Time will tell

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My Lee 356 120 TC developed a habit of giving horrible base flashing. I decided that it was worth some potentially mould ending work to see what I could do.
Removed the sprue plate and set the mould in the mill vise. I took maybe .002 off the top of the mould. Made it flat and also removed almost all galling at the pivot point.
I also flycut the bottom of the sprue plate. This removed the falling and as the photo shows did not cut the entire bottom of the plate.
I also removed a bit from the bushing the plate pivots under as the hinder plate was now able to flex upwards. I also removed a bit from the bottom of the shoulder on the pivot screw so the pivot end of the plate could be held snug.

Mould is back together now. Need to find time for a casting session to see if it was all worthwhile. May make a new plate to see if that helps at all. New plate would be a bit thicker.
 

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Rick H

Well-Known Member
I will be interested to see if this helps. I have had base flashing issues but usually they are because I was running things too hot. If I let the mold cool a bit it improved. It doesn't surprise me at all that the sprue plate isn't flat, and I like the idea of heavier ones, not enough to buy new when I can coax the old ones to work.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
This mould has cast many K bullets. It wasn’t giving flashing until I went to the ladle. May be running it too hot? Maybe too fast?

New plate is roughed out and the plot for the holes is drawn out. I did remember to use the angle grinder to cut thru the flame hardened edge this time. I ground until a file would bite. End mills and flycutter appreciated that effort.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
To me the obvous solution would be to stop using the ladle. :)

Patient: "Doc, it hurts when I move my arm like this."
Doc: "Then don't move your arm like that."
 
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Ian

Notorious member
Glad I'm not the only one who will spend $200 worth of shop time on a $40 tool that has already paid for itself a few times. Ain't it great to have some big boy tools at your immediate disposal? :) :)
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
To me the obvous solution would be to stop using the ladle. :)

Patient: "Doc, it hurts when I move my arm like this."
Doc: "Then don't move your arm like that."
Bottom pour? Yuck.
Never used the new pot for bottompour. I suppose I could try.....
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My shop time has no monetary value. Least not to me.

Needs to be cut to final shape and size and some of the holes might need a touch more countersink.

This is a piece of 1/4” think 1045. Will be interesting to see what, if any, difference I notice with a thicker steel plate.

I may well end up making some new screws for the stop pin and pivot because of the thicker plate.

63CC5158-058A-47F8-88A9-17470E86D0AC.jpeg
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Heck, yeah. I have a lot of stuff in my life where I can say, "I made that."

Including one airplane. :)
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I'm a pocket knife collector. A few I made, with hand tools........................because I can.

IMG_0121.JPG


They were purposely designed for lefties. No, I didn't do the scrimshaw.................contracted it out.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Thanks, Bill. Drill press and buffer were the only power tools. Files and sandpaper, did the rest.
 

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
Brad - I've had to do something similar to my early 356120TC a few times but using flat glass and sandpaper. Did restore quality to the castings. This mold has cast at least 50k bullets and is starting to show its age. I bought a new manufacture replacement 4-5 years ago and it did not work out very well, don't remember the details, so I bought another (#3) current manufactured one a few months ago and its marginal, plus the nose cone is slightly thicker. Meanwhile, the old one keeps turning out the bullets.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Nice work, John. The thumbnail groove is definitely for lefties, but that would only confuse me about as much as a SAA loading gate on the left side. I've been opening right-handed folding knives with my right index fingernail for 40 years, wouldn't know how to do it "properly".
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Very attractive lineup. If I were to pick my fav it would be the one on the bottom. I always have been a fan of drop point and leaf point blades and fairly straight handles. Simple basic design done well with a lot of usefulness in the blade shape. Easy to carry in a pocket with no high spots. Nice!