Dixie Mold - What type? - How to Sever Thy Sprue?

[Dutchman]

Greeting earthlings

I procured this magnificant Dixie Gun Works mold some time back in as-new condition for the paltry sum of $20. As I recall from the late 60s Dixie catalog Turner Kirkland said he had the cherries for these molds cut from original Civil War carbine bullets (my memory being what it now is....)....

The mold is marked .515 and casts a perfectly fine boolit though it does frost rather quickly so I usually rotate this mold with others to regulate the mold temp.

What's the most prudent method of cutting the sprue cleanly? These should work ok in my 12,7mm Swedish rolling block... for experimenting and cheap thrills.

http://images20.fotki.com/v502/photos/4/28344/9430776/DSCF3968d-vi.jpg

http://images54.fotki.com/v514/photos/4/28344/9430776/DSCF3972d-vi.jpg

http://images61.fotki.com/v666/photos/4/28344/9430776/DSCF3973d-vi.jpg

http://images14.fotki.com/v380/photos/4/28344/9430776/DSCF3975d-vi.jpg

Mostly I'm presently breaking in this Lee GB 311407 for the mulitude of .30 and fat 30 rifles I load for....
Last night was the first pour for this mold. All but one cavity drop free.

http://images109.fotki.com/v157/photos/4/28344/9430776/DSCF3980d-vi.jpg

[Reg]

Going along with the quality of those molds, I would think to remove the sprue a samari sword at full swing would be about right.

[Dale53]

To answer the O.P., a pair of sidecutting pliers ground flat was most often used. They work pretty well, considering...

Dale53

[Buckshot]

...........Those (the Dixie mould) are really representative of an early type. Many were 'homegrown' and weren't intended for the owner to sit and cast up 20 lbs worth of alloy. You'd cast up 5-10 slugs and then you'd be set to go shoot dinner for the next month :-) As Dale mentioned, a set of side cutters would work, thereis a bit of cleanup with a knife. However the circumfrence of the slug is most important when it clears the muzzle and not a bit of sprue nub. Instead of sidecutters, if you can locate the cousin of sidecutters known as 'Flush Cut" pliers they'd work better. You'd still not have a clean smooth base, but there's be a lot less of a nub left.

As an aside, I don't know if Dixie still mentions it in their catalog but they used to say that they had handicapped folks making them. Or maybe it was handicapped folks casting boolits with them, Dixie then offered for sale?

.............Buckshot

[Dutchman]

As an aside, I don't know if Dixie still mentions it in their catalog but they used to say that they had handicapped folks making them. Or maybe it was handicapped folks casting boolits with them, Dixie then offered for sale?


Your memory is nearing mine in confidence level :).

The handicapped people were making paper-wrapped cartridges, blackpowder types, with various bullets. They weren't making these molds.

I have a nice farriers hoof nipper that seems pretty similar to what was mentioned for cutting these sprues. Doesn't do it clean...

I'm pretty sure these Dixie mold bullets won't be the ideal for the Swedish rolling block but since I have the mold and the Swedish rolling block it's a requirement (somewhere) that I at least give it a try. I'm sure you understand.

Dutch

[theperfessor]

Flush cut side cutting pliers as used in the electrical field to cut wires off flush with circuit boards will do an acceptable job. Spent less than $10 for a pair I use for my buckshot molds.

[.22-10-45]

Ah yes, those moulds bring back memories..mine was a .439 round ball..sprue shank was much smaller though.
Here is something interesting..the moulds sent out by the Sharps rifle company, had a set of cutters on front of mould..there was no sprue plate. How in the world did they get their accuracy reputation using these crude moulds? I never could reason, at that late date..(colt had sprue cutters on their very first moulds) why Sharps would cling to such an antiquated design?

[MtGun44]

Dykes. Also known as side cutters. Imperfect, but should be fine.

Bill

[mooman76]

I just got a cheap pair of side cutters and ground them flat.

[Mal Paso]

Dykes. Also known as side cutters. Imperfect, but should be fine.

Bill

Dikes- From Diagonal Cutters

I'm a Wire Nut not a Spelling Nut. Dad was a Ham/Electronics Engineer

[John Boy]

Instead of dikes - may want to consider a pair of flush cutting pliers that are angled at the cutting end ...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MXA2BQ/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=15470426859&hvpos=1o2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4013539621531001988&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B001MXA2BQ

[MtGun44]

OK - I stand corrected!

Bill

[mazo kid]

Gate cutter pliers, already flat for flush cutting..

[waksupi]

Somewhere around here, I have one of those that the top was milled flat, and a plate installed.

[Skunkworks]

A brainfart guys.
Is that mould intended for the Smith carbine?
So the, for the boolit, fat "sprue" stem fits in the brass "cartridge".

[Pb2au]

Ha Ha! I just resurrected my Dixie 454 round ball mold over the weekend.
Dutch I had the same question when I got it for Christmas a zillion years ago. I ended up as you and others have discovered using a pair of wire cutters.

[GP100man]

My question is which will be more FUN , casting the boolits or shooting the boolits ???

I bet it`ll be a hard decision !!!

I bet they`ll (the boolit) make fine low pressure fodder for the ole gal !

[BAGTIC]

On my RB bag moulds without a sprue cutter the easiest way is to twist off the sprue. Same technique used in casting lead fishing jigs, etc.