preheating mold

[Nick2010]

How do you guys preheat your molds?

[Swindler1]

I have a cheap hot plate that I lay the mold on ( set on high ) for about15 mins than I lay it on top of the melting pot for about 10 mins . if I need to stop for awhile I just let it set on the hot plate.

[barrybrice]

I use a torch for about 30 seconds. Works great.

[GaryN]

I just dip it in the pot until the lead doesn't stick.

[Colorado4wheel]

Hot Plate, Cover them with foil to get the heat more even and faster. I have a temp gauge and when they are 275F I start casting. Still takes a little time to get casting right. I don't know why that is really. But they never ever cast right below 275f so thats were I start.

[krems]

I'm with GaryN on this one........Just dip the corner of the mould in the lead for 20 seconds or so and start casting.....make sure the lead doesn't stick to the mould.

Krems

[*Paladin*]

I tried the "dipping" method I read about in Richard Lee's book. It worked ok, but a hot plate is perfect. I have a cheap Harbor Freight hot plate. Paid $5 for it, and when I plug in the melter, I put the mold on the hot plate, with the temp on low. Once the melt is ready, the mold is ready...

[RobS]

Hotplate with a note to what each mold like best for a preheat setting.

[mooman76]

My bench is kind of tight for space and so is my garage so more stuff is not what I need. The aluminum ones I dip and the steel ones I sit on top the pot as it warms.

[warf73]

I just dip it in the pot until the lead doesn't stick.

+1

I'm also to cheap to buy a hot plate and the lack of room don't help either.

[Dale53]

I would never voluntarily give up my hot plate to pre-heat the mould. When I fill the pot and turn it on, I also turn on the hotplate with my mould on it. When the melt is ready, my mould is ready to cast right out of the chute.

That hotplate and my little manicurists fan (to quicken sprue hardening and maintain proper mould temperature) are two things I will NOT be without.

It minimizes aggro - I am a BIG fan of minimizing aggro:drinks:

Dale53

[Donor8x56r]

+1

I'm also to cheap to buy a hot plate and the lack of room don't help either.

+2

I just dip corners into the pot.Usually 5-6 boolit comes out right.

What I could use hot plate for would be keeping mould hot when on potty or smoke break:)

[dragonrider]

What Gary said, it's the easiest wat to go and you don't have anothing piece of equipment to clutter up your bench with.

[Calamity Jake]

My bench is kind of tight for space and so is my garage so more stuff is not what I need. The aluminum ones I dip and the steel ones I sit on top the pot as it warms.


What Gary said, it's the easiest wat to go and you don't have anothing piece of equipment to clutter up your bench with.

Set the HP in the floor away from anything combustable and out of the way so you don't trip over it.

[CWME]

I said this in another thread already but I heat mine with the sprue plate down. This heats the sprue so it doesn't cool the melt as it is flowing through.
Turn on the pot and hot plate, when the melt is ready I go to casting good boolits now with very few rejects.

[smoked turkey]

I cast with the RCBS 45-405 today. That big hunk of iron takes a heap of heating up before the boolits come out looking nice. I have never considered preheating before and I have quite a few big moulds. This thread along with my recent 'experience' with the big old mould has me thinking a hot plate is in my future.

[casterofboolits]

I normlly just set the moulds on the top of my RCBS pots. In the winter time I set them on top of my space heater.

[onondaga]

I follow the instructions that come with Lee molds.

Gary

[Shooter6br]

Use a hot plate with a mold warming box made from an electrical metal box( check archives) Works great

[Huntducks]

propane torch 15-20 sec. and your done.:drinks:

[doubledown]

For my aluminum mold I use a hot plate, and before I make my first pour I heat the sprue plate with a propane torch. The steel sprue plate does'nt come up to temp. as fast as the aluminum mould it seems like.