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Author Topic: Mold Cherry cutter size?  (Read 1202 times)

Offline Scota4570

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Mold Cherry cutter size?
« on: January 21, 2021, 08:21:37 PM »
Based on the unavailability of ball molds, and anything else gun related, I want to try making a RB mold.

Question on sizing the cherry?  IF I want a .350 ball in pure lead, what size should the cherry be?
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: Mold Cherry cutter size?
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2021, 08:29:19 PM »
Not a direct answer but Larry Callahan makes round ball “bag” molds in any size. The ones I have work very well. They get hot in a hurry.
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Andover, Vermont

Offline Daryl

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Re: Mold Cherry cutter size?
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2021, 09:42:01 PM »
In a ball that small, I would say .350 would likely make a .351" mould if bored carefully and cast .350" in pure lead.
Perhaps .002" undersized. I suspect much would depend on the "quality" of the cherry as to how close to it's diameter, it bores.
I would suspect .0005" to .001" shrinkage in around a .350 sized hole.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2021, 10:52:53 PM by Daryl »
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Daryl

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

Offline JBJ

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Re: Mold Cherry cutter size?
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2021, 04:36:03 PM »
Is the amount of shrinkage dependent on the size of the ball or the lead alloy used? Or a combination of ball size and alloy? I was hoping that there might be a constant for the shrinkage of pure lead. Just curious.
J.B.
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Offline Daryl

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Re: Mold Cherry cutter size?
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2021, 08:51:38 PM »
"Or a combination of ball size and alloy?"

It can be no other way.  A .750" ball of pure lead will show more thousandths of shrinkage than will a .25" ball of the same alloy.
The shrinkage is a percentage of the size, so yes, that is the "constant".
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Daryl

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