UNwrinkled Bullets

[perimedik]

or boolits
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=122748

I set up again today, put the old ones in the pot (the gas check was an experiment, in the sizing/lube die, GC crimp to see how it worked)
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff170/perimedik/100_4437.jpghttp://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff170/perimedik/100_4438.jpg

I got everything to temp, resmoked the mold, let it sit in the pot for a bit, once I started I had a few issues with allignment however I resolved it (small specks of lead precenting a good tight seal)

I found a groove. the overflow on the sprue plate got smaller as I adjusted the throw, and counted the 1:1000, 2:1000, 3:1000 to get my time right. Bullets started to drop well.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff170/perimedik/100_4441.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff170/perimedik/100_4442.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff170/perimedik/100_4445.jpg

Thanks for the tips guys...
before I start to churn them out I'll do some load work ups,

[littlejack]

Welcome to the CastBoolits.
Looks like you got it right. Didn't hurt a bit, did it?
Jack

[1Shirt]

Looks like 150 lee 30', you are doing well. Practice makes-------so they say, and I have been practicing for many years. If thats the lee, the durn thing seems to shoot very well in all of my 30's. Good luck!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[geargnasher]

Good job, I second Littlejack's comments.

Note the very light hints of satiny frost on the surface? I find most of my Lee moulds like to be run very hot, even a touch hotter than you were running those.

Check for a venting problem near the base bands, looks like a few wrinkles right at the parting lines on a few, but it might also be a cold spot in the mould. Remember the moulds cool at the thin spots first, and that means the edges of the cavities, so keep the pace up an don't pause with the mould empty or open. Check also for the sprue plate being bent away from the top of the blocks or a wee bit too loose, I see some base flashing on a couple of those that can make seating gas checks a pain.

Keep truckin', you're doing great!

Gear

[perimedik]

Thanks,
I have the day off tomorrow so I am going to spend some quaility time and make a couple of pots worth. Try to find the groove and knock em out. I also have to pick up some JPW to make 45/45/10. I have the rest mixed, I have to reduce the JPW and incorporate it. Pan lube then size die and gas checks.

baby steps, baby steps...

[mongo]

Hi Perimedik, Looks good. Once you start and get going its hard to stop LOL. I was going to spend an hour casting yesterday also. By the time I got the mold up to temp and started dropping boolits that were ok it was four hours before I could stop. Mine come out looking like they are galvinized from the hot mold, but thats a good thing as I tumble lube. Home depot has the JPW in the cleaning supply area, Have fun Tomorrow. Tommy

[Jal5]

How can yoou guys cast in this heat? I can't stand it with long sleeve shirt, face mask, etc. and sweat like a maniac. I did a lot of casting last winter and now just reload as needed, I find it works better for me like that.
Probably cast more boolits than I will shoot this year last winter while it was cold and snowy with nothing better to do.

Joe

[Bret4207]

Stop smoking the mould now, you'll find once it's broke in you don't need band-aides like that.

[perimedik]

How can yoou guys cast in this heat?
Joe

Yesterday wasn't bad at all, 84, partly cloudy, slight breeze. It was great out.
we had some rain overnight, going to wait for the sun to burn it off and start some more today.

[harvester]

The last 3 Lee molds I have had I did not smoke them but cleaned really well. It is true they work better not smoked. I have about 30 Lee molds and used to believe they need to be smoked or use a release agent but no, just clean them well, keep it hot on a hot plate and they work like a charm.

[Bret4207]

How can yoou guys cast in this heat? I can't stand it with long sleeve shirt, face mask, etc. and sweat like a maniac. I did a lot of casting last winter and now just reload as needed, I find it works better for me like that.
Probably cast more boolits than I will shoot this year last winter while it was cold and snowy with nothing better to do.

Joe

Umm, I don't wear a long sleeve shirt or a face mask. Maybe that's part of it!:bigsmyl2:

[mongo]

Gloves and safety glasses does it for me, Smelting is a diffrent story, I wear an aprin also.

[9.3X62AL]

105* here, but no humidity--so I'd cast if the need arose. Run a fan, and stay hydrated, and all will be fine. (This qualifies me for Sun-Baked Fool status, but whatever). Leaving the ingots in the sunlight for an hour or so on my concrete driveway gets them flexible enough to wrap around the contours of the RCBS furnace opening. :) Gotta handle them with pliers.

That was some righeous boolit porn, sir. Thanks for posting it!

[Down South]

Didn't read all of the repiles. From looking looking at the boolits in the pictures, I'd say increase the temp a little and add a little tin.