Making a core mold

[makeurownfun]

I saw a video where a guy took a Lee 6 cavity blank mold and drill his "cores" to what length diameter he needed.

Has anyone else created their own core molds? The reason I am asking, is because id rather be able to use my bottom pour Lyman pot. This seems like it would be faster than a bench mounted mold and using a ladle to fill the molds?

[contender1]

I don't see why it couldn't be done with the right equipment. A milling machine would be my choice.

[fc60]

Greetings,

I have machined several Core moulds using Lee blank moulds.

I am a Tool Maker and have access to precision tools to create the cavities.

Since you are swaging the cores to size and weight, a drilled hole may suffice.

Cheers,

Dave

[deltaenterprizes]

I have a couple of core molds that were made by others and I made a core mold 22 LR to 223 bullets that fit my Master Caster.
I have a 10 cavity H&G #50 that is warped that would make a nice core mold for larger bullets like 44s & 45s!

[garandsrus]

I made a core mold for 7mm cores. A drilled hole was fine. You can figure out how deep to drill based on the weight you want to make. The core should be several grains heavier than the swaged core you want so they can be uniformed by squirting them in a core squirt die.

[forrest]

Years ago I made this simple core mold form 30cal and 44cal cores. Used a blank lee 2-cavity mold and a drill press for the cores. I attached a piece of steal to the bottom and tapped it. Then turned down bolt heads to fit the cavities I drilled. The bolts can be screwed up/down making the adjustable turning out multiple weights from the same core mold.
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Nothing hi-tech but I allowed me to use a #20 pot to cast cores.

[Littlewolf]

if you have a drill press with a machinist vice an 1/8" drill bit and a countersink bit you can squeeze 5 cavities (3 is better) in a lee 2cav blank or 11 cavities from a lee 6cav blank for 22cal cores.

[country gent]

De[ending on your equipment available there are several ways to do this project, starting with the Lee mould blanks makes it much easier.

If all you have is a home drill press available:
Pull the sprue plate and handles to make it easier to set up and handle

A drill press vise is handy hereto hold the blocks in, otherwise a machinist clamp to hold them together and clamps to hold to the table.

clamp the blocks together with apiece of paper between them .005 thick paper is good here Colored paper is great as it allows you to see the seam better

You are now ready to lay out the cavities in the locks. This can be done with a scales or dividers for a 22 cal bullet 1/2" spacing may be close. You only need the spacing as the seam forms the centerline.

Lightly prick punch the centers and check with a magnifying glass to make sure they are centered

Center drill them clamped down to table

Set the spindle stop to depth with a 1/8" drill this is the pilot you wont get stringy chips as it cutting2 half holes.

Remove the paper from between the blocks

Then do the same with a drill .010 under desired size. drill to depth and just clean up the bottom.

Set depth to the reamer and ream them to the bottom. slowest speed on the drill press and plenty of cutting oil

Last is to spot the cavities to the sprue plate and drill counter sink them. If you left the dividers set then you only need to spot the first cavity.

with an industrial drill press its the same as above but easier do the stops being better and a better speed range

With a mill layout isnt needed you can indicate in and drill to the numbers, on the dialas or DRO. Another plus to the mill is you can bore the cavities instead of reaming them