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Thread: Removing Solid Sticks from PVC Mold

  1. #1
    Boolit Master


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    Removing Solid Sticks from PVC Mold

    I have a large supply of Thompson’s Blue Angel high temperature 2”x6” sticks that I melt and pour into 3/4” PVC lengths to fit my STAR lubrisizers.
    I had a hard time getting the lube free from the PVC!
    I ended up using a heat gun to warm the PVC and pushed the lube stick out.
    In the past I just put them in the freezer and they came loose without much trouble.

    How are y’all doing it?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Murphys soap for a mold release? (might have been something else, a long time since I made lube) chill the mold over night, warm to room temp for a half hour and roll the mold on a counter top to break the seal. insert the fender washer in the end of the mold and push through with a dowel.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Ever tried PAM as a release agent? Nothing sticks to it!

  4. #4
    Boolit Master


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    Murphy's Oil Soap spread on a 12ga shotgun swab and used to "grease" inside of PVC mold.
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  5. #5
    Boolit Master


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    I use Pam to spray the inside of the PVC and cap both ends when I pour the lube in and then put the tubes in the freezer standing up. With the Pam as a release agent and the freezing shrinks the lube slightly. They push right out with a round dowel that is slightly smaller than the PVC.

    gmsharps

  6. #6
    Boolit Master


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    Thanks guys!
    I have PAM, I will have to locate some Murphy’s Oil Soap!

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    Ive used PVC for concrete molds and the inside on some of the PVC is real wavy and it may be the reason you can't push the lube out. Split the PVC on a table saw and put hose clamps around the tube and when you need to get the solidified lube out release the hose clamps.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

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    I just pour it into the sizer and skip the mold.
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  9. #9
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pworley1 View Post
    I just pour it into the sizer and skip the mold.
    I like this idea. But, you might need to buy a few additional molds if you plan on using different lubes. I just put my pvc tubes into the freezer for 30 minutes and out they pop. The washers help with the push out.





    Last edited by MOA; 05-22-2021 at 10:01 PM.
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  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    @ MOA - Wow, that's impressive!

  11. #11
    Boolit Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by pworley1 View Post
    I just pour it into the sizer and skip the mold.
    I do that with my Lyman, this is for a STAR and a Ballisticast!

  12. #12
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by deltaenterprizes View Post
    I do that with my Lyman, this is for a STAR and a Ballisticast!
    What are you doing differently now that's keeping the sticks stuck? Same pvc tubes? Different brand? Different lot of lube? Maybe the blue angels formula has changed? Has your freezer a thermometer inside it so you know the tubes are exposed to the same temperature....maybe a 10 degree difference could cause pop out issues. I'd try to freeze them at a lower temp.
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  13. #13
    Boolit Master



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    Sometimes after freezing you just need to rap the end of the tube hard on a solid surface to break them loose.

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Keep the lube in an old coffee pot (not an electric percolator) set inside water pan (double boiler style) heat on hot plate or stove , melt lube and use the spout to fill sizer reservoir ... no need to cast it into a tube or cylinder , no mould to make and no release problems .
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  15. #15
    Boolit Bub rustyshooter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MOA View Post
    I like this idea. But, you might need to buy a few additional molds if you plan on using different lubes. I just put my pvc tubes into the freezer for 30 minutes and out they pop. The washers help with the push out.





    MOA your mold board sure is a lot neater than mine. Must be that fancy long spout pot you pour out of. Nice. Where did it come from.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    I found the coffee/tea pot at Wal-Mart. I was just starting to work on my lube mold block project. The PVC mold board was a scrap board from work to see how things would work out. Here's a image of my new lube blocks. You can see more at the vendors listing on this forum under CNC Products.





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  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy
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    i do it the same way...however yours looks like a pro made it, mine does not ! BRAVO !

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    I use a wood dowel same diameter as the inside of my PVC mold tube.
    I give the dowel a wack with deadblow hammer the cold lube stick pops right out.
    As the lube cools it shrinks and pulls away from the wall of the mold.
    The hammer blow easily breaks the lube stick free.
    My lube sticks are solid no hole through the center.
    I’ve silicone glued and screwed proper sealing end caps into recesses drilled into the base 2”x4” like shown in the photos in the above posts.

    If sticking lube sticks are causing problems try lining the mold tube with aluminium foil.
    Last edited by greenjoytj; 06-06-2021 at 08:19 AM.

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