My Handled Molds!

[seagiant]

Hi,
Was putting handles on my latest 4-cav. MiHec and thought I would take a pic of the Family with Handles so to speak!

[runfiverun]

you must hit all your molds with a stick.

[seagiant]

Hi,
Who me???

[Artful]

Hmm, is someone missing - I count 7 - that's odd - should be even number of handles, right
- one cooling getting ready to be dumped and on empty on the way to be filled so they go as pairs with similar sized boolits together
- you must need to buy another handle and or mold set to get evened up.

[seagiant]

Hmm, is someone missing - I count 7 - that's odd - should be even number of handles, right
- one cooling getting ready to be dumped and on empty on the way to be filled so they go as pairs with similar sized boolits together
- you must need to buy another handle and or mold set to get evened up.

Hi,
I just bought 3 pair of LEE handles from Midway. They were on sale for like $11.50 or so. Should of got 4 I guess! I now have a handle for all of my NOE and MiHec molds. Need to get a lidded plastic box to store them in. The nice thing about aluminum and brass molds is you don't have to worry about RUST! That's a big deal in Florida!

[41 mag fan]

you must hit all your molds with a stick.

Now that aint nice...insinuating someone beats their kids with a stick!!

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

you must hit all your molds with a stick.

OK, I'll bite, what prompted that comment? How could you tell?

[seagiant]

Hi,
I think by the way I have the mold in the handles, so I have room to swing! Also I am left handed!

[runfiverun]

yep with the handles facing away from the sprue plate it's a dead give away.
i have tried to whack open a mold with the cutter handle facing the other way,and quickly learned to flip them around to get a better angle while i held the mold against the bench.

if you have them towards the handles you bounce the sprue open and leave a nib on the boolit [then you have to reclose the plate and cut them again]
flipping them around gives you a better chance of a straight cut.

that, and this ain't seagiant's first post i have read. :lol:

[seagiant]

Hi,
I guess if you are a "Master Caster" you set the sprue plate towards you and open with a gloved hand! I tried that but never warmed up to it. In my younger days I was a framing carpenter and then blacksmithed as a hobby. All that to say I'm pretty comfy smacking something,but try to go as easy as possible with my molds!

I just started noticing that I had unconsciously rotated and or out right bought a few NOE and MiHec molds for various reasons!!!:-D

[runfiverun]

i finally worked my way up to opening them with my thumb. :lol:

not sayin i don't have a couple of sticks of hickory with some duct tape wrapped around them on the bench.
and i have a ladle or two in the mold drawer too.

[dragon813gt]

I open mine by hand and have the handles mounted the same way. I don't get what I'm doing wrong?

[runfiverun]

nothing if it works for you.

when i open a 4 cav by hand i can use the handles as leverage to make them open easier for me.
kinda like opening a jar.
the sprue falls into my palm, and i can just slide it right back into the pot.
when i open a 2 cavity i use my thumb to push it open, and the cutter being right there makes it easier for me to do that.

[warf73]

Dang it now I have to look at molds and see which way I've got my handles lol I use gloved hand on all my molds except the Lee 6 banger.

[BruceB]

I'm also a left-hander, and I set my moulds up the same way as in Post #1....

AND, I use a hardwood hammer handle or light plastic mallet to cut the sprues....

AND, in casting upwards of 1/2 million bullets, I have yet to damage a mould with this technique.

[seagiant]

I'm also a left-hander, and I set my moulds up the same way as in Post #1....

AND, I use a hardwood hammer handle or light plastic mallet to cut the sprues....

AND, in casting upwards of 1/2 million bullets, I have yet to damage a mould with this technique.
Hi,
Right on!!!

[armexman]

Darn, now you guys are making me think I am left-handed! I started opening molds with left hand and have all the sprue plates set-up for hand cutting.
I found that with a bad right wrist, force can only be applied with left hand; to the point I find myself also using the left to shoot even the 41 and 44's with.
I would post a picture of my molds but I don't believe we have enough bandwidth!;)

[mold maker]

I used to pound the sprue plate open, but that was before I learned, to use a gloved hand. Youthful inexperience was replaced with the first damaged mold
My first LEE 6 cav mold gave me a hint that my change was correct, and I've been doing it that way for well over fourty years.
Of course, whatever floats you boat, is right for you.

[MT Gianni]

I am another thumb opener though I use a pin off of a utility crossarm to get things started til its warm enough.