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Thread: Do you smoke brass molds?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Stopsign32v's Avatar
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    Do you smoke brass molds?

    Just curious, I plan to try out my "patina'd" MP mold tomorrow and wondering if I need to smoke it or not.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    rancher1913's Avatar
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    I only smoke a mold as a last resort.
    if you are ever being chased by a taxidermist, don't play dead

  3. #3
    Boolit Master


    dondiego's Avatar
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    I can never keep mine lit.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by dondiego View Post
    I can never keep mine lit.
    Leave a bad taste in the mouth as well.
    Seriously same as rancher

  5. #5
    Boolit Master


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    Very rarely. It has been my experience that brass molds like to run hotter than aluminum molds. I have to run some of mine up around 800 degrees. I usually run my aluminum molds just under 750. Just keep running the heat up until the mold acts right.
    Good Luck,
    Rick

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    high standard 40's Avatar
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    I never smoke any mold. I tried that early in my casting career and never found it to be a benefit.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    dale2242's Avatar
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    I never smoke a mold.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
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    Nope
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master

    Wayne Smith's Avatar
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    Ditto, I haven't smoked a mold in years.
    Wayne the Shrink

    There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    Same here. I used to do that a lot in the old days. Then I learned that just cleaning them well and finding the right temperature for them is a better way to go, even for my Lee molds.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master


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    I don't think I've smoked a mould in 25 years or more. I never felt it do anything to help and I learned that heat was the key to casting a good boolit.
    Chuck

  12. #12
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
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    I don't smoke 'em. I heat cycle my new brass molds several times, which starts the patina process, I would think that smoke would obstruct that process.

    BUT, if a mold doesn't start casting good after 2 or 3 casting sessions, I'll then give the smoke thing a try.

    Lastly, a boolit caster I respect very much will say to put a very lite smoke (using a butane lighter) on a new mold, I don't think you'd even see any soot from that? He claims the lite smoke will last long enough for oxides (patina) to develop, hence not needing a second smoke application...I don't recall if he does the heat cycle thing first or not?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
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  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Like most above, I tried smoking a mold once but it really had no effect. Higher casting temp cured sticky bullets. Casting temp affects fill-out and diameter which can cause sticky bullets.

  14. #14
    Boolit Man


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    Yes!
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  15. #15
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by dondiego View Post
    I can never keep mine lit.
    I imagine the humidity from the bong water would rust the pins as well.

    No. . .I never saw any benefit from mold smoking.
    WWJMBD?

    In the Land of Oz, we cast with wheel weight and 2% Tin, Man.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    Not with my brass molds. Seldom with LEE aluminum molds.

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by high standard 40 View Post
    I never smoke any mold. I tried that early in my casting career and never found it to be a benefit.
    Same here.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy hermans's Avatar
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    Nope, especially with brass molds. If the mold and the alloy is at the correct temperature, there should be no need for smoking the mold as they will just drop from the mold with a light tapping.

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy Iwsbull's Avatar
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    Only time I smoked a mold was the first Lee mold I bought, since then I learned as others mentioned that clean and temp are keys.

  20. #20
    Boolit Grand Master


    stubshaft's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Iwsbull View Post
    Only time I smoked a mold was the first Lee mold I bought, since then I learned as others mentioned that clean and temp are keys.
    Well said! Smoking a mold and all of the related coatings (graphite etc.) are NOT needed.
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

    Men who don't understand women fall into two categories: bachelors and husbands!

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