breaking the sprue? - The Firearms Forum

frosty · 02-18-2004, 12:14 PM

How much effort should it take to knock the sprue lever open?
Alot or what? or very little effort.

ACC · 02-18-2004, 12:32 PM

Frosty:
Not much,keep it oiled with a fine oil,you'll have no problems

inplanotx · 02-18-2004, 12:49 PM

C&R wrote:

Quote:

Not much,keep it oiled with a fine oil,you'll have no problems

I would advise against oiling the sprue at all. I have never oiled mine and they are about 15 years old with no problems. Just keep the screw tightened properly and then give it a shot with a hammer handle, not the head!

Sometime during your casting sessions you will see the lead start to smear under the sprue plate. Tighten the screw and clean up the smear and keep going.

When tightened properly, the sprue plate should flop into position by turning the mould. It may need just a minor tap to completely go into place if the mould is new.

frosty · 02-18-2004, 01:09 PM

Plano when I was casting I noticed that it was taking very little effort on my part to cut the sprue. In some cases (with a gloved hand) I was able to open the sprue plate by hand with a little effort. Is this o.k. or is it an a clue that I have done some thing wrong.

inplanotx · 02-18-2004, 01:17 PM

Sounds as though your sprue is not large enough. You cannot have too much sprue!!!! Too little and you have problems. You should not be able to open it with your fingers. I cover the sprue plate and some of the top of the mould on either side.

frosty · 02-18-2004, 01:34 PM

Hope I did not mislead you. I have a blob about the size of a .50 cent piece on top of each sprue hole. Most of the time the sprue is all one piece across all the sprue holes

inplanotx · 02-18-2004, 02:02 PM

Sounds about right, how thick is the sprue? Mine is usually about 1/4" thick and the sprue hole is clearly defined in the sprue when cut.

frosty · 02-18-2004, 02:51 PM

Mine is exactly the same, 1/4" in thickness and the sprue holes are clearly defined (moulded) when you turn over the sprue and look under it or if it falls upside down when I cut it.

I guess I am getting the hang of it.

02-24-2004, 02:31 PM

the resistance ( to shearing off the sprue) as does an 8 cavity gang mold. Harder alloys mean harder shearing of sprues. Letting the mold and alloy cool more means a harder sprue, too. Get a rubber mallet for knocking open the sprueplate., Never touch the hot mold with the rubber, tho. If you melt the rubber onto the mold, you have to cool off and thoroughly clean the rubber off of the mold.

02-18-2004, 12:14 PM	#1
frosty V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 374	breaking the sprue? How much effort should it take to knock the sprue lever open? Alot or what? or very little effort. __________________ BEER POCKET BOOK ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS -->

02-18-2004, 01:09 PM	#4
frosty V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 374	Plano when I was casting I noticed that it was taking very little effort on my part to cut the sprue. In some cases (with a gloved hand) I was able to open the sprue plate by hand with a little effort. Is this o.k. or is it an a clue that I have done some thing wrong. __________________ BEER POCKET BOOK ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

02-18-2004, 01:17 PM	#5
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Sounds as though your sprue is not large enough. You cannot have too much sprue!!!! Too little and you have problems. You should not be able to open it with your fingers. I cover the sprue plate and some of the top of the mould on either side. __________________

02-18-2004, 01:34 PM	#6
frosty V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 374	Hope I did not mislead you. I have a blob about the size of a .50 cent piece on top of each sprue hole. Most of the time the sprue is all one piece across all the sprue holes __________________ BEER POCKET BOOK ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

02-18-2004, 02:02 PM	#7
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Sounds about right, how thick is the sprue? Mine is usually about 1/4" thick and the sprue hole is clearly defined in the sprue when cut. __________________

02-18-2004, 12:32 PM	#2
ACC V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 152	Frosty: Not much,keep it oiled with a fine oil,you'll have no problems

02-18-2004, 02:51 PM	#8
frosty V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 374	Mine is exactly the same, 1/4" in thickness and the sprue holes are clearly defined (moulded) when you turn over the sprue and look under it or if it falls upside down when I cut it. I guess I am getting the hang of it. __________________ BEER POCKET BOOK ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

02-24-2004, 02:31 PM	#9
suryevor Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	depends. A single cavity mold has 1/8th the resistance ( to shearing off the sprue) as does an 8 cavity gang mold. Harder alloys mean harder shearing of sprues. Letting the mold and alloy cool more means a harder sprue, too. Get a rubber mallet for knocking open the sprueplate., Never touch the hot mold with the rubber, tho. If you melt the rubber onto the mold, you have to cool off and thoroughly clean the rubber off of the mold.