I just had to have a #68 clone mold. Of course it had to make solid and HP boolits. Nothing else would do. I already had the most popular designs in 45 but not what I called a true #68 clone. Last winter I ordered a MP 200 gr brass mold with solid and HP pins. Just got around to using it this past weekend.
I had researched about cleaning and preheating the mold 3-4 times to oxidize the surface. Also about using a hotplate to preheat the mold because brass molds run hotter than steel. I cleaned mine with brake cleaner and figured just running some lead through it would oxidize it to perfection and bring it up to temp in a few pours.
Started this little endeavor about noon on Saturday. spent over two hours trying to fix a leak in my saeco model 24 pot that it never had before. Never did get it to quit completely when the pot was full. About 5 pm I finally had my alloy about right and still getting wrinkles. I finally just cranked the pot up on high and got the mold smoking hot and boolits starting filling out. Made few hundred solids before coming in around 7. Wore out but happy and looking forward to the HP session coming up on Sunday.
Sunday spent about another 5 hours getting a few hundred HP's. Set the pot on high to start with. I did have the sense to polish the pins and use the bullplate on them. At least the boolits didn't stick to the pins. Still took two pots of lead to get the mold close to temp. By the way the mold worked real well making HP's. I figured that would be a pain but was pleasantly surprised. Just getting the mold hot is the problem.
The whole reason I'm writing this is for the guys who haven't used a brass mold yet. I may be over reacting here but just get the hotplate and use it from the beginning. I had read that using a hotplate was recommended but figured it would be a luxury I could live without. You just have to stop buying toys for this hobby somewhere. If nothing else spare room becomes a problem. In my opinion if your gonna have brass molds a hotplate is not a luxury. I'll have one by the next time I use this mold.
Thanks and good luck....Floyd