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kcofohio
06-15-2021, 10:10 PM
I have searched to find what is a common material,
and what is an acceptable material for sprue plates.
I have some mold blanks made up, and am working on
sprue plates. I read one company state that they use
1018 steel. Right now I'm using A-2 that is 5/32" thick.
There is some preharden 4140. But it's 5/16" thick, and
would rather not have to mill that down if I don't have to.

Any help or direction would be appreciated.
Mk42gunner
06-15-2021, 10:22 PM
To me, a hobbyist, 1018 is a basic mild steel. I think a sprueplate could be made from 1/8th inch mild steel from your local hardware store.

A piece of 1¼"x3' is probably less than ten dollars and would make a lot of sprueplates. You don't really need it to be hardened, the heat would ruin any fancy heat treating on hardenable steel anyway.

Robert
Mal Paso
06-15-2021, 11:28 PM
Lyman and Arsenal appear to be 3/16" ground flat on the bottom side, MP and BC looks like 8mm or 1/4" to start. Arsenal you can see Mill Marks the others, faint finishing arcs. All have been machined on the block side. I think heavy steel sprue plates help base fillout.
jsizemore
06-16-2021, 02:48 AM
^^^^this^^^^
Lloyd Smale
06-16-2021, 04:37 AM
best spruce plates are the thick steel ones on a ballistic cast (H&G) mold. Mihec uses good ones on his molds too. Worse ones are the stamped steel lbt molds. HEAVY STEEL IS THE WAY TO GO. the weight allows you to not have to run the plate so tight to the mold and that helps prevent gouging and scratching your mold. Plus its a bigger heat sink and doesnt over heat as fast
country gent
06-16-2021, 11:44 AM
I use flat o-1 gauge stock for sprue plates. I dont normally harden it up but its ground flat and also dosnt warp as bad as some others when machining and thru use. I normally use 1/4" for the thickness better heat retention and bigger sprue.
Conditor22
06-16-2021, 02:15 PM
Lee uses aluminum on its 6 cavity molds. These occasionally warp a little but are easy to get back to flat with a leather mallet.
kcofohio
06-19-2021, 12:44 PM
Thanks for the responses. I wasn't sure if hardened steel was used.

Wow, Conditor22, I wouldn't have thought that aluminum would be used.

I still need to swing into Lowes or somewhere to see what
kind of wavy washers they carry.
zarrinvz24
06-19-2021, 12:59 PM
McMaster carr for the win!
kcofohio
06-21-2021, 11:34 PM
McMaster carr for the win!

I found this page.

https://www.mcmaster.com/standard-washers/leveling-and-wave-washers/single-wave-washers-7/