Cleaning up an old mold

[fatelk]

I went down to the local gun show today. I really shouldn't have because I need to be getting rid of a ton of stuff instead of buying more, but I found what seemed to be a good deal on a couple of old molds.

I found an Hensley & Gibbs 10 cavity #50. It's missing the handles and is a little beat up on the outside, but the cavities look fine to me. It had bullets in it, and when I finally cut the sprues and got them out to measure, they look to be around .360".

I'm wondering what is the best way to clean it up. My justification to my wife for spending the money on it was how much I could likely resell it for. Of course I'll have to keep it at least a while and try it out real good first.:) We'll see how it goes with the casting; the darn thing weighs a ton.

Someone beat on the end of the sprue plate at one time, deforming it. My thought was to square it up with a file, and carefully dress the bottom of the plate where it has some dings also (the tops of the blocks are good, it's just the plate that's ugly). I'll make some nice wooden handles for it. Any other thoughts on what to do with an old unloved mold like this one?

Oh, the other mold I bought is a Lyman 429421 in much nicer shape complete with handles. The bullets that came in the cavities measured .432", perfect.:)

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm274/fatelk/HampG008_zps838f9d67.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm274/fatelk/HampG006_zps430c7d99.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm274/fatelk/HampG007_zps277b4960.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm274/fatelk/HampG003_zpsb96bd318.jpg

[Janoosh]

Old pool cues are great handle material. Look for the old hardwood butts, but maybe the cheap Raminwood, Might work.

[gcsteve]

Unloved is the right term. I can't imagine treating a mold so badly that the bottom of the sprue plate would get so dinged up. Someone had no regard for it.

How are the tops of the mold blocks? Those dings on the sprue plate may have galled them up pretty good. I'm sure the damage can be repaired, and with a little TLC you will have a fine mold.

[cbrick]

We'll see how it goes with the casting; the darn thing weighs a ton.

I'll bet these molds are the reason mold guides for bottom pours were invented. :mrgreen:



Any other thoughts on what to do with an old unloved mold like this one?

Sounds like it is loved now. Lucky mold to find a nice loving home.

I'd try the sand paper on a flat surface as Sgt suggested for the sprue plate. Sounds like you have a handle (pun intended :mrgreen:) on making handles.

Rick

[Silverboolit]

If you could find a machine shop with a surface grinder, would make short work of the sprue plate.

[frkelly74]

I have put self adhesive abrasive paper on my table saw top to true up things I want flat. You can push as hard as you want on it and it will remain flat and doesn't break. A poor mans surface grinder if you will.

[fatelk]

I worked on the plate a bit. It's still not real pretty, but I think it's usable. I dressed the top of the blocks too. I think they'll be fine.

Against my better judgement I went back today to see what kind of a package deal he would make me on the rest of what he had: two H&G 4 cavity molds (much better condition), a double cavity Cramer .44 HP mold, an RCBS DC (NIB), a couple old SC Lymans, and several handles. It wasn't a giveaway steal, but it was good enough that I know I can clean them up and tinker with them a while, make some good bullets, then sell most for enough to keep a couple. My wife is not real happy with me for spending as much as I did on all these molds (come to think of it probably more than all of my Lee molds put together) when I'm supposed to be getting rid of stuff to get ready for a move, but I figured you all would understand.:)

It's funny, I started with Lee cheapo molds that seemed plenty good enough. Lately I've really been appreciating the old-school classic molds a lot more. I'm looking forward to trying out these H&G molds to see what they will do. The 10cavity is a #50, and the two 4 cavities are #130 and 107B. There's a nice old Ideal SC 429244 that I want to try out with gas checks in my 1894.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm274/fatelk/HampG001_zps4b2704f7.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm274/fatelk/HampG002_zps3692214b.jpg

[BoolitSchuuter]

..... There's a nice old Ideal SC 429244 that I want to try out with gas checks in my 1894....

I got that same mould off of Fleece bay some time back. I think you'll like the boolits it'll cast. Can't wait to try'em myself in a Rossi '92.

[Olevern]

Even with a mold guide I wouldn't want to throw that thing around for an extended casting session. That mold, while a beautiful thing when it came off the production line, is definately made for someone waay younger than this old coot!

[fatelk]

I tried out some of the molds a week or so ago, and the bullets look good. I'm right in the middle of packing for a move but snapped a photo of the boolits before packing all my casting gear.

No, I haven't tried out the monstrosity 10 cavity mold yet. I haven't made any handles for it yet and don't have a hotplate to heat it up.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm274/fatelk/1-10-13001_zps6b61a4e2.jpg