Just tried out my .660 RB mold from Larry Callahan and I really like it. Though the handles are a bit small, so it gets hot fast. Does anyone have any suggestions for any sort of handle or any ideas to prolong the time it takes to burn my hand? I have a couple of welding gloves, but those are far too awkward.
Ball Moulds....Handles?
- Thread starter pheenix99
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appalichian hunter
75 Cal.
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Dried corn cobs works well. Perhaps a wrap of leather also.
While I understand the concept, it's not something I'm able to do at the moment. and yes, curved handles.
The leather wrap idea is def worth trying. At least it'll look halfway decent and when it does get a tad too warm, I can set the mold down and cast something else for a little bit.
AZbpBurner
54 Cal.
When I was a kid, Dad brought home an 1861 Colt Navy that came with a brass bullet mold. It got hot in short order, so I wrapped the handles in leather, which really helped.
Today most of my molds are lee Molds which have plenty big wooden handles and have never overheated for me.
Today most of my molds are lee Molds which have plenty big wooden handles and have never overheated for me.
nchawkeye
58 Cal.
I wear deerskin gloves and alternate between making balls for my .54 and my .40 to let them cool down a bit...
I could always bounce back and forth between my .655 ballmould and .660 Callahan mold.
Yeah, I'm just gonna start calling them Callahan molds.
you might consider pipe insulation with duct tape. Make sure of a tight fit!!!
ohio ramrod
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I use two medium leather glove and switch between them as needed, for my short handled molds
Pipe insulation? I'd consider it, but I'd like to keep the aesthetics as traditional as possible.
What are you using for handles (photo)? Callahan sells Lee gang mold handles which are available for far less in the US. If heat is an issue with these handles you are in the wrong business. Even if you were using the older Lyman handles (I don't even know if they will fit) which are much smaller than the current offering they still should remain cool enough to work with.
I've got some molds from Larry and your right they do get hot but so did the originals. I wrap the handles on mine in about 5-6 oz leather and still at times need to wear leather gloves to hold the molds. I suppose in the 18th century they just grabbed what they had for the handles.
My Italian .44 molds Had handles about 4 inches long. A piece of half-inch conduit fit right over them snugly, so I just drilled and pin them on making them about eight or 10 inches long. Worked like a champ.
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I have been told that Corn Cobs work well and would be PC/hc
I think I'll go with the leather option. Thanks for the suggestion though.
I've dried out a couple of corn cobs and put those over the ends of the handles on my bag mold.
