The Offcial Machinist Thread: Revised 01/04/2014

[MrCrowley]

Well if they're like the ones in the link I mentioned you should buy a bunch of them and sell them to people at a profit...


By the way, can you please stop quoting entire posts that include pictures? It just gets annoying to see everything twice. You generally don't need to quote the person who posted above you if their post in really short either, we'll probably figure out what part you're referring to.

[daniel0663]

i can get bullet molds for 25-40 dollars brandnew

Ohh, yeah sure. Lee molds go for 25-50$ on ebay.

100-150$ for a custom machined mold to you're dimensions and expectations.......
Can't go wrong with that mold....

PLUS the mold in MrCrowley's link is made from brass.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

100-150 bucks is one hell of a rip off, doesnt cost that much to drill a hole and split the metal block in half, someone who charges that must be nuts

I used to think this until I got my lathe/mill, you'll be surprised how complex seemingly easy operations can be.

[ramses]

i can get bullet molds for 25-40 dollars brandnew

Ohh, yeah sure. Lee molds go for 25-50$ on ebay.

100-150$ for a custom machined mold to you're dimensions and expectations.......
Can't go wrong with that mold....

PLUS the mold in MrCrowley's link is made from brass.

Welcome to custom machining. Lee molds are mass produced on CNC machines. All custom tooling is already made.

And for the record, I quoted ~$18 + shipping for an entirely convex four cavity bullet mold on about the second page. I don't have time to make it (and didn't then), but still.

$150 is what someone would charge you if they wanted to actually make a respectable hourly income. This thread is about favors, so the absolute least you can do is post dimensioned drawings, work with us to make the design easier to produce, and stop getting all indignant about the favor we're offering to do you with no expectation of any favors in return

[POLAND_SPUD]

sorry for hijacking this thread but what is the advantage of casting over swagging?

from my point of view swagging seems simpler and healthier...

[dewey-1]

the mold will be for 1/2 inch copper pipe and 1/2 inch pvc sch40
and possibly 3/4

The ID of SCH 40 PVC 1/2 inch is: .602 nominal with a minimum of .578 and a maximum of .626. These numbers are based on the .010 wall tolerance and .004 pipe OD tolerance.

The ID of Type K (Green) Copper is: .527 nom, .516 min, .538 max

The ID of Type L (Blue) Copper is: .545 nom, .536 min, .554 max

The ID of Type K (Red) Copper is: .569 nom, .562 min, .576 max

So now you decide what bullet OD you need and what tolerance.

Do you now understand the dilemma the machinist has with out a dimensional drawing?

[Gippeto]

Dewey....I doubt it.

This IS making for a good read though.

@ Poland...Advantage?? Cost and simplicity I suppose.

http://www.corbins.com/

[POLAND_SPUD]

@Gippeto
well assuming you want to buy carbins dies then I can see how it can be more expensive... but for lead all you need is a die (not a problem for someone with a lathe),a block of metal with a hole cut in it and a press

does it really make it that much expensive?

[ramses]

@Gippeto
well assuming you want to buy carbins dies then I can see how it can be more expensive... but for lead all you need is a die (not a problem for someone with a lathe),a block of metal with a hole cut in it and a press

does it really make it that much expensive?

Well the die die has to withstand significant pressure, and be wear resistant. With a proper mold, casting should be faster than swagging, and should flow better into weird regions (like the little ribs everyone seems to want on their molds that serve no purpose for spudders and make the mold much harder to make.

[velocity3x]

i can get bullet molds for 25-40 dollars brandnew,
100-150 is a complete rip off!!!!!

You state you can get molds for $25-$40 yet you still ask for help. Just shows how cheap you are. A CNC, custom 3 cavity mold to your specs should cost you $350-$450 and yet you complain that "100-150 is a complete rip off!!!!! You need to link up with the real world.

[jsefcik]

i can get bullet molds for 25-40 dollars brandnew,
100-150 is a complete rip off!!!!!

You state you can get molds for $25-$40 yet you still ask for help. Just shows how cheap you are. A CNC, custom 3 cavity mold to your specs should cost you $350-$450 and yet you complain that "100-150 is a complete rip off!!!!! You need to link up with the real world.

i said i can get molds for 25-40 bucks but thats for muzzleloaders which dont fit my barrel really well,
i would like to have a mold that fits my barrel,
350-450 might as well, by a 30-06

a single bullet mold for my gun shouldnt cost that much to do,

its not that hard to get a piece of metal drill a hole down the center, along with it being able to fit into my gun and split the metal block in half

[warhead052]

a single bullet mold for my gun shouldnt cost that much to do,

its not that hard to get a piece of metal drill a hole down the center, along with it being able to fit into my gun and split the metal block in half

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything, but seriously? Just use a drill, and get a block of wood, drill the hole your self, then use a saw and cut it in half. Easy. And the price range is $0-$5. If that.

[jsefcik]

a single bullet mold for my gun shouldnt cost that much to do,

its not that hard to get a piece of metal drill a hole down the center, along with it being able to fit into my gun and split the metal block in half

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything, but seriously? Just use a drill, and get a block of wood, drill the hole your self, then use a saw and cut it in half. Easy. And the price range is $0-$5. If that.

ill try it, but hopefully it will fit in my gun right

[warhead052]

Like I said, just use a drill bit that is just a hair smaller than the ID of your barrel, and use it.

[dewey-1]

Do you understand when you cut the block in half, your mold will not be a "round" diameter bullet but elliptical shaped.

Two piece molds are not made the way some of you think.
Stop and think about it for a few minutes before you make such simple assumptions.

If you cut a solid ball in half then glue it back together again, it will not be a true ball shape again.