Degreasing a bullet mold

[Elpatoloco]

I have always just hit them with brake cleaner or acetone. Let them dry and start casting. Some take 100 throws some take 10.

[porthos]

i have about 30+ molds. they are stored in a 50 cal ammo can;wrapped in vpi paper ; no oil or preseratives of any kind. they are as good as new. most have been in the can for 30 years with no use. i belive it is the combination of both the sealed can and vpi paper.

[lightman]

I use Brake Cleaner or Electrical Contact Cleaner but warm water, Dawn and an old tooth brush should work. When finished casting I spray mine with whatever type spray I happen to be using at the time for my guns.

[danmat]

Just received a new lee 2 cav. mold.
carb cleaner toothbrush
spray clean
preheat on hotplate
first cast lube spru cutter with needle oiler q tip with bullets in mold
drop bullets lube alignment pins
3rd or 4th cast perfect bullets
for brass molds I spray clean then heat cycle a few times before first cast
When through I spray with Kroil store, next use repeat cleaning

Dan

[El Bibliotecario]

i have about 30+ molds. they are stored in a 50 cal ammo can;wrapped in vpi paper ; no oil or preseratives of any kind. they are as good as new. most have been in the can for 30 years with no use. i belive it is the combination of both the sealed can and vpi paper.

I store my molds in an identical manner, even to the size of the ammo can, with the same positive results.

[Hossfly]

I clean new molds with acetone and lube pivot points and pins with synthetic 2 cycle oil very lightly. When finished and cooling down I’ll spray with LPS-3 which leaves a waxy coating for years with no rust. It is harder to clean off when time to go again.

[Slugster]

I use dawn dish soap and a toothbrush for first cleaning, then spray entire mould with carb cleaner, then dawn and hot water, set mould on side of lead pot to dry. Storage in vci paper with dessicant packs. Have never had a rust problem.

[higgins]

I clean the cavities with a couple of applications of denatured alcohol on a Q-tip and wipe the outside of the blocks and both sides of the sprue plate with the Q-tip or a small cloth saturated with denatured alcohol. I wipe out the cavities and the rest of the blocks with Kroil when I put it away. They're stored in a climate controlled room so don't need any heavy-duty rust preventative.

[justindad]

I use Brake Cleaner or Electrical Contact Cleaner but warm water, Dawn and an old tooth brush should work. When finished casting I spray mine with whatever type spray I happen to be using at the time for my guns.

If chlorinated brake cleaner gets too hot, you die immediately.

[danmat]

If chlorinated brake cleaner gets too hot, you die immediately.

I have always read do not use chlorinated cleaner.
I always check the cans, I have not seen a can of this in years in my area, didn't know they still made it.
Never spray anything cold on a hot mold, best way to warp something.

[Martin Luber]

I use mineral oil on dry flies too…

[Seeker]

I've always used 91% isopropyl alcohol and a q tip, never had a problem.

[farmbif]

isopropyl 91 octane and carb cleaner with stiff tooth brush, an old cotton tee shirt and q tips worked for me on the last mold I got from mp. im not sure what kind of cutting fluid miha is using but it took about 3 scrubbings to get it all off and get the mold clean. then fill with hot lead , empty and repeat""""""""

[kevin c]

Acetone and an Oral-B Toothbrush .
If Acetone scares you ... Lacquer Thinner , Mineral Spirits , Auto Carb or Brake Cleaner .
Usually any "automotive" cleaner will be cheaper and easier to find ( in auto-parts store) than any type of "firearms" advertised product .

I guess I'm just old fashioned but I do not like to get water around my moulds and prefer to clean them with acetone or mineral spirits or any automotive cleaner / de-greaser .
Gary

Ditto.

[GregLaROCHE]

I spray down all molds with Ballistol after use, so I clean them as if they were new each time I use them. Spray down with brake cleaner then a wash with dish soap and a hot rinse. That works for me. However, running a new mold through the dishwasher sounds interesting.