I'm not as tramatized as the title makes it seem but i am kinda bummed and suprised.
So this is a 4 mold set of 2 cavity auto-cast molds 9mm 124 grain they are my first set of molds to get messed up.
I use them in my Mark X. There was some wear on the sprue heel that contact the first sprue "post". These post where not set right when i receive the machine and required adjustment.. They have come loose and moved before too. There was a burr on the top of the sprue heel , this did not damgeage the mold.I had one sprue that liked to keep the sprue waste stuck to it, i though there must be a burr in the hole giving the lead somthing to hold on too. I didn't want to damage the molds top surface so i stopped and order a few different stones to try and clean up the bottem surface of the sprue.
So i removed the sprue(s) and degreased them. I filed the burr off of them and one remove there is a bevel on the sprue heel rather than being square..Not a big deal, it's not hurting anything.
While using a 6000 grit stone to polish the bottom i notice the significant damage the the bottom of 2 of them. I wasn't to concerned because atleadt it the wear item and not the mold.So i go check the respective mold tops to discover damage. It doesn't effect funtiont yet, but IMO it can only get worse.I stone the top of these 2 molds just cuz and re assembled the set. they feel alright but i just want to get everyone oinion on the damage.
I don't think the sprue was loose, i believe they have propper tension.
I use the frankford asenal spray as a lube and i though it was serving me well.Also there is always residual hoppes #9 and breakfree CLP from cleaning storage.
This mold set now has just over 100,000 projectile cast on it..Only 2 of the 4 molds show any wear.What gives?
SO, my though is lead sticking to the sprue and galling the top of the surface..Or some burr on the sprue digging in
Is my lubrication not sufficient?
Sprue tension/tightness?
What do you guys think? Also what should i do about it?I thought i would get 8 million rpojectiles by the time i am 80 (50 years from now)
These photos aren't very good, and now that i took the time to relive it and photograph it i'm upset, i only wiped off the side we are looking at i had put them in the machine to see how they "feel" in there was gunna cast but wasn't in the mood
4 mold set
http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/MG...tml?sort=3&o=2
2 damage molds.....it's mostly the top left of other block
http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/MG...tml?sort=3&o=1
http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/MG...tml?sort=3&o=1
and the off topic pics
140lbs of .45 on the left and 90lbs of 9mm on the right
http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/MG...tml?sort=3&o=4
Finnish plated 9mm perfected
http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/MG...tml?sort=3&o=3