Lyman Sprue Plate/Pin?

Mike W1

Active Member
Anyone know how the sprue plate stop pin is put into a Lyman DC mould? Reason I ask is I drilled one out and did a modification which worked and might do another mould and would hope there's an easier way to remove it.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
All that I've tried to remove were a friction fit.

If some rust is present on the pin and hole, getting the pin out can be near impossible. I've taken the stubborn ones and applied heat. Didn't work for me. Eventually had to drill the pin out and replace it.

Ben
 

Mike W1

Active Member
Kind of what I figured. Maybe try putting the mould in the freezer and warm the pin with a soldering iron. I know I didn't have that much fun drilling the dang thing out without screwing up the hole.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Wouldn't you cool the pin and heat the mould?

I have never removed one but can imagine they are snug.
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
Heat the mould really hot, then hold a piece of dry ice (with tongs!) against the pin for a few seconds, then try pulling the pin out. You might get away with using freezer ice, then again you might not.

Lyman really didn't intend the pins to be removed, but anything one man can make, another man can take apart. In one manner or another, of course.
 

Ian

Notorious member
There's also an aerosol product called Freeze Off which is a penetrating oil propelled with something like what's used in wart removers, i.e. it gets stupid cold when it depressurizes and evaporates. It's used for shrinking stuck parts, like pins. Freeze the pin, lock it in a vise quickly and crank on the mould block with a padded wrench. Or grind it flat, center punch it, and drill it out.
 

Mike W1

Active Member
Good suggestions all. I'll save em' and if I decide to try it again will try that route. Did drill the first one but have never really figured out how to get the exact center with a punch. Old eyeball doesn't necessarily get it there for me.
 

blackthorn

Active Member
The pin is 5/32 diameter. It is pressed in. It is dead soft metal. Snug the pin up really tight in a knurled vise, Use a plastic (or other) no-mar hammer to tap the mould blocks away from the pin while supporting the blocks with your hand to keep the pin from bending. Alternately, you can grip the pin with vise-grips, heat the block slightly and twist it out. Once the pin (now destroyed) is out, you can use a roll-pin as a replacement. Hope this helps.
 

Stonecrusher

Active Member
Vise grips work well. If you don't crush too tight the pin can be reused. I grip snugly with the vise grips, get a flat screwdriver and pry the tip up against the vise grip jaws while twisting the pin. Use piece of sheet metal on the blocks to protect the top surface and don't pry with the tip pushing into the face of the blocks or you will be cleaning that up after some inventive speech.

They usually come right out this way. A little file cleanup on the pin and tap it back in.