Have piggy back on Joatmon's "Mold Prep" thread. I've used steal and aluminum molds before but this new aluminum mold is tricky. I've heat cycled it multiple times now, and cast at least 300 boolits with the majority tossed back in the pot, but two issues keep popping up: 1) one of the two cavity bases don't quite fill out (1 PB, 1 GC), could be either depending on the pour, and 2) one of the cavities hold the boolit tight and not releasing (Normally the PB cavity is worse, though that can switch on occasion). This morning I began pouring into the GC cavity only to have success.
This is using the Lee 20 Lb pot and ladle pouring a hot stream set on high.
I cleaned as recommended with dawn and a tooth brush as per NOE's instructions. Smoked both cavities with soot from matches and yet these problems persist.
One more item that I notice, too, is the sprue holes have a little lip at the bottom where the lead flows into the cavity. This causes lead boogers to form in the hole. I've had this with other molds, but this raised lip is more pronounced than realized with the other molds in my stash. This is a well made mold, I just need to get the full potential from it.
Thanks,
ChristopherO