9 cavity core mold

[ANeat]

I got a .190 core mold finished up today. Pretty much duplicated the Lee 6 cavity size so I could use the handles. Found a big old 11" disc of 1.25 thick aluminum so I had to do a bit of carving to get it down to size.

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1713


Got out the good old Milwaukee metal saw out.

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1714

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1715


http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1716

After all that got down to something that resembled a Lee mold block.

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1717

[ANeat]

Found another piece of scrap to make a sprue plate (the semi-circular cutouts are from another project, luckily there was enough material for the sprue plate)

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1725

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1724

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1726

9 cavities, .190 .400 spacing, cranks out the cores real fast ;)
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=153&pictureid=1723

[Rat-Man]

I thought I was the only one that would have a 9 cavity core mold. I had intended to have a 10 cavity, but after adding the alignment pins like your mold I only had room for 9.

Is that for .224 bullets? That is what I use my .185 diameter mold to make.

Rat-Man

[ANeat]

Yes I wasnt sure how many would fit, just ended up being 9.

Yes those cores are for 224 bullets. There right at 51gr as cast. Im hoping they will squirt down a few grains and leave me with a bullet between 55 and 60 grains.

[Rat-Man]

I think mine is about 48 grains each. I made this one to cast a quantity real fast. I made a 3 cavity adjustable first and that was a little slow for making 55 grain bullets. Now I just use it to cast for special weights such as cores for 40-45 grain bullets and also 60 grain bullets.

[plumber]

Very cool! When are they for sale?!!

If you are using a core swage die, you may want to try .185-.187
My Corbin core swage bumps them up to .190 and if they start at .190 I can't get them in with ease.

I need to get some cool metal working tools, and a good divorce lawyer to go with them.

[ANeat]

The holes were drilled 3/16 (.1875) If I have any problems Ill mill a little off and re-cut the holes.

Dont have any dies yet, still waiting on my stuff. Trying to have everything else ready (Cores/jackets/etc)

[plumber]

You possess skills I wish I had.

[ANeat]

Just gotta do it ;)

Right now I dont have any extra material for sprue plates. Ill probably do a couple of core sizes that I can use the Lee 6 cavity sprue plate; but for the smaller cores ya might as well fit a few exrta in there.

Ive got an old H&G 10 cavity 38 mold. If I made something that size you could do a lot of cores

[BT Sniper]

Now this is why I love this sight. Great work turning a piece of scrap into somthing usfull. What did you use for allignment pins? Any difficulties. I made a 4 cavity for my 308 cores of same design yet I tryed to use the allignment technique of the lee 2 cavities and did not work as well.

I got a reply back from Lee that said a blank would cost $45. As you can see it can be done for a lot less, just need the expensive machine to mill it down with or know the right people I guess.

Nice work Aneat. love the pics.

BT

Yeh I need one too. Or maybe 3, no 6 of them.............

[acemedic13]

That is some fine work. I am saving my pennies, and ideas gathered from here to get started in swaging. This is one more for the toolbox. When i get home, this thing is going into full swing brother!!!!!!Thanks for the great pics.

Hows things Brian?!?!?

[acemedic13]

OH YEAH.....Did you do all the work on that stuff with just that saw and a drill??!! If thats all you used...Strong work my man...Strong work...... I might just be able to do that as well...

[BT Sniper]

Ace,

Man good to here from you. Guess you got a spare moment over there to check in with us. I have been busy here spreading the knowledge. Many new projects posted with lots of pics. I'll have to PM you later so as not to hijack this thread of great work.

Looks like the blocks are sitting on a mill machine. Still very nice work. Without some sort of milling machine, attempting it by hand to making everything as flat and true as it needs to be may be more work then anyone with a saw, file, sandpaper, etc. may want to tackle, even though I know it could be done if one is willing. I tried once with a 2 cavity mold from steel by hand. Even though I was succesful once was enough. I think I would buy a blank from Lee for $45 or offer Aneat here some $ or somthing in exchange.

Stay safe,

Brian

[ANeat]

Thanks guys; Yea all the machining was done on a Bridgeport.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/aneat/Toys/Bridgeport1.jpg

BT I did the alignment pins on a lathe. I have some 1/4 stock, I turned a taper on one side and used a center drill to create a socket for the mating side.

Really $45.00 is a bargain from Lee, especially if youre going to use a 6 cavity and utilize their sprue plate. But like BT mentioned in the other thread you can get a mold for less money and just enlarge the holes

I have enough blocks for 5 molds but at the moment I dont have any sprue plate material. Im more than happy to do some swaping

[desteve811]

just curious, Im not a machinist but how do you cut the holes? Clamp both halves together and drill holes on your press? I'm assuming that the process is different on a lets say "keith" style mold?

[ANeat]

I Just clamped the halfs together and drilled to depth. Not having any lube grooves or special shape makes that part easy.

A few of us were discussing it in another thread, some guys will just drill out a mold of a smaller diameter to make a core mold.
With a straight hole like that even a decent drill press would do the job.

[desteve811]

How would you make one with lube grooves? do the halves seperate?

[plumber]

With a cherry.

[deltaenterprizes]

And a centering vise.

[Buckshot]

With a cherry.

..........Or in a lathe with specialy ground cutting tools.

............Buckshot

[mecoastie]

How deep would the hole have to be to make a 55 to 64 grain bullet? Thinking of trying to order a blank from Lee

[ANeat]

Coastie I think I went .690 deep on mine to get a core right at 51 grains. The rimfire jackets are about 10 grains.

I tried to go over just a bit to allow some excess to be bleed off and get a consistent core.


If you dont allow for any adjustment you will need to settle on a specific size

[mecoastie]

If I want to do 62 gr projos I am thinking that I would need to cast about a 57-58 gr core?

[sagacious]

If I want to do 62 gr projos I am thinking that I would need to cast about a 57-58 gr core?

The fired 22lr case weighs about 10 grains-- some are slightly heavier, some slightly lighter.

A soft lead core .679" x .185" will nominally weigh 52grs. That, plus a 10gr jacket will make a 62gr bullet.

[Caveape]

I've heard from the horse's mouth (precision J-word mfr) to make the core 10-12% heavier than its final desired weight after core swaging. This will give a more consistent core swage as opposed to 3 or 4 grains heavier than the desired weight that bleeds off very little.

When you're core swaging and very little is being bled off, the core may not be undergoing a sufficient amount of compression to eliminate all voids or inconsistencies. Bleeding off 10-12 % subjects the core to more compression to remove voids or inconsistencies more efficiently, gets the lead flowing more freely, and reduces the need to "double swage" your cores.

Hopefully this will help to make some better cores.

FWIW,

Caveape

[plumber]

I have enough blocks for 5 molds but at the moment I dont have any sprue plate material. Im more than happy to do some swaping

What are you looking for?