New mold and I'm not very happy/What would you do

[BACKTOSHOOTING]

Just got a brand new old style Lee TL358-158SWC DC yesterday and cast about 300 boolits today and im very disapointed in the way the mold works functionaly and in finished product.

Cleaned it thoughly with comet and a tooth brush and cast 50 or so and then let it cool down and it will not close properly, the halves do not align easyly and you have to tap the spru plate closed to get it to seal 9 out of 10 times, when its open and i close it the spru plate will hit the right side of the mold and not close some times.
Also the bullets measure out of round at .358x.360 on most of the 300 that i cast,

I calling Lee on monday and see what they will do for me.

So I called Lee today and talked to John and he told me to lube the alighnment pins, V blocks and spru bolt with bees wax lube formula and to smoke it to help season the mold.
Did all the recomendations and low & behold it now works GREAT !!!!!

Like all my other Lee molds had to cast it hot 725, to get good boolits out but i'm very satisfied now.

[runfiverun]

they'll have you send it back for another.

[MtGun44]

Probably need some BullPlate lube on the alignment features on that mold, too.

Bill

[BACKTOSHOOTING]

Its on there

[bucklind2]

I guess they will replace it. I have had good results when I called them, even when I messed up they sent me a replacement part n/c.

[MtGun44]

OK, if it is lubed, then sounds like a Lee problem, see what they do.

Bill

[myg30]

I think their quality control is not as good on the 2 cav's, as it is on the 6 bangers. Im sure they will do you right.

Mike

[SeabeeMan]

Agreed with all the others. I had a bad 309-150 I had bought used and they took care of it when I figure out it was bad. I was very clear that it was used and had just expected some suggestions but they gave me a new one.

[Willbird]

One thing comes to mind, and maybe you already did so, but make sure the handles are not binding somehow and not allowing enough freedom for the mold halves to align to each other ??

[BACKTOSHOOTING]

One thing comes to mind, and maybe you already did so, but make sure the handles are not binding somehow and not allowing enough freedom for the mold halves to align to each other ??This was my first thought and checked to see if they were free in movement and all was well there.
It seems to be hitting the allinment roll pins unevenly and not allowing them to close properly

[Forrest r]

It happens, lee will make it right for you.

[427smith]

I bought a new 6 cav .452 Lee mold in oct. for my 45 colts. boolits we're under sized at .451. Tried every trick I new. After many emails with Andy Lee I sent the mold to him. He told me it was in tolerance and offered to send me a new one for half price.

[theperfessor]

I set the bottom of my Lee molds down on a board as I close them to help line up pins, otherwise you just bang the pins into the other half and wear your mold out quicker.

[stinjie]

Thats the same issue I have with the same mold,but not the TL.I cast until I get aggrivated,then,call it a day.My 45 colt and 9mm lee molds don't have that problem.

[leadman]

I close the 2 cavity molds the same as theperfessor. Really helps align the mold halves so they line up. Do this with the sprue plate open.

[BACKTOSHOOTING]

Probably need some BullPlate lube on the alignment features on that mold, too.

Bill

This is exactly what John at Lee told me,

You were BOTH right, Thanks Steve

[DLCTEX]

I use a trick suggested by a member when closing a Lee two cav. Tip the mould up to vertical or tipped slightly back as you close. Works for me.

[Harter66]

I dry graphite all the pins and wedges in mine. Of those in service only 1 requires the set/tip/bump to close aka the Lee shuffle.