Which Cavity first Poll

[metricmonkeywrench]

There I was sittin at the drippy Lee 20lb pot casting some 358429’s to escape the Canadian smoke filled outdoors we have been having lately. While doing so as these things go I contemplated the meaning of life, the universe and everything which still seems to come out to 42 so I drifted onto other paths of brain scratching as the bullet pile grew which lead me to this question for the gang…

Which cavity do you fill first in a 2 cavity mould? And why if you want to elaborate on your reasoning?

To keep the orientation consistent for the poll/discussion on a standard 2 cavity mould using a pliers style handle, the far hole is the one farthest away from the handles and the near hole is closest to the handles (I’d add a pix but I ate all my crayons)

If I did it right the poll should be:
Far- Away from handles
Near- Closest to handles
Either- Whichever one lines up first gets the lead

3, 4 and 6+ Cav moulds and nut cracker handles are a different class/discussion and often need a different technique and are not germane to this brain scratching session though I expect “those” folks will add their 2c anyway

[justindad]

I alternate which one I fill first, because I have found it gives me more consistent fill out in all cavities (that’s right, I said “all” and not “both”). I do this for 2-holers and 5-holers.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I voted either, but my real answer is; it depends. Some molds work better when rotating. Some, it doesn’t seem to matter.

[porthos]

does this question have any imporntance at all????

[quack1]

I voted far. No real reason, just the way I've done it since I got my first double cavity mold.

[dondiego]

does this question have any imporntance at all????

Yes, about as much importance as any of them.

[Hick]

For some reason I fill the farther cavity first. Why? I think it lets me see what I am doing better as the first filled cavity has the first sprue puddle. Not a very good reason-- just habit

[Sam Sackett]

I fill the near cavity first. Guess it’s cause that way I am drawing the mold out away from the spout. Seems to make sense, as I have to pull the mold out to cut the sprue and dump the bullets. Gives me a head start…..

Or not…

Sam Sackett

[jimb16]

For me, it depends on how fast I'm casting. Mold temp can vary and you can get more consistent casts if you vary which you fill first.

[michael.birdsley]

closest to the handles. i don’t know why. i guess it seems silly to go from back to front


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[reddog81]

Near for any molds 2, 4, or 6 cavity molds.

[45DUDE]

It's easier to push smooth than pull back. I try to make mine look like a good weld on top.

[GregLaROCHE]

I voted far as most people did, but that’s not always the case. Most of my molds are two cavities, so I don’t think it makes that much of a difference. Maybe it makes more of a difference with six cavities.

[Bigslug]

Near just makes the most sense. You ultimately need to pull the mold back to dump the slugs, and pulling seems to give better control than pushing. I'll do far first if a mold is acting up and seems to want its variables fiddled with, but that's kind of anti-instinct.

[bedbugbilly]

I've used a bottom pour Ideal dipper for 60+ years - you need to add a 4th choice "depends on the mold"

[Charliemac]

I start on the far cavity because I have the mold on a slight incline so I minimize drips or splatters getting into the next cavity. Some molds don't mind that I use a continuous pour where others require an intermittent pour.

[Walks]

What Charlie actually said. ��

[Txcowboy52]

I switch back and forth , for no particular reason. Just the way I’ve always done it.

[kevin c]

I try to alternate ends.

Always starting the pour near or far with my MP 8 cav aluminum molds seems to lead to more frosting and sprue plate lead smearing on the starting end. I get more acceptable and consistent bullets with less smearing by alternating. I’m guessing there’s more heat taken up on the end holding hot alloy the longest.

I’m pretty sure I first read that tip here. The way I cast, it seems to help.

[gunther]

What Charliemac said. Same reason.

[rintinglen]

Far to near for me, I use mostly 4 cavity molds, and that works better for me, so that habit makes me do the same thing whether I am casting 2 at a time or 10.

[Gobeyond]

I don’t think it really matters on a two cavity. Not enough time for it to cool unnaturally. I go to the far one because it seems logical to go with #1. On a four cavity you get some cooling in between pours from front to back. But the pulsating effect of going from 1-4 usually keeps an evenly heated mold, despite it over heats so readily.

[bubbau]

Far, no reason just choose to do it that way.

[charlie b]

Far. I think it depends more on the height of the table relative to your shoulder/elbow than it does anything else. A long time ago I had a lower bench I worked from and pulling (near first) worked better. My current bench is higher and pushing works better.

[Springfield]

My Magma has 2 pour spouts so I always do both at the same time. FWIW with multi cavity I usually go furthest to closest with Accurate molds but most of my LEE's prefer closest to furthest.

[Bird]

Farthest cavity for me, with the mold angled slightly down so lead has no chance of flowing into the nearer cavity. Also a bit easier to see the sprue.

[poppy42]

Depends on What color socks I’m wearing!

[Bigslug]

But I guess more to the OP's question, two-cavity is not really something I do. One cavity if the projectile is huge, but typically four if it isn't. All the same, near first.

[35 Rem]

Far I think but not sure that I'm consistent on that. The other day I know I was filling the Far cavity of a new Accurate mold and kept failing to get complete fill-out on the cavity closest to me. Thought it could be a venting problem that might be cured by starting with the Near cavity so air could vent from under the sprue cutter forward and that must have been the case because I started getting 3 good bullets on most every drop.

[44Blam]

I generally cast with a bottom pour so I cast the far one first and then move in. I do this because I put a guide for my mold and it is easier to push the mold under the hole...

[1I-Jack]

Near. I pour with a ladle and it just works best for me that way.

[engineer401]

Near. I pour with a ladle and it just works best for me that way.

I'm the same.

[gwpercle]

I pressure cast with a spouted ladel .
I hold my mould over the pot , tilt the far end down slightly , fill the far cavity and leave a generous sprue puddle ... most of the time the generous puddle overflows...
the overflow just flows away from the empty cavity(ies) and mostly drops back into the pot ... I don't want my overflow getting into the unfilled cavity.

Do what works best for you ... no right or wrong way to fill cavities !
Gary

[mrbill2]

I talked to fellow at the rifle range and he told me he makes better bullets WHEN IT RAINS.:razz::razz:[smilie=s:

[sundog]

I talked to fellow at the rifle range and he told me he makes better bullets WHEN IT RAINS.:razz::razz:[smilie=s:

In all seriousness, the fellow at the range is spot on. We talked about this several times on the old board. Felix had a logical explanation about it having to do with a condensing atmosphere. My best casting days are cool and rainy.

[fredj338]

The only 2cav molds I run are in my Magma caster. With 3-6cav, I usually fill the front cav first & then rear & then the rest. I do this because a couple molds I had would give me a weird deformation in the driving bands if I filled the cavs in order.

[quack1]

In all seriousness, the fellow at the range is spot on. We talked about this several times on the old board. Felix had a logical explanation about it having to do with a condensing atmosphere. My best casting days are cool and rainy.

I remember those threads, they got me thinking. When I worked, I'd mostly cast on rainy days when I was off work, simply because I wouldn't be doing anything outside those days. Once I retired, and could cast anytime, I did find out that casting went easier and with better results on cool rainy days, rather than nice sunny ones. Now, unless I unexpectedly run out of a particular bullet, I make a point of only casting on rainy days.

[imashooter2]

The mold tells me what it likes. I don’t argue with it.

[MT Gianni]

I take notes on each mold I have. I have molds that vent better with filling the closest and some that vent best while filling the furthest. It spreads even further with 4 and 5 cavity molds. I have never played with the 4+ molds by filling the middle. I do know that it makes a difference, and each mold has its own preference.

[porthos]

what the h... is the importnance of this thread in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[metricmonkeywrench]

what the h... is the importnance of this thread in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The intent was to initiate a conversation and document the discussion like any post. Even for the most mundane detail of casting that may help someone starting out and to satisfy my curiosity.

Apparently the secondary effect was to annoy folks like you with questions below your superior knowledge and intellect and compelling you to post a useless reply rather than either adding to the conversation or just moving along.. :kidding:

[justindad]

I got a few iron molds on clearance this summer - seems like Midway had to move items out during the off-season. The Saeco 383 I used last night required I alternate which cavity was filled first, or I could not get a sharp base in the near side cavity. I am going to take a stone to the parting line at the top of the blocks to see if improved venting eliminates the need to alternate.
*
Lyman two-holers are so small that starting at the near side hole makes a mess of a sprue. You have to plan for lead to roll of the plate.
*
Another thing I observed last night for better fill out: pulse the spout. I use a bottom pour pot and when the lead is just about to start running over, I pause for half a second and pulse the valve on & off. This builds up a very thick sprue that is mostly liquid, but does not run over. Pulsing the valve to create a very thick sprue gave sharper bases. I think it had something to do with more time for the air to escape, but I’m sure the mold was a tad hotter from that as well.