Can you overheat an aluminum (Lee) mold??
Casting question
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Yes.
The trouble is usually lead galling under the sprue plate causing damage to the top of the mold and/or the plate will warp.
Even a steel mold can have problems with the plate if it heats unevenly
The trouble is usually lead galling under the sprue plate causing damage to the top of the mold and/or the plate will warp.
Even a steel mold can have problems with the plate if it heats unevenly
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Also if you over heat a Lee mold, it can cause the alignment pins to come loose and either move in the mold face or entirely fall out all together.
I know this from experience. I used a hotplate to keep molds up to temp when casting with multiple molds. Had lost one of the pins out of a new mold. Called Lee and explained the problem and what I had done. They told me that I did indeed over heat the mold. They still replaced the mold anyway.
It's not so much a factor with steel molds but with aluminum molds it can definitely be an issue.
Aluminum molds can be heated back up to temp so quickly that using a hotplate is never necessary.
You live and learn from your mistakes. I know that I did!
Respectfully, Cowboy
I know this from experience. I used a hotplate to keep molds up to temp when casting with multiple molds. Had lost one of the pins out of a new mold. Called Lee and explained the problem and what I had done. They told me that I did indeed over heat the mold. They still replaced the mold anyway.
It's not so much a factor with steel molds but with aluminum molds it can definitely be an issue.
Aluminum molds can be heated back up to temp so quickly that using a hotplate is never necessary.
You live and learn from your mistakes. I know that I did!
Respectfully, Cowboy
That is an amazing change of policy from years ago when I got into a real cat fight with Dick Lee. Glad to see the company has learned the value of good customer service.
Billnpatti
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It's good to know that it is possible to overheat and damage a Lee mold. I have never done it because I always heat my molds by setting a corner into the molten lead for a few minutes to bring them up to temperature before I start casting. I've never damaged any of my Lee molds and now that I know that they can be damaged by overheating, I can avoid that problem.
Thanks to Cowboy and the other posters on this thread for the valuable info. :hatsoff:
Thanks to Cowboy and the other posters on this thread for the valuable info. :hatsoff:
Thanks for the tips. I always have problems with wrinkles, which if my research is correct is either not hot enough or improper mold prep. Mine is the old one cavity .490 mold that Lee used to make.
In an e-mail exchange they offered to replace it with the two cavity for me if I sent it back, but it would still cost a bit for shipping and all. Great deal when you do the math, I'd be getting the upgrade mold for about half price.. Someday, when I have my casting stuff set back up, I will do that. For now, I have too many other projects and not enough money to finish the have to projects so I just buy my RB. Priorities I guess
Buying RB costs more but over time where I need to spend about $100 up front to resume casting, (or at least to finally do it right). I want a real pot, I've been using my cast iron pot on camps stoves, and home built electric burners. Don't have either any more and for the cost of a new camp stove I can almost buy a Lee electric..
In an e-mail exchange they offered to replace it with the two cavity for me if I sent it back, but it would still cost a bit for shipping and all. Great deal when you do the math, I'd be getting the upgrade mold for about half price.. Someday, when I have my casting stuff set back up, I will do that. For now, I have too many other projects and not enough money to finish the have to projects so I just buy my RB. Priorities I guess
Buying RB costs more but over time where I need to spend about $100 up front to resume casting, (or at least to finally do it right). I want a real pot, I've been using my cast iron pot on camps stoves, and home built electric burners. Don't have either any more and for the cost of a new camp stove I can almost buy a Lee electric..
