Mould Clean-up Question

[John Holland]

OK folks....Here is a question I'm struggling with.

In a package mould deal, I've taken in a Rapine .54 minie mould, yes I know what I said about aluminum moulds but it came with the package deal. Now, here's the problem - It appears as if someone has applied a mould release agent on the entire mould while it was hot....I mean it's covered with the stuff, and boy is it baked on! I've tried everything except oven cleaner on it, with no success. I even soaked it in Kroil for awhile....the coating wouldn't even budge. In my opinion it looks like I'm down to dis-assembling the blocks and abrading the stuff off, which means I'll have to lap the cavity to get the coating off. That operation will give me a minie ball that will probably end up fitting one of the .56 caliber Austrian Muster 1854 Rifle Muskets, which isn't what I was looking for. Just a solution to cleaning the stuff off without damaging the aluminum. Did I mention how much I detest aluminum moulds?

I'm open to all suggestions.....

JDH

[Wayne Shaw, 1985V]

John Well did you get to read your book yet? On the mold question I use 2+2 carb and choke cleaner. All the spray choke cleaners are mostly the same. We didn't need cleaner when we had hand chokes! I was thinking it may not be mold release, there is a product called Bull Plate that some use to coat the top and sprew. I haven't tryed it yet so can't offer a release agent, would think the above woud work . Hope it works . Wayne Shaw Harlans Light

[mike owsiak]

WYANE, TRY OVEN CLEANER.............MIKE O.

[Joseph Plakis Jr, 00302V]

Do NOT use oven cleaner on aluminum. Oven Cleaner is Caustic. Caustic on aluminum causes a severe chemical reaction. It will eat the mold, smoke & stink!! the end result will be you have a mold that is absolutely no good unless you want to use it for a paper weight!!!

If you do not believe this spray or put oven cleaner on a piece of aluminum foil. I would try the brake cleaner first.

Joe Plakis Jr.
Hampton Legion

[Ken Hansgen, 11094]

John, Did you try the mould with the black stuff on? What size bullets did it throw then? Anything wrong with that?

[matt]

John,
before you go crazy if its rapine mold release or frankford arsenal nold release try straight rubbing alcohol the 90 percent stuff works great. carb cleaner works great on oily and loose grime but wont really do much to a dry baked on coating. i used to use rapine mold release and your mold sounds just like mine totally coated but it does tend to build in the cavities and to get it out i use a q tip in the rubbing alcohol and scrub youd be surprised how much comes out.
Matt
winslows battery 9775v

[R. McAuley 3014V]

John,

Matt's suggestion seems most likely to be the preferred removal method, but I use the Rapine graphite mold release on all my moulds, including steel molds. Some of the steel molds that I have amassed over the year have gotten some surface rust and I have found that Rapine's mold release has resurrected some of these rusty molds. But I was sorely tempted to suggest that you substitute grain alcohol for the rubbing alcohol such that if after while if the mold release doesn't come off, you can drink the grain alcohol and you'll forget all about the baked graphite coating.

However, if the graphite residue doesn't readily come off with the alcohol bath, below is a link to a power-cleaning method using baking soda as the abrasive:

http://www.armex.com/CaseStudies/casestudy0301.aspx

[John Holland]

Thanks to all! There are some good suggestions for me to try, and I will. I like Richard's research, too.

I understand the "baked on" type of release agent that was applied when the mould was cold...as per the instructions, and how to remove it. But, this stuff looks like the entire mould was dipped in something while it was at a full hot casting temperature with the blocks wide open. I mean, it's really nasty!

As for Ken's suggetstion of "Did I try it first?" Of course! I don't have time to fix things tht aren't broke! The bullet it produces looks like one cast out of a luke-warm mould that is full of oil....pock marked, wrinkly, rings not filed out, air pockets in the cavity, etc. The stuff is baked on and blistered like some kind of bad enamel job. There is so much of it that the mould can't even seal, so it leaks air. The grease grooves in the bullet cavity are half full of the stuff, too!

OK, I'm off to experiment for awhile. I'll keep you posted!

John

[jerry ashley]

John,
Could this black stuff be a product called cerra-cote? Normally used in place of bluing on barrells and actions. Only a guess but it leaves maybe .001 thick layer and it is baked on after it is applied. Don't know how to get it off other than sand paper or steel wool.

[mike owsiak]

oh crap!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry about that ,maybe white viniger and lemon juice for a kinder and more gentle cleaner................MIKE