joelhains Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) I have a problem with one of my molds. The flat eye Arky mold seems to have a hole in the head when I twist off the sprew. It will do this about 75% of the time. It doesn't seem to matter if the mold is cool or hot. I have adjusted the temps on my Lee 10 pound bottom pour pot. It doesn't seem to matter if I pour from the spout or if I pour from a ladel. My lead is pretty soft and very close to pure from what I can tell. I'm not sure what else to try to fix this issue. Edited June 30, 2014 by joelhains Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) Joel, Your pours other than the one with the holes are fine. This happens with lead composition. I've had it happen to harder lead. For that reason I don't twist my sprues off, I cut all of my sprue with gate cutters. Yes you will have to file off the little bit of lead left from the gate shears, but that is better than the alternative, as now you have crappy looking jigs, and you have to remelt and re-pour to get good ones, which is time wasted. I have had this happen to me many times, and I don't bother twisting sprues off. Time is money to me, and I rather file a little, then to melt and re-pour. others may have a better solution to solve your dilemma. Edited June 30, 2014 by cadman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Joel, I had the same problem for a while. I found that if I break off the sprue immediately after de-molding while the lead is still hot and soft this will not happen and I get a cleaner break. I don't twist the sprue off, I wiggle it back and forth until it comes off. This works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painter1 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 I also cut and file but if you are getting a hole all the way through the sprue into the jig head there is another problem. I get my best results (learned it on this forum) by holding the mold up tight to the lee pot nozzle. Mate the mold to the bottom pour nozzle as far as it will go. Be fast on the lever as it fills quickly. Be careful to slant it slightly away from your hand on the opening closest to the handle in case you over fill This method also provides a very small sprue. I hope that works for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
