GP100man
12-23-2012, 04:52 PM
Me & beagle have been conversing on the differences & whys of the 358156 & the 357446.
I`d purchased a 156 mold & had it deshanked some time back but never tried it out until yesterday .It was kinda finiky & troublesome to get good square fillout on the front band . Probably had 50% that were sharp.
So I started thinking of the details an old caster talked `bout but did`nt sink in until yesterday or rather last nite.
First level the mold or at least your mold guide so the mold is`nt cocked.
Second pay attention to rate of flow & adjust to accordingly, try different rates.
Usually smaller molds like slower rates, larger faster.
Third consistent temp is a must .
Fourth clean alloy is a must .
& here`s #5 never move the mold when the alloy is still in a molten stage . It`ll pull metal from the sides instead of the puddle.
Now fellow casters I`ve cast many times with many molds & have`nt ran across 1 exactly like this 1 would act. So I went over the details & fired the Mag20 back up got everything hot & PRESTO !!! rejects were practically non existant !!!!
Mold: Lyman 358156 DC (manufacture date 12-08)
Alloy: Isotope container to mixer valve 2 to 1
Temp: 710f , My Mag 20 holds the temp + - bout 7f
Rate of flow : slow to the way "I" think , 1.5 seconds to fill mold & a thick sprue plate .
Almost forgot factory drive band is 358 on the money , Buckshots band is 360, the crimpin bands come in at 356.
http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_1216.jpg
I`d purchased a 156 mold & had it deshanked some time back but never tried it out until yesterday .It was kinda finiky & troublesome to get good square fillout on the front band . Probably had 50% that were sharp.
So I started thinking of the details an old caster talked `bout but did`nt sink in until yesterday or rather last nite.
First level the mold or at least your mold guide so the mold is`nt cocked.
Second pay attention to rate of flow & adjust to accordingly, try different rates.
Usually smaller molds like slower rates, larger faster.
Third consistent temp is a must .
Fourth clean alloy is a must .
& here`s #5 never move the mold when the alloy is still in a molten stage . It`ll pull metal from the sides instead of the puddle.
Now fellow casters I`ve cast many times with many molds & have`nt ran across 1 exactly like this 1 would act. So I went over the details & fired the Mag20 back up got everything hot & PRESTO !!! rejects were practically non existant !!!!
Mold: Lyman 358156 DC (manufacture date 12-08)
Alloy: Isotope container to mixer valve 2 to 1
Temp: 710f , My Mag 20 holds the temp + - bout 7f
Rate of flow : slow to the way "I" think , 1.5 seconds to fill mold & a thick sprue plate .
Almost forgot factory drive band is 358 on the money , Buckshots band is 360, the crimpin bands come in at 356.
http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_1216.jpg