Getting lead out of mould

[David LaPell]

I picked up an old 6 cavity P & c .41 caliber mould today that apparently when last used was left aside without the six bullets being taken out or even the sprue knocked off. I don't want to go banging on it, so I am hoping tomorrow if the weather cooperates to turn on one of my Lee furnaces and then leave it over the edge for a bit to warm it up. Hopefully this will soften the lead up to where I can get it loose.

[2wheelDuke]

I've always been taught that leaving the cavities full and the sprue un-cut is good for keeping any moisture out of there.

I keep my 2-cav molds that way, and so far it's not hurt them to whack the sprue plate to cut it.

I suppose you could heat the mold until it melts then cut the sprue as normal. I'm not sure if the extra effort to cut on a 6 cav is really going to hurt things or not.

[jsizemore]

Fill your casting pot about 3/4 full and melt. Stick your thermometer in the melt. Stick your mold on top of the melt beside the thermometer and when the melt temp hits 475-500 degrees that rascal will pop open easy. Shortly your pot will be up to casting temp and the fun begins getting to know your new casting buddy. Fun!

[Echo]

Swat the sprue plate and dump the boolits. It was made to work that way...