BCall
02-03-2012, 12:48 AM
A little while back when I saw Erik's new Lee 2 cavity HP conversions, I began to think about buying one. Then, being the small caliber addict that I am, I remembered a 2 cavity Bator mold that was still brand new on my shelf. I shot Erik an e-mail, and he agreed to do the conversion on my mold. I shipped it out to him last week, and got it back today!
I scrubbed the mold down with some very hot water and some Dawn dishsoap and a toothbrush. Set the mold on the hotplate to heat up and turned on the pot. I guess I didn't get it hot enough the first time, or didn't get it clean enough. I cast about a hundred and most all had some wrinkles or flaws. So, it had cooled down on the concrete floor, and I cleaned it with some acetone. I turned up the hotplate a little more, fluxed the melt real well, and 15 minutes later, began casting. In about 30-35 minutes I had cast about 200 good boolits.
They cast so easy it was unreal. Merely turning over and opening the mold, and the boolits fell right out. I cut the sprues with a gloved hand, and I could cast these faster than any HP I have ever cast. They weigh 50.9 gr, bands measure at .226 and the nose is at .220. They are pretty round, and I look forward to testing them in my hornet that has a bit of a large throat. The mold closes and cast so well, and it's so light to use, it's not like a Lee mold anymore. If it had a bit thicker sprue plate, it would be perfect. Had just a little bit of flash on some of the bases. Just my observations. Thanks, Billy
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh259/blcall/SN852027.jpg
I scrubbed the mold down with some very hot water and some Dawn dishsoap and a toothbrush. Set the mold on the hotplate to heat up and turned on the pot. I guess I didn't get it hot enough the first time, or didn't get it clean enough. I cast about a hundred and most all had some wrinkles or flaws. So, it had cooled down on the concrete floor, and I cleaned it with some acetone. I turned up the hotplate a little more, fluxed the melt real well, and 15 minutes later, began casting. In about 30-35 minutes I had cast about 200 good boolits.
They cast so easy it was unreal. Merely turning over and opening the mold, and the boolits fell right out. I cut the sprues with a gloved hand, and I could cast these faster than any HP I have ever cast. They weigh 50.9 gr, bands measure at .226 and the nose is at .220. They are pretty round, and I look forward to testing them in my hornet that has a bit of a large throat. The mold closes and cast so well, and it's so light to use, it's not like a Lee mold anymore. If it had a bit thicker sprue plate, it would be perfect. Had just a little bit of flash on some of the bases. Just my observations. Thanks, Billy
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh259/blcall/SN852027.jpg