Author Topic: Removing the spruce bump from round balls  (Read 2688 times)

John Ciccone

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Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« on: December 06, 2018, 01:57:37 AM »
I need a proper spruce cutter for my cast round balls. Can you suggest a type and a brand, maybe where I cam buy one.

Offline Maven

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2018, 02:44:54 AM »
John, I use one of these to cut sprues:  https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=xuron+flush+cutters&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8  I originally purchased it to cut HO scale rail for model railroading, but it does an excellent job with soft metals too.
Paul W. Brasky

Offline smylee grouch

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2018, 03:52:09 AM »
To cut the spru on my tanner molds cast balls I use an electrician stripper pliers. Number 14 ga. hole IIRC Just clamp near the ball body, squeez as you twist the ball and you will end up with a very clean cut at the spru.

Offline Flint62Smoothie

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2018, 03:58:03 AM »
Metal coffee can, add 30-balls at a time, metal DIY cover taped on with duct tape. Leave on the floor of the car to roll around and jumble at every stop. Your sprues will be gone in a week or 2 or less. I use a rock polisher to do the same.
All of my muzzleloaders will shoot into one ragged hole ALL DAY LONG ... it's just the 2nd or 3rd & other shots that tend to open up my groups ... !

Offline hanshi

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2018, 10:35:37 PM »
An old Thumbler Tumbler works very well for sprue bumps on cast ball.  A vibrating brass polisher I have also works.
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Joc7651

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2018, 01:52:36 AM »
An old Thumbler Tumbler works very well for sprue bumps on cast ball.  A vibrating brass polisher I have also works.

+1, 30 minutes and they will be perfectly round with no sprue.

Offline Daryl

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2018, 03:46:37 AM »
To cut the spru on my tanner molds cast balls I use an electrician stripper pliers. Number 14 ga. hole IIRC Just clamp near the ball body, squeez as you twist the ball and you will end up with a very clean cut at the spru.

EXACTLY the way I do it. Perfect every time and nothing left - perfectly round once you get the hang of it with the proper sized hole in the plyers. I tried side cutters and didn't like them because of the crimped cut. The wire strippers work perfectly.





With normal moulds from RCBS, Lee or Lyman, I put the sprue up as that little flat spot is not critical to good shooting. If you try to load it sprue down, it will adversely effect accuracy. 
Daryl

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Offline OldMtnMan

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2018, 03:50:17 AM »
Those look good.

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2018, 03:57:39 AM »
I nip the sprue off like Daryl, but then I finish them off.

I have apiece of arborite, (formica)   maybe  7" x 5"   This has raised sides, maybe 3/8 " high.   I chuck  a few balls in, maybe 8 or so, depending on calibre, and with another piece of the same arborite, (counter -top stuff)   I rumble them around pressing on firmly.   I keep changing directions and make larger and smaller circles  as I go. It's faster than writing this, and no sign of the sprue survives.  They only need rumbling a few seconds each batch.  Probably 15 seconds or so does it.


Offline OldMtnMan

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2018, 04:00:55 AM »
I like the sprue. It tells which end of the ball it up. :)

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2018, 04:27:41 AM »
Pete,

We used to find a good few back home, (UK) with the sprue still on.  seems they didn't always bother chewing them off.
Some places they used it to tie the paper cartridge to. 

Offline OldMtnMan

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2018, 04:39:09 AM »
WOW! I didn't mean the whole sprue. Just the bump.

I read a report about the sprue. They tested the sprue loaded in all directions and found the accuracy was the same. I'm not convinced but who knows? I should take the time to test it myself.

Offline Mike from OK

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2018, 04:55:23 AM »
I tried the wire strippers like Smylee and Daryl recommend... I just couldn't get close enough with them on a .315 ball. So I bought a cheap pair of end nipping pliers and ground the face smooth so they would cut flush...

They still aren't perfect but they do an acceptable job.

Mike

Offline smylee grouch

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2018, 05:32:47 AM »
I would think using those stripper pliers on a small ball like that .315 might be harder to do than the .605 ball and .585 that I clip. The same reason I can't hardly shoot a gun that small, just too hard to hold onto some thing that small when loading.

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2018, 06:07:02 PM »
The best spruce cutter I have ever found is a chainsaw. Cuts them right off at the ground.
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Offline OldMtnMan

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #15 on: December 07, 2018, 06:12:08 PM »
The best spruce cutter I have ever found is a chainsaw. Cuts them right off at the ground.

Too modern. An ax will do.

Offline 45-110

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #16 on: December 07, 2018, 10:48:12 PM »
Pick up a vintage brad nail puller/nippers, then grind off the slight chamfer on the outside edge, they will cut as flush as you can get reaching well around the sprue.

Offline Daryl

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #17 on: December 07, 2018, 11:12:27 PM »
The best spruce cutter I have ever found is a chainsaw. Cuts them right off at the ground.

LOL- BUT- to do that, a fellow needs to bend over.  3" to 4" stump is easier, besides, they are thinner & faster cutting, up off the ground.

The smallest ball I cast with the big sprue are the .595's in the picture.  I also have .677", .710", .724" and .740" Tanner moulds.

 The .724" ball fits my largest rifle, perfectly.

With the sprues nipped off and ball smooth, there is no orientation when loading, thus their use in paper ctgs. just became easier.

When I used a Lyman-type mould that leaves a small, slightly raised sprue cutt-off in my paper ctgs. for the 14 bore, I oriented the sprue up. I assume it stayed "up".

The accuracy was identical to my tight combination patched round balls.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline hanshi

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #18 on: December 07, 2018, 11:34:50 PM »
I cast mostly from Lee molds and there's no sprue, of course.  When I load the sprue "scar" it is oriented on top, if I can find it.  Tumbled, I rarely find find any at all so just load without looking for a scar.
!Jozai Senjo! "always present on the battlefield"
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Offline wmrike

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #19 on: December 08, 2018, 12:02:14 AM »
I too use Lee molds, and there's just not enough excess material to worry about.  If you are compulsive, two swipes with a fine file removes all.

Offline oldtravler61

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #20 on: December 08, 2018, 02:32:41 AM »
  Check just lay them out in a line at the range. Then back up fifty or sixty yards an shoot them off.....!  Easy grasshopper or is that weasel hopper...!   Lol.  Oldtravler

Offline 45-110

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #21 on: December 08, 2018, 04:36:45 PM »
i thought we where talking about bag molds that lack a sprue plate? not lee molds.

Plateboater

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #22 on: December 08, 2018, 04:52:04 PM »
Small side cutters harbor freight cannot go wrong

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Removing the spruce bump from round balls
« Reply #23 on: December 08, 2018, 06:04:57 PM »
i thought we where talking about bag molds that lack a sprue plate? not lee molds.
Heck, I thought we were talking about trees....I need to pay closer attention. :o
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?