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Thread: More " Lee - Lementing "

  1. #21
    Boolit Master

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    I cheat.
    I open the sprue plate, put a 1/4-20 nut over the cavity, fill and let solidify. That gives me two castings with a way to turn it. I then open the mold let the castings fall out.
    I take the castings, smear some Clover on them lightly, put ONE casting in a cavity, lightly close the mold, and turn as I close it. I do this with both cavities. When the castings spin easily I then either consider it done, or switch castings and spin again.
    Piece of cake.
    I then toss the castings with nuts in the pot. I recover the nuts when I shut the pot down.
    The grit, being corundum floats on the melt.
    I cast a few in the mold to clean out the residual grit.
    Simple for me. But, effective.
    I had a mold I had to clobber with a rawhide mallet each time to get release. Now, I just tap it with my dowel I use for opening the sprue plate.

  2. #22
    Boolit Buddy
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    Here's how I drill the center of a boolit for Leementing. I actually have a mould to do today.

    I don't have a lathe so I use my drill press. It's one of the cheap ones they have at Harbor Freight. I put the drill bit in the chuck- point up. Then I run the drill down until I can grab the bit with the vice I have on the drill press table. I open the chuck to release the bit and run the drill back up. I chuck the boolit in the drill bottom down (gently or you'll squash the boolit). Then turn the drill on and run the boolit slowly down on to the bit.

    It works pretty good.

    John

  3. #23
    Boolit Master
    cabezaverde's Avatar
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    I have done this using JB Bore paste for the abrasive. Works good.
    Founder of the Single Shot section.

    A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have.


    8 in the 10 ring, then I get a PING. Love my Garand.

  4. #24
    Boolit Master in Heaven's Range
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    Quote Originally Posted by NSP64 View Post
    Good job Ben, I use CREST tooth paste, just enough to make them smooth. I leement all my lee molds
    Now THAT makes it a Crested Leemented Mould!
    The .30/06 Springfield,the ULTIMATE cartridge combat,hunting and target cartridge,a .45 single action and a good FLINTLOCK is all I need to be happy!

  5. #25
    Boolit Master
    cabezaverde's Avatar
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    I also did one this weekend with a product called Bartenders Helper, or Friend, or something like that.

    Made a paste with water, and it was a lot cheaper than JB paste.
    Founder of the Single Shot section.

    A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have.


    8 in the 10 ring, then I get a PING. Love my Garand.

  6. #26
    Boolit Master

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    I use Crest toothpaste, I don't worry about getting the boolit drilled perfect if it wobbles a tad it seems to work just fine anyway. You are only polishing the cavities anyway and not removing much material.
    Mtgrs737
    Still Learning!

    NRA Life Member
    Life long OZ resident

    Personality type: Compulsive/Excessive - I don't know what that means, all I know is, if I like something, I want a lot of it!

    Pray to put "One nation, Under God" back in our country! We will never be a Great Nation without HIM!

    SOCIALISM is a PHILOSOPHY of FAILURE, the CREED of IGNORANCE and the GOSPEL of ENVY, It's inherent value is the EQUAL SHARING of MISERY. -Winston Churchill

  7. #27
    Boolit Master
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    I did a Lee .512" 500 gr. mould today. I managed to drill off center. I didn't seem to matter, as you are turning the drill relatively slowly anyways. 1 boolit with some 320 grit compound, and it went from actually tearing some of the drive bands off, to falling out. It's so easy to make such a drastic improvement, more casters should try it.

  8. #28
    Boolit Grand Master
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    dubber123 :

    You're right, more casters should be doing this. It takes a troublesome mold and turns it into a smooth running piece of machinery.

    Thanks,
    Ben

  9. #29
    Boolit Master
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    I use automotive rubbing compound to polish my molds with a small piece of cloth chucked up in a drill.

  10. #30
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Good morning
    I am partial to the 1/4 20 nut (or larger on the big ones like 45) .... No drilling just eyeball center the nut and pour away. One boolit for each cavity. I then use my 1/4 " drive socket and tiny breaker bar spinning it with two fingers.
    God Bless ya

  11. #31
    Boolit Grand Master

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    If you use the drill and screw method, it's more important to get the screw in straight than centered. Off center will just wobble while crooked will twist against the bands. At slow speeds, and loosely held, neither will hurt seriously.
    Just make sure the mold halves can't move against each other.

  12. #32
    Boolit Master
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    Clamp a chunk of wood, squared, onto a drill press plate. Select a bit the same diameter of the bullet and drill a hole. Insert a bullet in the hole and change to a smaller bit. Drill a pilot hole for the screw.
    Dutch

    "The future ain't what it used to be".
    -Yogi Berra.

  13. #33
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by missionary5155 View Post
    Good morning
    I am partial to the 1/4 20 nut (or larger on the big ones like 45) .... No drilling just eyeball center the nut and pour away. One boolit for each cavity. I then use my 1/4 " drive socket and tiny breaker bar spinning it with two fingers.
    God Bless ya
    The nut is a lot easier than the screw but I had better luck using a 3/4" nut. The great big hole lets me see all of thethe cavity. Makes it easier to get it centered before pouring. Depends on how well your eyeballs are calibrated, I guess.
    Warning: I know Judo. If you force me to prove it I'll shoot you.

  14. #34
    Boolit Master Slow Elk 45/70's Avatar
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    Hullo, there are many variations of this method , I'm sure everyone has a pet , depending on what they like. The best thing about this , is that it works very well for most folks , and with all the options offered , I think those that haven't tried this can find one that works for them.
    Slow Elk 45/70

    Praise the Lord & Pass the Ammo

  15. #35
    Boolit Buddy handyman25's Avatar
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    Finding the center is not that hard. If you have a set of calibers measure the boolit, lets say its .358. Divide by two which is .179 set your calibers to .181 or .182 and with one inside on the out side of the boolit drag it across and press down hard enough to make a scratch. Now rotate the boolit 90 degrees and repeat. Do it again and again. You will have four lines, two each parellel with a small gap in between. Where they cross you will see a very small box and the center is very easy to find with the naked eye.

  16. #36
    Boolit Buddy handyman25's Avatar
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    Finding the center is not that hard. If you have a set of calibers measure the boolit, lets say its .358. Divide by two which is .179 set your calibers to .181 or .182 and with one inside on the out side of the boolit drag it across and press down hard enough to make a scratch. Now rotate the boolit 90 degrees and repeat. Do it again and again. You will have four lines, two each parellel with a small gap in between. Where they cross you will see a very small box and the center is very easy to find with the naked eye.

  17. #37
    Boolit Master Sprue's Avatar
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    I also use the Docone31 & Missionary5155 method.

    Its quick, only a few minutes before you can start the lementing process.
    Sprue ™

  18. #38
    Boolit Master Rocky Raab's Avatar
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    I did my first mould this weekend. Got the screw in a bit crooked, but it did not seem to matter (as mentioned above). I used JB Paste and spun the bullet for about a minute at low rpm.

    Cast some today, and the Lee C309-170-F bullets simply fell out. I had to whang away on the hing pin before. All the bands and edges look as sharp as before even under a loupe.

    I'm convinced.

  19. #39
    Boolit Master

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    Kroil is better

  20. #40
    Boolit Buddy dogbert41's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by wallenba View Post
    Clamp a chunk of wood, squared, onto a drill press plate. Select a bit the same diameter of the bullet and drill a hole. Insert a bullet in the hole and change to a smaller bit. Drill a pilot hole for the screw.
    OMG. Talk about a "Why didn't I think of that" moment

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