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I'm going to have a go at cutting a aluminium mould. Any one done this before any advice would be good before I start.
Iv tried in vain to purchase boolits of the right type size and weight. I can not get my hands on a mould with out waiting for months. So I'm going to have a go it might be a total disaster but what the heck its some thing to do on these cold winter evenings. The blocks will be cut for me and the mating surfaces finished off. So all I have to do is cut the mould. Im getting tooling together at the moment Iv watched all the youtube stuff. I'm not in any hurry so any advice pointers would be good.

Afraid I'm bringing little help to the party but I am looking forward to seeing how you get on

Maybe I'm being niece ( more than likely ) but wouldn't it be easier to cast a mould and then machine the mating surfaces?

Maybe I'm being niece ( more than likely ) but wouldn't it be easier to cast a mould and then machine the mating surfaces?

You don't cast a mould they are normally cut with a custom made cherry. Once the mould is made you then use it to cast your boolits. I all ready have one that we made at work to carry out my impact cast all though it does not have any lube grooves. This is were I got the idea from. Its just some thing to keep me occupied if it works fine if it doesn't its no big deal.

I wouldn't mind having a go at this myself when I finally get around to getting my workshop finished.

Particularly interested in seeing how you get the blocks to align properly both for the cutting and in use when complete. I guess you already have the relevant info on allowance for lead shrinkage.

Have you identified a likely profile yet, if so what did you base it on? I know most mfrs publish dimensioned drawings for their moulds which could be adapted or have you plumped for something more individual?

I have been using Tom Myers software for designing/drawing my boolits for years, in fact I use all Toms software and find it excellent, well thought out and easy to use. It has to be for me to be able to use it.

His "Precision Cast Bullet Design and Evaluation" software has become the boolit design programme of choice for many bespoke and commercial mould makers like NOE.

http://www.tmtpages.com/#draw

With over 500 moulds in my collection I find his Mould List software invaluable.

I can heartily recommend all his programmes, designed by a shooter/caster/handloader for shooters/casters/handloaders.


I am surprised that you are having problems getting a bespoke mould cut, what did Tom at Accurate Moulds say?

Bought a mould from accurate a month ago: Tom does not use cherries, the moulds are CNC machined. He has a alrge range of standards but will alter any dimension to suit your needs at no cost. I think I payed $88 delivered to the UK. The mould is brass with steel locating pins. I have made moulds in the past, grinding the cherry from an old reamer. That is the easy part. Unless you have a double acting self centering vise, you cannot close the blocks evenly on the spinnin cherry and so one side of the bullet will stick in the mould block.
Fred

Have a look here at mould cutting:

http://mp-molds.com/index.php?pr=R_and_D

I have some of his moulds and they are superb.

Have a look here at mould cutting:

http://mp-molds.com/index.php?pr=R_and_D

I have some of his moulds and they are superb.

His moulds are all handgun or lever action.?

I have been using Tom Myers software for designing/drawing my boolits for years, in fact I use all Toms software and find it excellent, well thought out and easy to use. It has to be for me to be able to use it.

His "Precision Cast Bullet Design and Evaluation" software has become the boolit design programme of choice for many bespoke and commercial mould makers like NOE.

http://www.tmtpages.com/#draw

With over 500 moulds in my collection I find his Mould List software invaluable.

I can heartily recommend all his programmes, designed by a shooter/caster/handloader for shooters/casters/handloaders.

I checked his site out some good stuff by the looks of it. I guess you have to buy the programs. Ill see how I get on first it might turn out to be a total disaster. Hmmm. I'm convinced that I could machine a boolit mould to the right profile and width no problem the issue is the lube grooves. Hmm but I'm working on it.