$100.00 Dollar Mold Mistake

[sfcairborne]

Well made a very big mistake tonight, it's all my fault, but lesson learned. Decided to cast up some 45/70 with a brand new NOE mold. The mold had been cleaned and broke in just like Al said to do, and just like I've done for my other 6 NOE molds. so I brought the mold up to temp letting it heat up on the Saeco while the lead was melting, started casting and had wrinkled bullets so warmed the lead up to 675 let the mold to heat up a little and bang started pouring good bullets. But I got caught up in the casting that I didn't let the mold cool enough after a set number of pours, granted I was not getting any frosted bullets, then it happened Mold to hot the front alignment pin sunk into the mold on a bullet dump, didn't catch it closed the sprue plate and slightly gouged the top of the mold. Now I've got a 100.00 mistake (my own). Really sucks. I even bought new handles for this mold, and still not ruling out that they may be misaligned as well. lesson learned

[Beagle333]

'Never seen that happen. And I cast quite a bit hotter than 675. And fast too. Maybe I been lucky, but I have never had an alignment pin move on any mold. My condolences.... maybe it can be repaired.

[JSnover]

It might fairly simple to clean it up. Got pics?

[shoot-n-lead]

It might fairly simple to clean it up. Got pics?

This is true...

Just last week, I straightened out one that I bought that had been done like this. It only took 5 minutes to put it in perfect working order...and no real evidence that it ever happened. No big deal...just depends on how bad.

Remember, these aren't finely tuned instruments that we are using...pretty close, will work well enough for most of what we do with these things.

[sfcairborne]

yep can't explain it either, I had only gotten 64 bullets from her then pow. I tried to drift it back into place while the mold was hot but the pin wouldn't move and I didn't want to do any more damage than had already been done. I'm going to call AL on Monday let him know what happened and see if there is any thing that can be done to save it, or if I just need to buy another mold, guess now I need to wait on a four banger.

[osteodoc08]

I'm pretty sure Al Nelson will make it right. Give him a call.

[sfcairborne]

I'm going to. But this is my mistake, not his. Just gonna see if she can be fixed, and if he can I think I'm going to see if he will machine out the gas check on the other one, to give me to FB. Just sucks

[sfcairborne]

I can text a pic if someone can load on here for me.

[shoot-n-lead]

pm coming

[OptimusPanda]

I've only had a pin walk out on one mold. It was a lee 2 cavity (which likely got way too hot anyway). That said, I have 2 noe and several lee molds that I cast 750 degree alloy with and they have yet to give me any trouble. Well 750 is what the thermometer says. Every few pours I cool them on a damp sponge.

[shoot-n-lead]

I will have to say, that I have not had one that walked that much...I would probably text that pic to AL and follow his recommendation on it. I would almost wonder if there was some issue with the alum around that pin...JMO

Now, this is just me, I could fix that mold...but I am suggesting that you defer to Al...unless you are game to give it a try.

169929

[sfcairborne]

I normally let them cool very ten pours or so, unless I'm running my hollow point molds, this is the first NOE I've had this happen too. My Saeco 24 runs its temps right at or about 20 25 degrees cooler than the dial so I set it at 700, put my thermometer in and the lead said 675-680. That's normally where I cast at and have had no problems. I run my HP's a little hotter. So I probably let the mold get to hot while warming up.

[shoot-n-lead]

I have a couple of alum molds that really like it hot...and I have cast some pretty long sessions with them, not allowed a lot of time for cooling and I have never experienced that.

[birddog]

i got a Lee mold that was a group buy off the site for the 480ruger 400gr keith style and it was casting out of round, so after looking trhings over there was a pin that had dropped back some. tweaked it some and all is well.
Charlie

[shoot-n-lead]

i got a Lee mold that was a group buy off the site for the 480ruger 400gr keith style and it was casting out of round, so after looking trhings over there was a pin that had dropped back some. tweaked it some and all is well.
Charlie

Yeah, I agree, this mold can be fixed.

[Mk42gunner]

I am actually surprised there isn't more alignment pin drifting when using aluminum molds and steel pins, due to the different expansion ratios involved. With that written, I have only had problems with one Lee six cavity mold.

Robert

[runfiverun]

AL will fix it no problem.
he put it in there the first time.
what happens is that the steel insert and the aluminum mold have different expansion rates and sometimes the insert doesn't swell up as quick.
we went through this with the HM-2 molds in the testing process, and made some changes because of it.
it's an easy repair.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

It would be most easily fixed if you have an accurately moulded bullet. Drive out the alignment pins, and use the bullet as the sole means of aligning the mould halves. If you like you could use a light film of wax to stick the whole thing together. Then ream the alignment pin holes to fit a larger size of drill rod. If I am right in thinking the top surface of the mould is gouge marked, you can very likely put it right by rubbing on successive grades of abrasive paper, starting with very coarse, held on a flat surface. Removal of metal which isn't enough to prevent proper seating of a gas check might make a lot of difference.

[SwedeNelson]

sfcairborne

Send it back to me
Will fix or replace it - the pins should not move.
NOE Bullet Moulds
1030 S 350 E
Provo, UT 84606

Bullet maker, maker
Swede Nelson

[Beagle333]

.........the pins should not move.
Bullet maker, maker
Swede Nelson

That's what I'm saying.

And lookit the customer service from these folks! 'Must be why I got a whole shelf of stuff with their name on it. http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/images/smilies/new/rock.gifhttp://smileygenerator.us/smileytags/links/smiley_tag.0206412001465658483.gif (http://smileygenerator.us)

[lablover]

Now this is what Customer Service is all about!!!!!! KUDOS

and on that note..My new Kieth mold should be here today...wooohooooo




sfcairborne

Send it back to me
Will fix or replace it - the pins should not move.
NOE Bullet Moulds
1030 S 350 E
Provo, UT 84606

Bullet maker, maker
Swede Nelson

[imashooter2]

I'm going to. But this is my mistake, not his. Just gonna see if she can be fixed, and if he can I think I'm going to see if he will machine out the gas check on the other one, to give me to FB. Just sucks

An alignment pin that pushes into the blocks is not your mistake.

ETA: I should have read the whole thread before replying. I see now the mold maker is on top of it. Customer service as it should be.

[kiwi]

I have an NOE 316299 that has cast a truck load of boolits it's rear alignment pin works it's way out when casting for a long time it's easy to push back in and lube it
and it's good to go, has done no damage to the alignment hole I think in my case it is not lubing enough that has caused it.

[melloairman]

Now this is what Customer Service is all about!!!!!! KUDOS

and on that note..My new Kieth mold should be here today...wooohooooo
This service sure beats the service I received form a main competitor of NOE on this forum .Marvin

[762sultan]

Swedes response is why I have 16 NOE moulds on my casting bench. I feel confidant that if a problem of any kind shows up that I can expect Swede to step forward with a fix for it. Thanks Swede for all you do for us bullet casters.

[sfcairborne]

Gonna call Al and talk to him then send the mold into him.

[VHoward]

I had one mold I got from NOE that one cavity would not release the bullet without undue effort. The other cavities released the bullets as soon as I opened the mold, but that one that stuck, the bullet would have to be physically removed. I contacted Swede and he had me return the mold to be fixed. Then when I got it back, it worked like it should. Must have had a burr that I couldn't see. There was no charge for the repair or shipping back to me. I wouldn't mind if Swede decided to make molds for Master Casters.

[osteodoc08]

sfcairborne

Send it back to me
Will fix or replace it - the pins should not move.
NOE Bullet Moulds
1030 S 350 E
Provo, UT 84606

Bullet maker, maker
Swede Nelson


This is exactly why the last dozen or so molds I've bought are from this man. I've spoken to him several times, and while extremely busy, has always made time for me and my questions.

Speaking of, I havent bought one in a while......time to go and check things out.

[DerekP Houston]

That's what I'm saying.

And lookit the customer service from these folks! 'Must be why I got a whole shelf of stuff with their name on it. http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/images/smilies/new/rock.gifhttp://smileygenerator.us/smileytags/links/smiley_tag.0206412001465658483.gif (http://smileygenerator.us)

Indeed, this is why I was trying to see if their expander plug would work rather than ordering via lee ;). The customer service from these custom mold makers is pretty stellar for the product they are turning out.

[TXGunNut]

Send it back to me
Will fix or replace it - the pins should not move.
NOE Bullet Moulds
1030 S 350 E
Provo, UT 84606

Bullet maker, maker
Swede Nelson

Customer service like this is why I have more than a few NOE moulds and promote them every chance I get. Biggest problem I have is finding room for them. Problem is getting worse, he sent me another today. :-)

[DerekP Houston]

Mr gunnut, I have plenty of room on my bench for them if you need space ;).

[TXGunNut]

Mr gunnut, I have plenty of room on my bench for them if you need space ;).

Thanks for the generous offer! Forgot to mention another problem, sometimes I "find" a mould that I haven't gotten to cast with. Very aggravating. :kidding:

[35 shooter]

NOE is obviously very intent on customer satisfaction. I buy AL's moulds with total confidence.

Waiting on a new inventory buy to go active right now on a 360230 mould and i know it will be worth the wait.
Break an NOE mould in and it rains perfect boolits...anything wrong and AL fixes it, what more can one ask?

[slide]

While Al has it have him drill for a thermometer. He sells them and it will let you drop better bullets from your mold. You can do it yourself,I have drilled all of mine. Really makes a difference when you know what temp that mold runs best at.

[tygar]

Knock on wood - never had that problem & have a bunch of Als molds. All work super! As you see; he will fix it!

[BigMagShooter]

NOE's expander plugs work GREAT!

[sfcairborne]

Got the mold back from Al today. We just needed to push the alignment pin back in, cleaned up the surface and back to me.
Awesome service. Now to do some casting. This little mold is going to eat through my stash of lead👍🏻

[TXGunNut]

Don't forget to follow Al's break-in instructions. I scrub them with hot soapy water (twice) and heat-cycle the mould four times. One mould I had to start over with scrubbing and heat cycling after a couple of difficult casting sessions. Not sure what happened there but I'm almost sure it was operator error. Settled right down after that, can't even recall which one it was.

[DerekP Houston]

Don't forget to follow Al's break-in instructions. I scrub them with hot soapy water (twice) and heat-cycle the mould four times. One mould I had to start over with scrubbing and heat cycling after a couple of difficult casting sessions. Not sure what happened there but I'm almost sure it was operator error. Settled right down after that, can't even recall which one it was.

Oh erm.....guilty here. I scrub em real good with soapy water but I then just pre-heat on the hotplate and start casting. Hasn't seemed to affect anything on my mp/noe molds I've purchased new. Guess I should re-read the instructions occasionally ;).

[TXGunNut]

Oh erm.....guilty here. I scrub em real good with soapy water but I then just pre-heat on the hotplate and start casting. Hasn't seemed to affect anything on my mp/noe molds I've purchased new. Guess I should re-read the instructions occasionally ;).

I've read the heat-cycling regimen helps oxidize the mould cavities. I don't understand how or why it works but I do know that once I started using a hot plate for heat-cycling aluminum mould break-in has gotten a lot easier.