Lyman Sprue Plate Screws

[Chili]

Ok, so I snapped the sprue plate screws on several moulds. Where can I get replacements? Both Lyman and Midway only have the mould rebuild kits, but not the screws and washers as separate items. Am I screwd?

[andreadavide]

Are them screws an obscure and unobtainable thread and size or can be substituted?

[Chili]

That is another thing I am trying to find out.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

http://www.hollowpointmold.com/specialty-screws/

[Chili]

Thank you John B. I do believe that link will take care of things.

I mostly come here to read and learn. I had a question and 32 minutes after making the query it's answered. One of the many reasons why I like this site.

['74 sharps]

Ok, so I snapped the sprue plate screws on several moulds. Where can I get replacements? Both Lyman and Midway only have the mould rebuild kits, but not the screws and washers as separate items. Am I screwd?

$3(screw) + $6 (shipping) = $9. I'd go to the hardware store.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

They are not cheap, but order extra anyway. It's always good to have a few extra on hand.

[Chili]

They are not cheap, but order extra anyway. It's always good to have a few extra on hand.

That was my plan. I'll probably get 10 of em.

[Echo]

Hardware store screw plus a wave washer works for me...

[ohland]

Ok, so I snapped the sprue plate screws on several moulds.

Downer. I had to remove a hollow point pin retaining screw on a 257312, I used a Left Hand stub length, and it backed right out on slow speed. I used 5/64 drill to remove a 6-48 screw, should also work on the sprue screw....

[Chili]

Was that for a Lyman mould? If so, what size?

[Chili]

Thanks for tip!

[ohland]

Was that for a Lyman mould? If so, what size?

Well, it is a Lyman 257312. The drill bit was a 5/64. Looking at my KBC fold-out drill guide, the 6-48 uses a tap drill of #31 (.120) and a 5/64 is .0781, so unless you have a really stuck/frozen/rusted screw, the 5/64 will stay entirely within the screw minor diameter.

[John Boy]

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/mould-rebuild-kits.php

[Catshooter]

Going to the hardware store only works on the newer Lymans. They are 10x32. The older moulds (the ones with a slot head set screw that locks the sprue plate screw) are 10x36. There isn't a hardware store in America that'll have that one.

I can recommend the screws that Hollowpoint.com makes. Highly.

Also, why did they break? I could see one breaking, but several makes me think that you're tightening them too much. If the over-tightening is an attempt to solve a sprue plate not sitting flat enough then there are other issues involved.

The plate can be bent, there can be burrs either on it or the mould top, smeared lead on the mould top.

Welcome to the forum.


Cat

[Chili]

Yep, I over tightened two of them. The sprue plates are fine, them coming loose bothers me and over did it is all.

[Catshooter]

It happens.

You do know that there are set screws on the side of the mould to lock the sprue plate screw in place, correct?


Cat

[msp2640]

Cat - Thanks for the info as I read this post just out of interest, never having broken a screw to a Lyman mould. I like to store mould info away in my notebooks, never knew or thought to look up the thread sizes for the mould screws and now I have it for future reference - Thank you and to Chili - thanks for posting - Learn something new everyday I'm on this site. Bill in MA

[Catshooter]

You're welcome msp.


Cat