Accurate Mold

[dave 45-90]

Have a mold in 32 caliber that I use for my Pardini 32 ACP. All is well as far as accuracy. [Perfect]. There seems to be a carbon build up in the vent grooves of the mold that will not dissolve . Tried liquor thinner acetone mineral spirits. I can get it out with my finger nail but it’s a bear. Any folks on here that would have any suggestions This mold works to well to mess it up

[mdatlanta]

A long soak in some Ed’s Red?

[hpbear101]

Do you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner? I bought one a year or so ago and it was well worth the money.

I would also think brake cleaner would cut carbon.

Tom

[dave 45-90]

No ultrasonic. Tried brake cleaner. It evaporates to quick. Guess I could put a lid on container. Take a lot to cover the halves. I haven’t used Hatchers mix since I was a kid. Think that’s close to Ed’s Red

[G W Wade]

Have a mold in 32 caliber that I use for my Pardini 32 ACP. All is well as far as accuracy. [Perfect]. There seems to be a carbon build up in the vent grooves of the mold that will not dissolve . Tried liquor thinner acetone mineral spirits. I can get it out with my finger nail but it’s a bear. Any folks on here that would have any suggestions This mold works to well to mess it up

If the soaking and other ideas do not work. I have never used on a mold, but other firearms cleaning projects I take a couple of extra chop sticks from local eatery. The bamboo stick are tough enough to sharpen to different shapes to match the task. Work great for cleaning those nooks and crannys of carbon buildup and not scratching delicate parts. GW

[pcmacd]

If the soaking and other ideas do not work. I have never used on a mold, but other firearms cleaning projects I take a couple of extra chop sticks from local eatery. The bamboo stick are tough enough to sharpen to different shapes to match the task. Work great for cleaning those nooks and crannys of carbon buildup and not scratching delicate parts. GW

That's a grand idea.

I've used a NEW razor blade to carefully remove lead from vent lines w/ success multiple times on some very expensive H&G multi gang molds. You need a MAGNIFIER AND A BUCKET FULL OF PATIENCE.

[rockrat]

Carb cleaner (berrymans b-12 to be exact) and maybe use a toothpick. Otherwise, try Ballistol. Heard its good for cleaning carbon.

[dave 45-90]

Thanks for all the replies . I tried a popsicle stick sharpened. Works but what a job under a magnifier. There has got to be a quicker way. Actually the wood stick polishes the mold.Nooks and cranny’s are the issue. ��

[pcmacd]

Thanks for all the replies . I tried a popsicle stick sharpened. Works but what a job under a magnifier. There has got to be a quicker way. Actually the wood stick polishes the mold.Nooks and cranny’s are the issue. ��

The suggestion of a bamboo chopstick, sharpened as needed, seems to be a winner to me.

Iben casting and cleaning molds for a very long time, and that suggestion makes lots of sense.

Bamboo is lots tougher than a "popsicle stick."

Lots!

[dave 45-90]

Got plenty of that. Neighbor planted a bunch on property line and now it’s coming into my back hayfield. I was hoping there was an easier way to do this. Will try all the suggestions. The mold has been good to me. I like to treat her like a delicate flower��

[Jeff Michel]

Chop stick, sharpen in a pencil sharpener as needed.

[kevin c]

Green bamboo might not be hard enough.

I’d try a fine pointed bamboo skewer. A pack of 200 is $1.75 or less on line, or you could split and sharpen one yourself starting from a real bamboo chopstick (not one of those cheap softwood chopsticks you get with your take out/delivery order).

And maybe a more persistent, penetrating type oil like Kroil might help, though you’d need to degrease the mold afterwards or risk burning more junk right back in again.

The only time butterfingers here put a sharpened steel edge on a mold was to scrape once with the edge laid way over on a steel sprue plate, and it still took forever to polish out the scratches I made. The blocks? Maybe if they were cast iron, but I definitely wouldn’t trust myself on aluminum.

[popper]

Get a quart poly milk jug, cut out part of one side and fill with lacquer thinner ( has MEK, acetone and other solvents) drop in the mold to soak. Looks more like lube/lead crud burned onto the mold faces. Use the wood skewers to pick off. That stuff is really hard to get off. Echo AC oil is even worse!!

[dave 45-90]

Soaking and light use wood seems to be what you folks do. Was going to use a mason jar with tight lid.

[Mk42gunner]

Toothpicks used to be made of maple, I'm not sure if they still are or not. They were hard enough to clean vent lines, but not harm the aluminum blocks.

Robert