I have a 8 cav aluminum mold, and the steel alignment pins are walking out. Unfortunately I am getting zero response from MP molds. I have been trying to reach them over the past few weeks. Any other recourse to have this solved?
I have a 8 cav aluminum mold, and the steel alignment pins are walking out. Unfortunately I am getting zero response from MP molds. I have been trying to reach them over the past few weeks. Any other recourse to have this solved?
Would it be practical to drill from the side and pin* the pins in the desired position?
*Or set screw?
If you are handy and can easily remove them?
I would roll the pin bodys on a flat rasp to put some burrs on them, then re-insert. I've done that once and solved a similar problem with a Lee mold.
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“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001
Don't feel bad. I've had emails out to every major player in the mold business for a month and a half without responses from any of them (trying to find someone who has the time to do a one off...). That said, it sounds like they need to be restaked.
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Tom at Accurate Molds does one offs. Probably every design in his catalog started as a one off. I have 8 of his molds on the shelf and several are my designs. Others I have are modifications of others in his catalog.
Put the mold together and lay on side with the pins pointing up. Insert pin punch through the hole in the guide bushing to top of pin, gently tap pin back in until halves close and there is a little lateral play between halves. Turn over and gently tap pin until lateral play is gone and mold still closes tight. Reattach handles, heat and continue casting.
I had my pins move on my mp mold. I got it too hot.
Get the mold hot again and tap the pins back in. Don't do it with a cold mold.
I had a similar problem with a brass mold, I think it was an Arsenal. I looked at other molds from the same manufacturer and noticed the one I had problems with, the pins were on opposite sides from all the others. I took the pins and placed them into the same side as the other molds. Those holes had a slight taper to them. When I tapped the pins in, they held and have been working ever since with no further problems.
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 |