Is LEE customer service blowing smoke up my....

[paraord]

So I got this brand spanking new .530 roundball mould when I got my 1st .54 cal Renegade. I finally got around to casting with it and on the first few I noticed the sprue hole on the actual roundball looked off.

I look at the mould and the actual mould looks like it was tore. Now I am using pure lead as this is obviously for a front stuffer, and I couldnt have abused it in 3 casts. What gives?

I called Lee and the person I spoke to said they never heard of such a failure mode. I finally got around to emailing them and they are saying the "tangential cutoff holes, will deform as you use them"

If its normal it is what it is. Im surprised it would happen in 3 darn mould fills. Maybe if it were more towards a few hundred I would be less perturbed.

Here are a few pics.

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/paraord1911/530%20lee%20damage%201_zpse5gdopkl.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/paraord1911/media/530%20lee%20damage%201_zpse5gdopkl.jpg.html)

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/paraord1911/530%20lee%20damage%202_zpspgsyd6f3.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/paraord1911/media/530%20lee%20damage%202_zpspgsyd6f3.jpg.html)

[azrednek]

I've returned molds to Lee a few times and got a replacement with no questions asked. You'll be out the cost of postage but it beats dealing with the frustration. In your letter include an email address and you will probably receive a verbal response.

[John Boy]

The Lee Guarantee ... http://leeprecision.com/satisfaction-guaranteed.html

[MT Gianni]

I would be equally concerned about the burrs on the sprue plate gouging the mold. Return it.

[Taylor]

Send it back,I wouldn't be happy with that.

[JWT]

Poor quality control. Send it back.

[Smoke4320]

tangential cutoff holes... Horse Shiiitte
send it back

[kmrra]

I have a Lee mold I have to send back also , it was not finished , I wonder how this stuff gets by their QC dept

[melloairman]

So I got this brand spanking new .530 roundball mould when I got my 1st .54 cal Renegade. I finally got around to casting with it and on the first few I noticed the sprue hole on the actual roundball looked off.

I look at the mould and the actual mould looks like it was tore. Now I am using pure lead as this is obviously for a front stuffer, and I couldnt have abused it in 3 casts. What gives?

I called Lee and the person I spoke to said they never heard of such a failure mode. I finally got around to emailing them and they are saying the "tangential cutoff holes, will deform as you use them"

If its normal it is what it is. Im surprised it would happen in 3 darn mould fills. Maybe if it were more towards a few hundred I would be less perturbed.

Here are a few pics.

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/paraord1911/530%20lee%20damage%201_zpse5gdopkl.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/paraord1911/media/530%20lee%20damage%201_zpse5gdopkl.jpg.html)

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/paraord1911/530%20lee%20damage%202_zpspgsyd6f3.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/paraord1911/media/530%20lee%20damage%202_zpspgsyd6f3.jpg.html)
I have over 20 good Lee 2 cavity molds . But their new RB molds are cut so thin on the top to lower the height of the cut they are doing this . I went to a light weight conical so I would not have to pay the price the competitors want . Marvin

[tomme boy]

Dont send it to Lee, call the place you bought it from and have them replace it. Tell them to send a shipping label for the return. You already paid for it once. No need to pay again.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I would be equally concerned about the burrs on the sprue plate gouging the mold. Return it.
yeah, what does the bottom of the sprue plate feel like ?

[yondering]

I guess I have a different take - it looks to me like you messed up the mold, not Lee, by cutting the sprue with a cold mold. Those round ball molds are very delicate around the sprue hole and need to be run hot. If you keep the mold hot, you can cut sprues all day and not do that damage, but one cut on a cold mold will do that, every time.

Personally I would chalk that up as a lesson learned, and not blame Lee for it.

[Taterhead]

My new Lee 401-175-TC 2 hole mold had some rough finishing on the sprue plate that tore a little bit at the thin BB edge. Not quite as bad as what is shown in the photo. But one if the cavities is definitely a little out of round right at the edge of the base. I'm a new caster, and got that to cut my teeth. Had I noticed it at first it would have been easy to hone smooth. Obviously had a lot more to think about being my first couple casting sessions.

I've since picked up some nice molds from NOE and LBT in forty bore, so the Lee is going to get put on the shelf indefinitely.

[bosterr]

I use to shoot my 54 caliber flintlock so much I bought 3 2 cavity RB molds to keep up to demand. I also have a 50 caliber RB mold for my son' flintlock. They all look exactly the same as the OP's. I'd say the problem is because the cavity is so thin at that point the metal somewhat tears as the cavities are machined.

When I bought a new Lee mold, I would automatically remove the sprue plate and smooth it with 400 grit sandpaper on a piece of glass and never get the scratches caused by burrs around the sprue holes. The problem with that is, now the left hand thread of the sprue screw won't stay put and loosens during use. Then I would drill and tap for a set screw to keep the sprue screw tight. It's a pretty easy thing to do. Again, this is what I do before I use it for the first time.

[6bg6ga]

Don't they make a steel mold? Send it back get your money back and buy from a different company.

[bosterr]

Don't they make a steel mold? Send it back get your money back and buy from a different company.

I must speak up here to warn people about Saeco RB molds. I have a .54 and a .50 Saeco. Both have enormous sprue holes in the blocks, a full 1/4 inch or more in diameter. It's like shooting a wadcutter round ball!. And then try loading it with that big "meplat" perfectly straight with the muzzle. I wonder what it does in flight. Redding's response to my letter was, too bad, that's the way we make them. I still have both and don't use them, but I can't bring myself to sell them to some undeserving person.

[6bg6ga]

Its an easy process to remove the sprew from the ball.

[Bob in St. Louis]

I'm (very) new to casting, and managed to destroy TWO slug molds, both a one ounce and a 7/8 ounce.
I took full responsibility for what I called "a total lack of knowledge, ignorance, and abuse".
Basically, I threw myself at the mercy of the court.
They sent me two brand new molds at no charge. It cost me a few bucks shipping, they paid shipping back to me.

[NoAngel]

It helps to run that mold pretty warm. Be sure it is preheated real good before you start. The first few throws are the most difficult to cut and put the most pressure on those thin edges. If the mold was hot before you start, it would be less likely to do that.

[paraord]

Well I appreciate all the posts and PM's about this, I really do. To answer a few questions, I bought this 6-10 months ago and long since forgot where I got it. Going to the vendor I think wouldnt be fruitful. I know I could just send the mould back to lee and be out the shipping and get a replacement.

A few people sent me messages and I am agreeing with them, the mould just must have not been hot enough. That very small bit of material at the sprue hole is pretty delicate because of how it is designed to have as little sprue as possible.

Now again my biggest issue was the answer I was given, it happens, the next one is going to do that too, etc. There was no "could it have been this condition that caused this" or "this is known to happen when". I guess I am spoiled with customer service from RCBS. Maybe it was an off day for that CS rep. Could be I came off as a jerk. Who knows.

Now for the course of action I decided to take. In one of the messages it was suggested to just take a deburr tool and re-round out the holes and clean up any burrs. So thats just what I did. Will it work? Probably. It will be a little bit before I can update but I am hoping this coming week I will have time to give it a shot. Again thank you to everyone for the actual knowledge given, and not a matter of factly "yep thats a thing". I wasnt blaming Lee as much as I wanted to know truly was it normal, how did I do it, what could I do. And with all the response I have those answers. Live and learn. TO THE PICTURES!

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/paraord1911/Mobile%20Uploads/1230161518_zpsroj676yu.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/paraord1911/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1230161518_zpsroj676yu.jpg.html)

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/paraord1911/Mobile%20Uploads/1230161519_zpsv59c975y.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/paraord1911/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1230161519_zpsv59c975y.jpg.html)

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/paraord1911/Mobile%20Uploads/1230161519b_zpskfew0vex.jpg (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/paraord1911/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1230161519b_zpskfew0vex.jpg.html)

[Maven]

Excellent job, Andrew!

[Tackleberry41]

I bought a 575 cal RB mold from Lee, and it did the exact same thing. It lasted maybe 2 casts before the holes did the same thing. It holds the sprue plate high, get terrible sprues. Pure lead, hot enough, just the metal is to thin to hold up. I was planning to use them in a shotgun, so wasnt to concerned about how the sprue looks. But mostly just $23 bucks wasted.

And Im sure you would get the same run around we always get from Lee. Dies and tools they do fine, molds its ALWAYS user error. Casts undersized, your doing it wrong. Cast out of round, has to be something your doing. Alignment pins come loose, well what did you do to it. I just placed an order thru NOE, NEVER had an issue with one of their molds. So Lee is for stuff it wont matter or Im gonna modify. I just finished Leementing a 458 500gr Lee mold, for the 2nd time. Out of the box, even the Lee 457 sizer didnt touch it, key holed. 1st leementing got it close, 2nd time around got it working.

[bearcove]

Read about Leementing. A Lee mold is like a lot of stuff now a days, Partially manufactured. You must complete the process BEFORE you use it.

[54bore]

I went through this same exact thing with a Lee buckshot mold, i lightly deburred it as you did and it works great! If you send the mold back you will get another one that looks/does the EXACT same thing, you fixed it, it looks good and im sure it will function great

[TreeKiller]

Some of the members in the BP Club tumble the RB after casting to remove the spure cut.

[MarkP]

I have some Lyman RB molds in the same dia as LEE RB molds; when comparing molds the centerline of the ball in the Lyman molds are lower as compared to the LEE molds. Balls from the Lyman mold will have a short cylindrical sprue raised from the surface of the sphere, where the LEE balls have a flat sprue.(tangential with the ball's surface)

[yondering]

Some of the members in the BP Club tumble the RB after casting to remove the spure cut.

If you tumble them in a plastic tub with a stick of pencil lead, they come out with a nice shiny black coating that reduces lead on your hands and makes them smoother. This works well for buckshot too.