Improved Sprue Plates... Any Interest?

[Doby45]

I wants one too Jim!!!!

[AbitNutz]

I think I'll go buy some lottery tickets...I never win anything.

[JIMinPHX]

Well, the prototype went in the mail yesterday. With a little luck, AbitNutz should have it tomorrow. Once he tries it & posts his comments, I'll make up a Beta version & see what everyone thinks of it. I should be able to have the first batch made up a day or two after that, if my day job doesn't get busy all of a sudden.

[crabo]

Have you figured out a price yet?

[JIMinPHX]

When we come up with the final version, I'll figure out a price.

[AbitNutz]

Just got the spru plate. I'll cast a batch up tomorrow and let you all know how things work out.

[mold maker]

OMG I've got over 20 6 cav Lee molds. Swapping them wont work so that means 1 for each. Arrrrrrrrgh bankruptcy ahead.

[JIMinPHX]

OMG I've got over 20 6 cav Lee molds. Swapping them wont work so that means 1 for each. Arrrrrrrrgh bankruptcy ahead.

Geeze,
You could set up a group buy all by yourself.


Actually, for people in your situation, I could probably make up a quick change thumb screw, so that you would be able to swap out sprue plates quickly & easily. Let me know if you would like me to dig into that possibility a little deeper.

[AbitNutz]

1st report on the new spru plate.

When I first got it I was sure it was going to make the mold weigh a ton. It doesn't. It weighs more but is unnoticeable.

There's a small fitment issue. The close slot isn't quite wide enough on this particular mold and it doesn't let the spru plate close completely. It's pretty close and I think a bit of grinding or more likely, a different mold, it will line up perfectly. Either way it's not stopping me from moving forward.

The third pry handle fit perfectly and so did the pivot bolt.


This first mold will be a pure lead black powder bullet. I'm going to try different methods of filling it. This mold really liked to have the pour spout right on the spru plate which is a pain. I'm hoping I can just fill the trough and life will be good.

I'm waiting for the pot to melt so more later.

I can tell you all one thing immediately. I'm even less satisfied with the Lee spru plate now that I have a chance to look at it off the mold. I'm pretty well convinced that spru plates should be steel.

[JIMinPHX]

Don't throw that aluminum sprue plate away just yet. If you don't want it anymore, you can send it my way. I'd love to have an extra floating around that I can use to experiment with & try a few modifications on.

[BCall]

If you get these in to production, whats the chance of getting one with smaller sprue holes? I just got a 6 cavity Ranch Dog 22 mold and the sprue holes are kinda big. Would like to have one with smaller holes if possible. Thanks, Billy

[JIMinPHX]

Right now, I'm using #6-32 screws through the sprue holes to fixture the part when I take the big milling cut out of the bottom edge. If I go to smaller holes, I'll have to make that cut in the sprue plate another way that is going to take a little longer. I should still be able to do it. It's just going to cost a little extra. It's not as easy as just throwing a smaller bit in the chuck when I drill them.

Alternately, If you are not looking to hit it with a hammer, I can make a steel sprue plate with a trough that just uses the original cam handle system. That should be no problem at all.

Let me think about it for a little while & see if I can come up with a better way to do it.

How small did you want those holes?

[JIMinPHX]

I'm waiting for the pot to melt so more later.

?????? How did it work out? Did you run into trouble?

[Wayne Smith]

Geeze,

Actually, for people in your situation, I could probably make up a quick change thumb screw, so that you would be able to swap out sprue plates quickly & easily. Let me know if you would like me to dig into that possibility a little deeper.

I've only got five, but that sounds like a good idea.

[BCall]

Right now, I'm using #6-32 screws through the sprue holes to fixture the part when I take the big milling cut out of the bottom edge. If I go to smaller holes, I'll have to make that cut in the sprue plate another way that is going to take a little longer. I should still be able to do it. It's just going to cost a little extra. It's not as easy as just throwing a smaller bit in the chuck when I drill them.

Alternately, If you are not looking to hit it with a hammer, I can make a steel sprue plate with a trough that just uses the original cam handle system. That should be no problem at all.

Let me think about it for a little while & see if I can come up with a better way to do it.

How small did you want those holes?

The holes in the current sprue plate are about .14-.15, I would like to have something roughly .10 in size. Thanks! Billy

[JIMinPHX]

Well,
I was hoping to get a little more feedback than I did, but I don't want to let this sit too long, so I decided to come up with version 2 based on the information that I have.

I fixed the slot dimension & made it .01" wider, for better clearance. I opened up the handle pivot hole from .250" to .257". there shouldn't be any more clearance problems there. I made the hitting edge 1/2" wider, which looks to me like it should be enough. I made the trough 1/8" wider on each end. I was concerned about loosing structural support if I went too far wit it. I will do a longer trough if someone insists that they want it, but I don't want to do that as a standard practice. I also made up a quick change screw. I put a brass insert on the screw for durability & reduced chance of galling. If the head of the screw is too high, I can make a lower version. In all honesty, it may be better to just stay with the original screw.

I figured out another way that I can get hold of these things in the mill, so I should be able to do the .10" diameter sprue holes for the same price as the standard size. I haven't made the new fixture to do that yet, but I don't expect problems.

The price is going to be $25 for the sprue plate & $10 for the screw. Prices do not include shipping.

[BCall]

If you get one done with .10 holes in it, let me know- I'll send the money when ever you wnat it. Thanks! Billy

[AbitNutz]

sorry...we ran in to a medical issue.

The spu plate work fine. It cleaves cleanly and since it is heavier, has a lot more inertia so it feels easier to bang open. It doesn't seem to matter how I fill it. If I run it down the trough or try and fill each individual cavity. I think the area where you whack it could be smaller. That is really large. I see the that you've solved the Lee screw problem. That screw may be a good idea on the other bolt as well.

Sorry for the delay but I'll be ordering a couple. I'll need one that I can move from mold to mold and one that stays with a particular favorite. Again, two of the locking screws would be very nice.

[thx997303]

For the locking screw, I would guess that using that could be hard on the mold blocks.

If only you could install a steel sleeve and thread that. Protect the block and all.

Of course, I own no 6 cavity molds, so it may already have something like that. I don't know.

[crabo]

Do you do paypal?