Ideal 457126 500 Mould Questions

[Gazz]

I recently acquired an Ideal mould as stated in the title of the thread. It was bought from an online auction with not the best pictures but when I got it, I found that it will cast a boolit without lubrication grooves. I wonder if it was made that way or was it user modified as the interior does have tooling marks? I also didn't notice before bidding that it is missing the sprue plate so I'll have to make or find one. Fortunately it was only $15 total and is the kind with integral handles. I'm thinking that it should work fine with PC. Any comments?

[Minerat]

Check with Red River Rick he makes sprue plates he might be able to help you. PM him or here is a link to his VS page

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?138-KAL-Tool-amp-Die

[mehavey]

http://ps-2.kev009.com/ohland/Cast_Bullet/Ideal-Lyman_Molds/Ideal-Lyman_Mold_Descriptions.html#456_457_45_Calibre
It has no grease grooves?

[Gazz]

Thanks for that info! Based on those pictures, it has most likely been modified by a former owner as there are no grease grooves. It might not even be .457 anymore for all I know now. I can measure it with pin gauges tomorrow and take some pictures.

[Gazz]

Sadly, the mould has been drilled out to about .490". Not much good to me now unless I continue the opening up to a usable .50 caliber mould. I do have a 50-70 trapdoor that I suppose it could be used for.

[mehavey]

Dual-wrap onion-skin Paper-Patch to 50 caliber should be straightforward.

[Gazz]

Hadn't thought of that! I'll have to read up on it and thanks for the idea. I had been thinking about how I would hold it in the lathe to bore it out and hadn't come up with anything simple. Perhaps paper patching would be easier.

[BLAHUT]

Pin gauge in tail stock chuck to line up, zero and index? PC could help with no grease grove's ?

[Gazz]

The issue I was having was how to hold it. The handle tangs are integral with the blocks so the 4th jaw would be a problem. I kept thinking a fixture on the face plate but it seems like a lot of work when there is already a lifetime of projects to do!
When I first saw it and realized there were no grooves and before I knew how big it was, I had the same thought about pc - grooves would not be needed.

[BLAHUT]

The issue I was having was how to hold it. The handle tangs are integral with the blocks so the 4th jaw would be a problem. I kept thinking a fixture on the face plate but it seems like a lot of work when there is already a lifetime of projects to do!
When I first saw it and realized there were no grooves and before I knew how big it was, I had the same thought about pc - grooves would not be needed.

May not need the fourth jaw when only removing .022 from the mold body ???
.501 - .457 = .044 by 1/2 = .022 tp remove ?? .490 - .457 = .033 by 1/2 = .0165 to remove ???

[mehavey]

I get 0.010 extra from Paper Patch
See: https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?388580-45-120-Case-Cracks-Separation&p=4735544&viewfull=1#post4735544

If you haven't PP'd before, get 100% cotton rag, Onionskin if possible.
(Soft lead)