Smeared sprue plate

[35isit]

I have a LBT 180gr and a RCBS 180gr both .357 molds. They both have the sprue plate and top of the mold smeared with lead. This was done before I knew about the Bull Plate Sprue Lube. I have read many reviews of this product. It seems no caster should be without it. So before I restart my casting career I am going to purchase some.

My question is. How do you remove any lead that is smeared on there now. I definately do not want to ruin these moulds. In fact the LBT mould doesn't actually belong to me.

[Wally]

I carefully heat with a propane torch and wisk it away with a cotton rag..do use a polyester one...

[johnlaw484]

Lube it with graphite. I use a soft carpenters pencil to lube the mold and any place I do not want lead to stick.

[RayinNH]

I carefully heat with a propane torch and wisk it away with a cotton rag..do use a polyester one...

I bit of a brain fart on Wally's answer, DON'T use a polyester one, it will melt and be worse than the lead...Ray

[Wally]

I bit of a brain fart on Wally's answer, DON'T use a polyester one, it will melt and be worse than the lead...Ray

Correct--it's been a long week...

[Orygun]

I have used a single edge razor blade and carefully shaved off the lead on the bottom of the sprue plate. After that regular use of Bullplate lube will make the rest disappear.

[winelover]

While I'm casting, I keep some 0000 steel wool handy to remove any lead that STARTS to smear. The idea is not to get to that point. If your smearing the lead , you are opening the mould too soon. Slow down and use two or more moulds. I also keep a propane torch nearby to pre-heat my moulds. Stubborn smears might need some heat applied before wiping. Another great tool, that wont hurt the mould is a wooden Kabob skewer. Use, the sharpened point it to flick away small lead particles. Never used any sprue plate lube on my moulds, never found it necessary.

Winelover

[RNyogi]

Dubber 123 turned me on to the Bullplate lube. The slightest bit on a Q-tip takes care of any lead smearing. The little bottle that came with my NOE mold will probably last me a lifetime.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

The following method will also will remove lead smears from blocks or sprue plates. Take an ingot such as the ones that are casted by Lyman, Saeco, RCBS and Lee ingot molds and pressing down on it, rub the smear with one of the corners. The lead from the smear will adhere/stick to the ingot corner and will be gone. It is better to take preventative measures than to spend time getting rid of smears; Bullshop Lube is good stuff for that purpose. Powdered graphite also works. Overheating the mold leads to smears and cutting the sprue before it solidifys will do it for sure. There are ways around that like using two molds in tandem or cooling the sprue plate with damp rags or sponges. Its your call. Unless you're in a hurry the best way to avoid the problem is to keep melt and mold at a constant and correct temperature and not cast too fast. LLS

[montana_charlie]

If your smearing the lead , you are opening the mould too soon.

Exactly right.

Bullplate is great for keeping the steel sprue plate from causing damage as it moves across the steel (or aluminum) mould top. It is a lubricant which prevents galling.
Using Bullplate to prevent smearing lead when cutting the sprue is turning a great product into a 'bandaid' for poor technique.

CM

[Orygun]

Well, I don't know about you, but I need a band aid once in a while.

[kelbro]

After the mold gets up to temp, I wipe it off with my (leather gloved) thumb.

[Shepherd2]

+1 on what Kelbro said.

[Horace]

Using lead to clean lead smears works for me. Horace

[rmb721]

I use the Bruce B. method of speed casting. (one mould and no smearing)

[Nrut]

35isit.....
In the past I have used a little brass brush the size of a tooth brush to remove hot lead off the top of the mold blocks and spruce plate..
That won't work on a cold mold so you would have to heat up your mold up to cast temp first..
I still keep the brush by my pot when casting in case I plug up the vent lines on the mold..

[Bret4207]

Kinda OT but, noobies- One of the best things you can learn to do is to keep an eagle eye out for the very first sign of smearing or splatters on the block faces, anything like that. Fix it ASAP!!! Don't make 5 more casts and then address it. Even one more cast may mean a ruined top surface.

[jsizemore]

I hold back a couple of sprues, let them cool and use them like an eraser.