Lee 6-Cavity Mold Screw Question

[G. Freeman]

Hello Folks,

Started casting again last night after 1 1/2 year hiatus. I was using a LEE 9mm, 6 cav mold.

When inspecting the mold this am, I could barely remove 1 of the screws that attach the handles to the mold.

The Lee website calls this MNT SCREW/ZINC
https://leeprecision.com/mount-screw-zinc-plt.html

https://i.postimg.cc/t4cm50B0/MNT-Screw.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I think when I installed the handles last night before casting, there were some aluminum shavings on the threads on the mold. As the mold got hot, these shavings bonded into the screws. I am unable to rescrew them in because they may damage the threads on the mold. Tried cleaning the screws but not able to remove the bonded aluminum.

Would you know the thread pitch for this screw? Just want to buy a threading die to clean up the screw and a tap to clean out the threads in the mold.

Thanks in advance!

[Winger Ed.]

Some Lee molds have a left hand threaded screw for the sprue plate..
The Mold will be marked with a 'L' on it.

When the threads get trashed for whatever reason, it's common to just drill it out to a slightly bigger size and tap it.
Also, use lots of cutting oil or they'll trash out as you try to fix it.

[Dusty Bannister]

The mold block handle screws are not left hand threaded. If one is stuck, try removing the other and get the measurement. My suggestion is to just buy another set of handles rather than end up stripping the threads trying to swap molds back and forth on only one set of handles.

Since you have the screw out, take it with you to the hardware and check their gauges. Or, lube the threaded hole with light oil and try to gently work out the loose pieces with a very worn out plastic 22 brush. Do not get too aggressive with the brush because the bristles will wedge and try to remain in the hole.

If you really foul things up and damage the threads beyond use, get the helicoil thread repair kit.

[gwpercle]

My Dad gave me some advice a long time ago ... if something doesn't want to unscrew ...
... just leave it alone ... don't force the issue .

Do you really need to take the handles off ... it might be cheaper , easier and faster to buy another set of handles if you need them for some other set of mould blocks .

My advice is let the hanedles live on this mould ... and be careful with the next set .
Gary