Bullet Base fill out

[Ben]

This morning, I got out an older mold.
It is a Lee 8 mm Karbiner .

I've had it about 10 yrs.

The bullet bases did not want to fill out well.
I keep cleaning the mold, no change.

I finally took a jeweler's file and " broke the edge" of the tops of the mold blocks.

Made all the difference in the world.

If you choose to do this with one of your molds, DO NOT TAKE OFF TOO MUCH METAL, it will cause the mold to " fin ". Go slow.

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/004_zpsb46866bc.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/004_zpsb46866bc.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/001_zps47daa585.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/001_zps47daa585.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/005_zpsd3696700.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/005_zpsd3696700.jpg.html)

[725]

Thanks, Ben. That's a good solution.

[Ben]

725,

If you have molds that are stubborn about producing bullet bases with good fill out, this technique could very well be the answer to your problems.

I shoot a lot of .30 cal. plain base bullets, if the bullet base isn't perfect, you can forget it.

This technique has been very useful for me.

Thanks,
Ben

[Moonie]

Wow, mine is very different than this mold but mine is only a couple of years old and a DC.

[fredj338]

I have done this myself on several molds that had finicky base fill out, works like magic. You need even less bevel than you show to get positive results.

[DeanWinchester]

Thanks Ben. Great tip and YES, it works. I've done that and it worked great!

[Ben]

Just don't overdo it and you'll be a VERY happy camper.

Ben

[DeanWinchester]

Just don't overdo it and you'll be a VERY happy camper.

Ben

Yep. I used a 12" long angle lathe bastard (Its what I had laying around) and literally used three fingers and the weight of the file. One pass per half. Worked perfect for a mold that only moments before REFUSED to cast a square base

[Bullshop]

Assuming adequate mold and alloy temp there are only three reasons a mold will not fill well and they are venting, venting, and venting.
I didn't say contamination because even a contaminated mold can fill well if the venting is adequate to vent the increased volume of gas caused by the heated contaminant. A well and properly vented mold is a pleasure to use. An improved venting system not only includes the hair fine horizontal lines but also the vertical troughs for the smaller horizontal lines to vent into. This type of venting allows not only a free flow of the air in the mold but also of any expanding gases caused by some type of contaminant.

[claudesapp]

I found that sprue plates that are too tight keep my bases from filling.

[DeanWinchester]

I found that sprue plates that are too tight keep my bases from filling.

Thats basically the same thing going on here. The base can't vent. I've run a file across one mold in particular that I used to have to run the spru plate really loose. Too loose for my liking. Doing as Ben demonstrated allowed me to tighten it up.

[1Shirt]

Will try that Ben, have that same mold, and same problem. Good advice! Thanks,
1Shirt!