.

[rintinglen]

Furthest to nearest works best for me. I get fewer rejects, though why I can’t guess.

[RedlegEd]

Do you fill a multi cavity mold from the front [cavity nearest you] or from the back [cavity farthest from you] first?
I fill mine from the front first.

Hi Dale,
I alternate to try to keep the mould temperature uniform. Not sure if it works, but that's what I do.
Ed

[2wheelDuke]

I'm thinking it may matter if you're using a bottom pour pot or not.

I fill the cavity furthest from me first, and keep the pour going until the cavity nearest me is filled. That's "pushing" the mold further under the pot. After the last cavity is filled, I keep the pour going as I withdraw the mold, running a stream of lead across the sprue, basically reinforcing it.

I watch for it to solidify and "glaze" over, then cut the sprue with a gloved hand. Give that a few then I invert the mold over the pot and open the plate further. I guide the cut sprue into the pot with my gloved hand and then open the mold and tap the handles if necessary to drop my boolits.

[dannyd]

I do furthest from me.

[curioushooter]

I alternate. I find this essential to keep temp even. Especially important with casting Hollowpoints.

[georgerkahn]

Age has reduced my multi-cav mould use -- forty years ago there were zero challenges using, say, a 10-cavity H&G iron mould... like, all of an afternoon! Now, I primarily use 2-cavity moulds. Interestingly, I have pretty much -- for no reason I ever gave thought to -- kind of push the mould under the spout of bottom-pour furnace -- first in, gets alloy first. One of my "reasons", thinking on it for a few milli-seconds, is I keep handles raised just a smidgeon, and this keeps alloy from pouring over a to-be-filled cavity while providing ample in sprue dimple, guaranteeing no loss from shrinkage as alloy solidifies.
geo

[Conditor22]

Hi Dale,
I alternate to try to keep the mold temperature uniform. Not sure if it works, but that's what I do.
Ed

I agree
Before I did that I always started nearest the hinge -- less pressure opening the mold.

[GhostHawk]

I ladle pour and pretty much always go from furthest to closest.
In my experience if the melt is right and the mold is warm it does not make much difference.

Comes down to cadence, if the cavity is being filled every X number seconds with hot lead, what difference does it make which end you do first?
The blocks are hot, and tend to stay hot. If I have an issue I am more likely to have a towel dampened with water so I can cool a mold if it gets too hot. Starts sticking.

[Mal Paso]

3-1-4-2 for 4 cavity LOL



First in gets filled first.

[rancher1913]

at least wilco would have a "start in the middle" option

[Mk42gunner]

Had to make sure I answered correctly, I always figured the front of the mold was the one farthest from the handle.

It doesn't matter if I using a two, four or six cavity mold, ladle or bottom pouring; I pretty much always fill the farthest hole first.

Robert

[Harter66]

I pour to the sprue hinge so that's handles out in the Lee's . The 8C H&G pours out from the handles as does the 4 C Lyman , away from the hinge , they're on the clamshell handles and just run better that way . The NOEs in aluminum under 35 cal tend to want alternating pours from the hinge/to the hinge 2/1 on Lee handles those 35+ cal don't seem to care and I pour them handles out . I have 1 5C the 7mm 150 , fickle beast . From the handles it needs 3,4,5,1,2 - 1,2,5,4,3 repeat , it's weird , it took forever to get 5 keepers and even with the tedious pouring I only get about 75% I should probably open the fill holes a little and break the top edge .

[Walks]

Front 1st

[smithnframe]

Depends on what works with a particular mould on a particular day!

[Green Frog]

I always fill mine from the bottom up!!

[old cobra]

It depends on what the mold likes some of mine seem to prefer front to back and others don’t

[MT Gianni]

Ladle cast furthest to nearest.

[pworley1]

It depends on the mold. Usually front to back.

[dragon813gt]

I’m scratching my head because it’s been well over a year since I last cast any bullets. Can’t remember if I push or pull the mold, slide them on a piece of plywood under the pot. Pretty sure I usually pull the mold which means that I start at the cavity closest to me.