First experience with a Lyman mold

[Grizzly Adams]

Finally tried out my NOS Lyman mold I purchased cheap at a gun show. It is a .530". I used a set of Lee handles and heated the lead with a torch in a ladle, held with a small stand. Once the mold warmed up, I was very pleased with the performance. Prior to the use of this mold, the only other brand I have used was Lee. A couple observations I can make is that:

The Lyman mold was harder to fill with a ladle left handed due to the position of the sprue cutter.

The lyman sprue cutter was easier to actuate than the Lee cutter.

The lead took longer to solidify with the Lyman mold than with the Lee.

The Lyman mold left a slightly more pronounced sprue.

The Lyman mold tended to fill more easily and smoothly.

All told, the Lyman mold feels like it is a higher quality unit than the Lee, though the product exhibited a negligible disparity.

 

[Idaho Ron]

I think you need to get properly set up to pour safely and then do testing.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Likely so. A bottom pour melting pot is on the list of things to get.

 

[CrossXstix]

I am left handed and turn my Lyman molds around in the handles so the sprue plate opens back toward you instead of out. That puts the plate screw on the other side.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

That is a good thought, I will have to give this a try.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Likely so. A bottom pour melting pot is on the list of things to get.

Your experience indicates mold and/or lead not hot enough.
If you are determined to have a bottom pour pot, get a Lyman. The Lee, in my experience, is not as well designed and is akward to use. And, they drip. DAMHIK :shocked2: :wink: A dip pot and Lyman dipper work just fine and is almost as fast to use as a bottom pour. Besides, wats yer hurry? :hmm:

 

[Spikebuck]

Likely so. A bottom pour melting pot is on the list of things to get.

The Lee, in my experience, is not as well designed and is akward to use. And, they drip.

Rifleman...my experience with my Lee bottom pour as well. I still use it because I don't want to buy another pot, but leave the bottom pour alone and just use a Lyman dipper.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Likely so. A bottom pour melting pot is on the list of things to get.

Your experience indicates mold and/or lead not hot enough.
If you are determined to have a bottom pour pot, get a Lyman. The Lee, in my experience, is not as well designed and is akward to use. And, they drip. DAMHIK :shocked2: :wink: A dip pot and Lyman dipper work just fine and is almost as fast to use as a bottom pour. Besides, wats yer hurry? :hmm:

The only issue I have is the lever for the sprue cutter interferes with my ladle. After a while, I was able to pour just fine and the balls turned out smooth and shiny.