broke my 6-cavity!

[kellyj00]

I just started casting this weekend using a lee 6-cav I bought used off a fella here. I'm hooked on casting!

unfortunately, the bolt that attachs the sprue plate to the mold broke off when I went to tighten it while it was hot. Doh!

any ideas on how to keep this from happening in the future?
how about how to remove the remains of the steel bolt from the aluminum block?

Thanks!

[imashooter2]

Yeah. Turn the muscle meter down to under 50 foot pounds. The sprue bolt doesn't need to be more than snug. If you want the thing to stop loosening up, drill and tap for a set screw from the side of the block.

To get the old bolt stub out, drill it and use and easy out.

[kellyj00]

maybe my mold is bad!
I noticed that when the bolt wasn't super-tight there was this lead splatter between the sprue plate that stuck to the top of the bullets... essentially the bullets weren't being cut properly by the sprue plate.

I'll see if I can sand down the back end of the sprue plate to make it sit more like it should.

thanks!

[Swamprat1052]

Are you using Bull Plate Lube on it, that helps a lot.

That stuff even helps my arthritis. lol

Swamprat

[hiram]

get 400 or 600 grit wet/dry paper and 'sand' the whole surface of the sprue at 1 time by laying the paper on a flat surface. Then get bullshop lube. Their ad is at the bottom of this page. If you think the sprue holes are too dull to cut the lead cleanly, take a counter sink and turn it by HAND in each hole and then 'sand' the bottom of the plate on a flat surface again since you have to take down the small burr the countersink pushed up.

[mtgrs737]

Bull Plate Sprue Plate Lube, get yourself some and you won't have lead sticking to the top of the mold blocks or the bottom of the sprue plate. I is a great lube for pivot points and alinement pins on hot moulds, just follow directions that come with it. Visit BullShops site at the bottom of this forum.

[imashooter2]

Once you sand the surface of the sprue plate the anodize will be gone and it'll gall like crazy. Better to buy a new plate from Lee.

[Springfield]

Bull plate lube is better than anodizing, get some soon. Really. I cast 3-5000 bullets a week and I wouldn't be without this stuff.

[kellyj00]

thanks for the advice.