geargnasher
04-30-2011, 04:07 PM
I was re-reading "From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners© " by Glen and Rick, found this little tidbit. Often I find my moulds, particularly Lee and NOE moulds, having the vents blocked by metal burrs. These are difficult to remove without leaving barbs on the boolits, but the checkering tool idea is tops:
Venting. It is very difficult to cast a useable bullet from a mould that is inadequately vented. Some of the more common mass produced moulds usually come out of the box with vent lines that are partially blocked at the cavity. This can occur in most any mould made with vent lines. The partial blocking of the vent lines occurs in moulds that have the blocks vented before the cavities are cut with the cherry. Almost all machineable material leaves small burrs at the edges of the machined area. In moulds this occurs at the edges of the cavities. The burrs themselves are normally quite small, but can be enough to partially block the very thin vent lines. These burrs can be easily removed with the blade of a pocket knife, but is recommended that a 60o bent checkering file, fine cut, be used as it leaves no inside burrs and does a much cleaner job. Only remove the burr. Do not attempt to cut the vent lines deeper. After the burrs in the vent lines are removed, the edges of the cavity can be lightly rubbed with a piece of 0000 steel wool to ensure smoothness at the site of the vent."
Gear
Venting. It is very difficult to cast a useable bullet from a mould that is inadequately vented. Some of the more common mass produced moulds usually come out of the box with vent lines that are partially blocked at the cavity. This can occur in most any mould made with vent lines. The partial blocking of the vent lines occurs in moulds that have the blocks vented before the cavities are cut with the cherry. Almost all machineable material leaves small burrs at the edges of the machined area. In moulds this occurs at the edges of the cavities. The burrs themselves are normally quite small, but can be enough to partially block the very thin vent lines. These burrs can be easily removed with the blade of a pocket knife, but is recommended that a 60o bent checkering file, fine cut, be used as it leaves no inside burrs and does a much cleaner job. Only remove the burr. Do not attempt to cut the vent lines deeper. After the burrs in the vent lines are removed, the edges of the cavity can be lightly rubbed with a piece of 0000 steel wool to ensure smoothness at the site of the vent."
Gear