molds arrived

[45sixgun]

I'm getting ready to give casting a go. I just got in three LBT molds for the three calibers I have in handguns: .357, .44, and .45 Colt. I also got enough sticks of LBT's Blue Lube to last a long time. I have some cheaper molds to try out as well. I've collected enough free WW from tire shops to get started, and I've been reading up on casting. It's time to take the plunge.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4SLtqgCA7dg/T48hP1Of0xI/AAAAAAAAaPA/aak3daU1uPQ/s800/P1060558-001.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aFmhh-mjY6g/T5AU2TtabKI/AAAAAAAAaQI/zX-tiqv6vLQ/s800/P1060565-001.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z8t6sunPj7o/T5DZuQunbrI/AAAAAAAAaQw/7kpfbLdp8oo/s800/P1060578-001.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JzeR7BWL270/T5BnRg9jQeI/AAAAAAAAaQg/S-cvXxpYwoQ/s800/P1060583.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JTx6DGbiI2Y/T5BnReAswOI/AAAAAAAAaQc/NK3jaGxqAh8/s800/P1060580.JPG

[Dale53]

It looks to me like you are "ready to roll"!

Good show!

Keep us posted as to your progress.

Dale53

[Dennis Eugene]

Nothing wrong with your taste in molds! Dennis

[GARCIA]

Heck of an investmant you got there!!!
Wish you the best in your endevors!!!

Tom

[stubshaft]

What is that Lee doing with the REAL molds???lol

I've been using Verals molds for almost 30 years, I think you'll like them.

[captaint]

sixgun - Congrats on the molds. The LBT's make great boolits. Do try to get some good mold lube (Bullplate or similar) and keep them lubed while in use. The other molds too - they're all good. enjoy Mike

[slide]

Your life will never be the same!

[45sixgun]

Thanks guys.


What is that Lee doing with the REAL molds???lol I figured life just wouldn't be complete without some leementing in it.


Do try to get some good mold lube I also got four or five sticks of mold lube from LBT. He gives thorough instructions on lubing the molds.

Today I finished up a quick set of homemade mold tongs RCBS size. I have an LBT mold in them and ready. Need to get my propane bottle refilled and I should be ready to melt this weekend.

[white eagle]

take your time have fun and keep at it

[GLL]

Nice selection ! :)

Have a fun weekend !

Jerry

[stubshaft]

I also got four or five sticks of mold lube from LBT. He gives thorough instructions on lubing the molds.



If those are the little pencil sized graphite sticks, they will last a loooong time. I got a pack of 5 or 6 over twenty years ago and still have two new ones in the pack.

[45sixgun]

That's what they are. Good to hear how long they last.

[Beau Cassidy]

Those are some great molds you have there. They should last a long time.

[12DMAX]

You dont mess around:drinks: From one rookie to another and trust me on this one, one step at a time. Nice molds bro!

[45sixgun]

Thanks, guys. I melted down a bunch of WW's today. Learned to tell the difference between the zinc ones and the lead ones. I looked for markings and then tried the "listening to the metallic sound" method, but that didn't quite work. I finally grabbed a pair of pliers and started just clamping down on the doubtful ones. That worked for me. Major difference in the feel. I still ended up getting one or two in the batch. They floated on the melt and were easy to fish out. Even though I have good molds, I don't have good anything else. I'm going straight from the first melt to pouring bullets and that's not ideal. I picked up a ladle from the thrift store to pour with. That didn't work well at all. I chiseled a pour spout of sorts into it, but we had a little family crisis (just the kids needing attention...big family with lots of little ones), so while I did get two bullets made (they weren't very good), I had to stop before really getting anything done other than melting and learning to distinguish zinc from lead. When I get them ready I'll attach a few pics of this first attempt.

[45sixgun]

Here are a few pics of the first attempt. The bullet is the first one, one side looks good, the other has defects.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JJ6r3NP***M/T5Nxp7o8fEI/AAAAAAAAaQ4/3uuJ46QMxiw/s800/P1060618-001.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JSxt7ISYMBA/T5Nxpy7S5yI/AAAAAAAAaQ8/ZB5ZucMZQco/s800/P1060620-001.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Xjm0W-jJZdA/T5NxvLAMZTI/AAAAAAAAaRQ/bEVrYLUtKAg/s800/P1060624-001.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MJ-w_S2OzoI/T5NxvY4kXXI/AAAAAAAAaRY/XcLlC20TpIY/s800/P1060638-001.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EkBDE2Y3BjI/T5NxuDAXEBI/AAAAAAAAaRI/7y1Dc9J82Ec/s800/P1060639-001.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6ImEsiZ6tKM/T5Nxxd8nTBI/AAAAAAAAaRg/pPKAAoWB6ZQ/s800/P1060650-001.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_U605a8muV8/T5NxyA-_g7I/AAAAAAAAaRo/qgeedhySSeA/s800/P1060654-001.JPG

[crabo]

You need to also warm up the mold before it will start casting good boolits. A hot plate is used by a lot of people to pre warm the mold.

[Frank]

I tried the hot plate. It takes a long time. Dipping the corner is what I use now and the first bullet comes out perfect.

[45sixgun]

Third picture down is the mold warming up. I think Frank's right....the melt wasn't hot enough. I'm also a bit clueless on flux. I've heard sawdust is good, but I don't have any. What else could I use?

[45sixgun]

Thanks, Frank. Can't argue with those pictures. Where do you get the flux and the ladle?

[Frank]

Rotometals has the ladle. And Marvelux, you can get that at Brownells or Midsouth shooters.

[Ickisrulz]

Third picture down is the mold warming up. I think Frank's right....the melt wasn't hot enough. I'm also a bit clueless on flux. I've heard sawdust is good, but I don't have any. What else could I use?

Pencil shavings, pine pet bedding or dry wooden stick all work.

[45sixgun]

Thanks, Frank and Ickisrulz.

I picked up a little ladle for a couple bucks at the store and gave the casting another try this evening. I threw a little glob of beeswax on the melt for flux. Everything went like a dream and I got 30 bullets with my lbt mold. I'm happy.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9qOcN-Y--lg/T5dtg-9wMYI/AAAAAAAAaSQ/Zi6pfmya9Aw/s800/P1060672-002.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YX0g7UUb3_w/T5dtk00T5kI/AAAAAAAAaSY/hJ0Ufi9GuYA/s800/P1060666-002.JPG

[kenyerian]

congrats!!!

[Frank]

Bases look kind of rounded like you have to turn up heat or add tin. It will work, but the one benefit of an LBT mold is it's ability to make a good sharp and flat base.

[45sixgun]

This LBT mold has a slight bevel base. I do think I need to heat things up more though.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KnL3xoFlEfY/T5tN_80c7II/AAAAAAAAaS0/851a18bviTk/s800/P1060723-001.JPG

[Frank]

I see. That explains it. Those bullets look great! :drinks:

Did you read the book Jacketed Performance with Cast Bullets? :coffee:

[45sixgun]

Just to compare molds I cast some bullets this afternoon with the Lee mold. It went really well. I can't complain at all about the way the Lee mold performed right out of the box. The larger sprue holes made it a little easier for pouring, but it took more force for the sprue plate to shear the bases. The bullet designs seemed quite similar. The LBT has the crimp and lube grooves down lower so more bullet sticks out, creating more powder room if one desired that. The meplat diameter and ogive seemed exactly the same. There are probably more subtle differences that I don't know enough to discern.

Frank, I haven't read that book but I sure want to. I've read a lot about it online.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hXCEbf_9xRM/T5xyEus119I/AAAAAAAAaTI/kt_ssfQiCP8/s800/P1060755.JPG

[45sixgun]

Thanks, Frank. I must have either a different LBT mold or a different Lee mold. Here are my bullets.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QOOHjlH6IF0/T57YwaZwmnI/AAAAAAAAaTk/eoPV0umysas/s800/P1060798-001.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M5DmarkSmIE/T57YxevIi4I/AAAAAAAAaTs/XJGz6ZGsbhY/s800/P1060800-001.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oBPWLqgVYuc/T57Yxwf3nqI/AAAAAAAAaT0/kfObmpAxGkM/s800/P1060802-001.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T7UNeUWRuFw/T57Yy_aUndI/AAAAAAAAaT8/iQAUGZPrlb0/s800/P1060806-001.JPG

[MtGun44]

Mold is too cold. Can be metal too cool or casting too slow.
Newbies spend too much time fiddling and the mold cools.

Cast fast -- fill, cut, dump, fill, cut, dump, as fast as you can go
and do not stop to admire your work. Only slow down once they
start dropping perfectly. Then slow down to maintain mold temp.

Good choices for molds and designs.

Bill

[Frank]

That's an LFN. Mine's a WLN. Both of our LBT's are better than the Lee.