Hi there,
I'm fairly new to bullet casting and have been using iron molds (Lyman) with good results. Recently I've ordered a 6 cavity mold with the tumble lube design from Lee to speed things up a bit. I'll be casting pure wheel weights and would like a heads up on what I need to be aware of using aluminum molds as opposed to the iron molds. I've heard they require smoking before use?
The mold I ordered is the 158g RN (38/357) and will be loading in standard velocity 38 special. Thats why I'm just using wheel weights with no additional alloys.
I've read other posts stating that these are pretty good shooters. I'll find out soon enough.
I guess you just dump these little fellers in a bowl with some liguid alox and swish them around?
Thanks in advance for any replys!

JR

I shoot mostly Lee tumble lube bullets. They are as good as anything I have cast and are a lot easier to use. The Lee aluminum molds are easy to use. Just clean well with brake cleaner or gun scrubber spray. I use a kitchen match to smoke the molds or the sprayon type stuff. Place the corner of the molds in the molten lead for about a minute till the lead no longer sticks to the mold. This will preheat the molds so they should start casting good bullets with just a couple of pours. As far as the tumble bullets go, just let them cool and swirl in Lee lube. Place on a piece of wax paper to dry for about 8 hrs and they are ready to load and shoot.

i use lee molds exclusively and have for more than 20 years now. i've tried brass and iron molds but imho, aluminum is the best. the molds heat fast, the poured bullets cool fast and the molds are MUCH lighter so you can keep going longer between breaks. i also water quench my bullets (makes them harder) and then lube with liquid alox. if you've been using stick lubes you'll be pleasantly surprised as LA (liquid alox) really cuts down on leading. in fact, i often push my cast rifle bullets (lubed with LA) in excess of 2600 fps with little or no leading.

lee molds are very precise and TL molds often produce bullets that don't require sizing. just be sure when tapping the hinge to get them to release that you don't hit the mold blocks themselves as you can knock them out of alignment. also, i recommend using frankford arsenal's 'drop out' graphite spray for mold release. you can buy it at midwayUSA.

i did up a little casting tutorial a few years ago at my home board. if folks here want i'll post it here as well.

I would shy away from any of the spray on release agents with aluminium moulds. Like was mentioned, clean. Remove burrs as needed. Be sure to check the under side of the sprue plate really good, especially around the sprue holes. Burrs there will reek havoc on the block tops. If you find it necessary to get a cavity to release a little easier, use wood match or butane lighter for a light smoke job. Most of the 6 bangers need quite a bit of heat to get going. Once you establish a rhythm, the heat might be able to be cut back a little. Run'em hot and get nice frosty bullets.

If you insist on using release agent, sprat it on a q-tip and swab the cavities. Do not spray directly on. Use the q-tip to keep the agent from becoming a thick layer.

I appreciate all the input folks. This will help a bunch.

JR

I use lee molds too! but just bought some of that bull shop lube to use on the sprue plate! wow that stuff is great! :D

Aluminum moulds need lubrication. I just use 50/50 Alox.

Thanks again for all your input.
I've already cast a pile of these things and they do shoot good. As the last poster stated, these need lubrication. I assume you mean on the alignment pins?

On another board that specializes in casting, I learned the trick of polishing Lee moulds.

I can't get a description of the process to load. Keep getting a "Internal Server Error" message.

Google the phrase Lee-menting and you should find it.

Thanks again for all your input.
I've already cast a pile of these things and they do shoot good. As the last poster stated, these need lubrication. I assume you mean on the alignment pins?

Alignment pins and sprue plate. It doesn't take much and you don't want any in the cavity.

Rocky,

Use the word finder to locate every instance of the word "from" in the text and re-write to substitute another word or turn of phrase that doesn't use it. That usually stops the server error.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php

Look around here.. you'll like the site.

The word "from?" How is it that your reply worked. then?

The text is gone now, anyway. I'd have to re-write it. The link kindly supplied above should be more than sufficient. (I don't like to post links to competing websites, so refrained.)

Rocky,

Use the word finder to locate every instance of the word "from" in the text and re-write to substitute another word or turn of phrase that doesn't use it. That usually stops the server error.

thanks for that. i tried for several hours last night to post a tutorial on casting and was frustrated as ****. it's now posted and waiting for comments. :D

The word "from?" How is it that your reply worked. then?

The text is gone now, anyway. I'd have to re-write it. The link kindly supplied above should be more than sufficient. (I don't like to post links to competing websites, so refrained.)



It's not competing, it's complementing...